Ayumu Hirano

AYUMU HIRANO

WAY TO THE TOP

Aiming for that peak

Ayumu Hirano.Needless to say, he is a silver medalist of the Sochi Olympics snowboarding and men's halfpipe.Currently, Ayumu is aiming at the Olympic Games and is continuing hard training to fly around the world.All to get what I left behind at the last Olympics ...It's been less than three months before the Pyeongchang Olympics, and the mass media has come into contact with the topic of the Winter Olympics.As a leading candidate for medals, there will be more opportunities to see Ayumu's name on TV.I asked him to do an interview interview in between the overcrowded schedule.

(This article was published in the December issue of FREERUN magazine)
Ayumu who won the half-pipe silver medal at this Pyeongchang Olympics and challenged the most difficult competition with Shaun White.This is an interview that talks about the thoughts and the way to get there.

Text: Haru Aki

College student, Ayumu Hirano
As reported on a TV news program in April of this year, Ayumu entered a university in Tokyo and started a new life.What kind of campus life do Olympic medalists have?I asked him about his recent life.

I think there was a way to concentrate on snowboarding, but why did you decide to go to college?
Certainly, I've even thought about focusing on snowboarding.But until now, I've only been snowboarding.I haven't avoided people who aren't on the board, but I think I've only been involved with people who are on the board naturally.I feel like I'm in a small world, rather than knowing only a biased world.

So did you want to expand the world?
I agree.Whether it's athletics or basketball ... It doesn't matter what the competition is, but I want to interact with people who are pushing toward their goals at university and people who are working on something through trial and error at university. Now that I have many opportunities to go abroad, I want to make sure that my life when I come back to Japan doesn't get messy.That's why I wanted to put myself in a space called university.I wish I could discover something that would lead to the future.Maybe I'm just hoping that there's something in the university that will expand the world, but don't you know until you go first?That's why I decided to go on to higher education.

What kind of college life do you have?
I am enrolled in the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Nihon University, and my campus is in Tokyo.I went there for a while right after I entered the school, but gradually the snowboarding became busier ...However, even when I take a day off and go on an expedition, I have to submit the given assignment by the deadline.That's why I'm desperately trying to make time between practice sessions by consulting on the phone, using e-mail and Skype, and sending me a DVD of materials.I am really grateful to the university for understanding me.

By the way, what kind of study do you do?
Since it is a sports science department, there are many interesting lectures such as sports kinematics, observation exercises, and various practical trainings.I can think about it in light of my actual experience so far, and I enjoy studying quite a lot.

What about training in college?
I think there is a good gym and an environment suitable for training.However, I don't have much time in Tokyo now because it's important to spend time on the snowboard.So I'm not doing much at university right now.Oh yeah, there is a world standard skateboard vertical in the university.I think it will be after the end of this season, but I like the environment where I can study while skateboarding at university.

Living alone in Tokyo?
I'm in a dormitory at university.If my dormitory life didn't suit me, I thought I should rent a place to live alone.Besides, it's a waste to rent a house because I'm rarely in Tokyo right now.

What kind of dormitory is it?
It's a men's dormitory where people from the track and field club and the ski club are in the same room. In one room for two people, meals are shared and baths are shared.It feels like an athletic club, and the hierarchical relationship is pretty solid (laughs).However, I think that I have been able to get involved with such people and have a good experience.Also, everyone is insanely stoic, isn't it?

Did you meet an exciting person?
For now, still ...However, there are many solid people in the university, and everyone lives with goals.I'm still young in college, so I'm currently looking at various people at a distance.

Ayumu Hirano's professional activities
It was decided to join the national team on July 7th, but after the Sochi Olympics, Ayumu declined to be a designated player for strengthening the Ski Association of Japan (SAJ) in order to concentrate on professional activities.I had them look back on those days.

Until you were designated as a strengthening player by the SAJ, you were devoting yourself to professional activities, right?
Even though it's a professional activity, the tournament is the main activity, so I was competing in a big overseas contest. I think that the number of years that we can compete at the top level for "X GAMES" and "DEW TOUR" is about 6 to 7 years.That is why I want to realize something that Japanese people have never achieved in the world of the contest.

I heard that you have a dedicated coach when you are doing professional activities?
After the Sochi Olympics, I had Elijah (Tator) become a coach.Originally, Elijah was a coach of Kazu-kun (Kazuhiro Kokubo), and I met him with an introduction from Kazu-kun and had him talk to me about the coach.Now that I belong to the national team, I can't have an exclusive coach, but I've been to "X GAMES", "DEW TOUR", "US OPEN", etc. with him. You did.

Why did you focus on pipes in the first place?
In the past, there were many riders I longed for and aimed at, and there was also a model rider in front of me.I think I felt like I was desperately slipping on the pipe to catch up with those people.It was also interesting to win the pipe tournament and to feel that I was getting better.Also, I think you had a strong feeling that you didn't want people to go snowboarding.Especially because I didn't want to lose to anyone in the pipe.

Will the contest continue to be the center of professional activities?
If you suddenly jump into the backcountry world and are confident that you can beat the riders who are currently at the top, I think you have the option of switching to that, but it's been years since you started from scratch. I don't have the confidence to be the top in the backcountry world over the span.So maybe I'm concentrating on the pipe contest I'm doing now.As I said earlier, the age at which you can play an active part in the contest is probably until your late 20s ...On the contrary, I feel that there are possibilities and opportunities that are unique to the world of contests.That is why I want to continue to be a top competitor recognized by the world.There are few such Japanese riders.

Interested in fields other than pipes?
I also like powder and jumps, so I really want to do it, but I don't have the time right now ...I also want to do FUN riding and shooting with my friends.But I was wondering if it didn't have to be now.I feel like I'm concentrating on the contest right now to realize what I envision.Once the Olympics have settled down, I'd like to enjoy various skates, skateboard off, and express snowboarding in a slightly interesting way.

Ayumu Hirano's current location
It has been said that the number of revolutions is approaching the limit, but the tricks are still evolving due to the unimaginable efforts of top riders.What does Ayumu think about the current pipe scene?

Kazuhiro Kokubo used to say, "To win a halfpipe tournament, you need a period to concentrate on the pipe," but does that apply to the current scene?
I agree.No, maybe it's more so now than it was then.Currently, the level of the contest is rising, so in order to win there, I have to do some tricks that I don't want to do ...It's often mentally tough.Now is the time when you can't win unless you try difficult tricks even if you force yourself.If you enjoy it, you can leave it ... (bitter smile).I'm sure other contest riders will want to enjoy the pipe more.Of course, I think I'm enjoying some time, but I think I have to concentrate on practicing somewhere.In a sense, it may be an era that has never been seen before.I have a desire to do the snowboarding that we have seen and longed for, but now it's harder than having fun with friends or having fun with friends so as not to lose the flow of the current contest scene. I continue to practice with the feeling that I have to do it.

It's pretty hard.
Maybe this is the toughest time (bitter smile)?But I think people other than myself who are aiming for the Olympics are having the same difficulty ...

How much do you practice a day on snow?
On my last trip to New Zealand, I woke up as early as possible at my own timing, headed to the mountains to prepare for eating and stretching in the morning, and practiced for about two hours on the snow.After descending the mountain, I took a rest, went to the gym lightly at night to train my physical strength, and then skateboarded for refreshment.I can't concentrate for 2-4 hours on the snow, and when I practice the tricks of the current level, I don't have a long time.I think I'll get hurt if I lose my concentration.And I don't think it's good to pack it in a day.I will slip the next day, and I try to concentrate on what I concentrate on while considering my physical condition.

How do you remember the difficult tricks?
I don't try it like I used to, and because other people are doing it, I completely lost the idea of ​​myself (bitter smile).It's not that difficult anymore ...It takes time to learn each trick, and I have to be very enthusiastic.That's why I try to start working on difficult tricks and put myself in an environment where I can practice before others.In my case, I practice bug jumps tens or even hundreds of times.So it's a flow of gaining confidence and then trying on the snow.If you don't know where it will fall, you can never fly on the snow.

Do you feel scared?
It's always a fight against fear.

How are you overcoming it?
I think the time I spend practicing is longer than anyone else.I wonder if that is the only way to overcome fear.Like bug jumps, I also incorporate skateboarding into my practice.The vertical of a skateboard is really similar to a halfpipe, and without the slope of the pipe, I think it's about the same shape.Whether it's a drop-in or a single line to take-off, skateboarding can't be fooled.However, the snowboard pipe has a slope, so if you want to speed up, you can change the line.Some people who are in the tournament fly while cheating.In that sense, I think that I can share skateboards and snowboards as much as I want, so I incorporate them into my practice.Even when there is no snow, Niigata's Nihonkai Skate Park has bug jumps and skateboarding verticals.Find a pipe that is said to be in good condition overseas and go there to try what you learned by practicing while using them together.Then, I could see what I would do next, and then I went back to Japan and practiced in Niigata ... I feel like this eternal loop (bitter smile).

Yuki Kadono said, "There aren't many kickers in the world who practice cutting-edge tricks, so I'm trying in the open practice of the contest." What about pipes?
Certainly slopestyle can sometimes feel that way.But pipes may be close to that.At the time of the big contest, the shape is very beautiful.Even if you go abroad privately, the quality may not be so high.However, I have to do it even in such an environment ... I'm cornered (bitter smile).

Isn't slipping on such a pipe surely leading to an increase in responsiveness?
The Sochi Olympics were also rattling ...Is it there?If you skate only on good pipes, you may not be able to handle the competition when the tournament is held on pipes that are in a little bad condition.A Japanese rider who has been slipping a pipe indoors on a slope or Misaka in Japan for a long time may be more powerful than ever if he slips on a pipe that is in good condition overseas.Looking back, I wondered if that was the case, including myself (laughs).When I slipped in a bad condition or thought about what I could do in a given environment, when I slipped on a good pipe, I thought, "I think I can do this and I can do that."

Whenever you try a difficult trick, do you imagine a series of tricks in advance?
When I have anxiety that I have to imagine it like every time, on the contrary, I am driven into it. There are only tricks that can't be done once or twice ...Of course, I think about how it works, but even if I think too much, it can go in a strange direction.That's why you have to try many times in a safe environment and let your body remember it, not your head.Today's high-difficulty tricks are always spinning from the moment you jump out into the air until just before landing.

Is it possible to put style into such a difficult trick?
Well, I can't put it in.I don't think there is a gap in the style because it always goes from the outlet to the landing.So I wonder if Japan grab is impossible ...Rather, I try to think of tricks as tricks and styles as styles.

Are you particular about putting big tricks such as YOLO flips in the middle of the routine, not at the end?
It may look better and the audience may get excited if they show off their big tricks at the very end.The impression from the judge may be good.However, I think it's definitely more difficult for me to put difficult tricks into my routine, and I have an idea that I want to attract them with a combination.I don't think there are many riders who can perform difficult tricks in rapid succession even if they look around the world.My body gets tired, and I can't breathe unless I do some tricks such as low rotation.In that situation, I want to do something that makes me think, "Can I really go from the surroundings?"In the first place, isn't a pipe useless when the speed drops?It doesn't matter if you squeeze a little out of the lip or come back a little inward ... If you can't do lip-to-lip, you'll lose speed and you can't fly the next hit, or you'll have to moss there.

What do you think about style?
Of course style is important.However, I think there are quite a few cool riders who are fascinated by their style.I think it's a little difficult for such a rider and myself to compete for style with the same technique ...Then, I thought it would be nice if I could think of an original trick and express my own style with it, maybe about two years ago.I started doing Japan Grab for Clipler.However, it is important to have a balance that you can do techniques and you will be fascinated by your style. I don't like being evaluated as "this guy, just spinning", and it doesn't make sense that the difficulty level doesn't come out as a result of pursuing too much style.The goal is to be fascinated by both at the top level.

I think there are times when things are going wrong during the tournament, but what should I do in those cases?
Even so, now that I have to do it, I can't reach the place I'm aiming for, and I think I have to reach it, so I'm trying to get excited.Raise the volume of the music you are listening to so that you can't hear the noise (bitter smile).But even in that state, I've won in the past.Is it the music you are listening to?There are many reggae and hip hop.I've been listening to rock music lately.I decide based on the glue at that time, but sometimes if I choose a song with a slow tempo, I don't feel so much (bitter smile).

When do you decide which routine to show at the tournament?
To some extent, the routine is assembled in advance.However, there is no rule that I have to decide by when ... I decided the last one of the Sochi Olympics when I stood at the starting point.That CAB Double Cork 1 wasn't done in public practice, and I hadn't decided much, but it was decided on that stage.So, I will decide in advance to some extent in the future, but I think it will be just before the actual production.The coach also tells me that I will not regret it if I do what I want to do in the end, and I will definitely be able to make a convincing slide.

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About the gear used by Ayumu Hirano

Information on the latest gear used by Ayumu Hirano