X-TRAIL JAM in TOKYO DOME 2007

X-TRAIL JAM in TOKYO DOME 2007
I want you to recognize it again.How rare it is for this tournament to be held ...
All-weather stadium "TOKYO DOME" in the center of Tokyo.It's crazy just to see a huge snow slope in this place next to an amusement park, a hotel, etc.World-class snowboarders will compete for two days on this stage.Naturally, it is an international snowboarding tournament that can be accessed by train and can be watched in street clothes without being affected by the amount of snowfall or the wind. "X-TRAIL JAM in TOKYO DOME".How happy I am to be able to experience this excellent tournament, which is rare in the world.As a reminder, I'm not the organizer.

This is the XNUMXth tournament.Terrier, Jonas, Jian, Mich, Heiki, Nicholas, Travis, Count, Rio ...All the tricks of each player flash back just by giving a name.Although some Japanese appeared in the famous scenes of memories, I had to admire the performance of the top overseas players purely as a spectator.The Japanese have also shown a sufficient fight in terms of the difficulty of the tricks and the sense of balance.However, I felt that there were still many points that were still inferior in terms of leg strength, stamina, and mentality.

However, there has never been a tournament where I feel that Japanese players are definitely approaching that area.It's not just two people.I realized that the level of Japanese people has generally risen.
Saturday, December 2007, 12 Quarterpipe
The six Japanese winners were Kohei Kudo, Katsuya Tahara, Takaharu Nakai, Fumiyuki Murakami, Kazuumi Fujita, and Keijiro Kasahara.Then, 16 people including overseas invited players and Japanese invited player Daisuke Murakami will be divided into two groups and hold a 20-minute Semi Final jam session.
From the start of the jam session, the atmosphere surrounded the venue.The cause is definitely Japanese players. In Group A, Takaharu Nakai and Fumiyuki Murakami are doing well.Pushing Travis Rice and Andy Finch. Even in Group B, the 17-year-old duo of Kazuumi Fujita and Kohei Kudo are fascinating.Moreover, Ichiumi flew the most seven, and made most of them.young!
The moment the results of the Semi Final were announced, the venue shook.
1. Takaharu Nakai
2. Travis Rice
3. Andy Finch
4. Kevin Piers
5. Kazuumi Fujita
6. Liszt Matira
7. Kohei Kudo
8. Daisuke Murakami
Nakai passed Travis in the first place.That is also the result of convincing the venue.I had the impression that I was able to ride that much.Furthermore, the highest air at this point is Kohei Kudo's 5m50cm.It surpassed Rio's record of 5m40cm.
Rio professes to aim for the highest air in the Semi Final jam, and although he was injured by the platform drop once, he made the final chuck!At that moment, everyone pushed up their fists and cheered. After the Semi Final jam session, Rio announces his retirement.A generous applause was given to the true key players who raised the level of the Japanese snowboarding scene.

And the final jam session 25 minutes.
The final that started with Nakai's big toe fakie tail grab was incandescent from the beginning.That should be it, overseas invited players are serious mode to the fierce pursuit of Japanese thumb riders.
Of particular note is Nakai.Mac, Mac, Switch Mac and Makeup.The next switch chuck is all-most, and the switch chuck shown again is perfect.In addition, the early chuck makes you feel like you can afford it.I was convinced that the podium was visible.Kevin, who won the Air & Style in Munich a week ago, earned points in his early rotation, and Daisuke got a big tweak from a terrifyingly speedy approach!It made me realize once again that height is something that uplifts people.Andy, who won the QP in the past, also made rodeo-like front 720 and front 900 one after another.In addition, the style is also shown with seat belts and big tweaks.The versatility of the technique and the sense of stability in the air are still Travis.Trick and grab position are different every time with to fakie melong love, backside 540 nose grab, backside 720 indie grab.Furthermore, chuck flip to fakie!Why does it work from there?Demonstrate a lot of department stores.In terms of revs, Kohei, Liszt, Andy made the F900, and Ichiumi made the smooth backside 900.After that, Kohei and Liszt aimed at the front 1080, but both could not make up, and Liszt was slightly closer to make-up.
The final results are as follows.
▲ Left) Andy Finch / Right) Kevin Pearce
▲ QP RANK 1 BIB # 12 Travis Rice

Nakai unfortunately finished in XNUMXth place.Depending on the point of view, there were many voices saying that it wouldn't be strange for Nakai to be in XNUMXnd or XNUMXrd place, but rather that should be the case.In fact, I thought so too.The results can't be moved as a result, but Nakai's performance must have felt like a lot of people in the world.And XNUMX-year-old Ichiumi and Kohei must have felt the potential to fight the world.I think it won't be long before they will be crowned at this tournament next year or some other international tournament.
▲ HIGHEST AIR Daisuke Murakami
▲ WINNER Travis Rice

December 2007, 12 (Sun) Straight jump
Straight Jump on Sunday after dawn.The venue, Tokyo Dome, was packed with an audience of 4 people.
It seems that there are many repeaters who want to see this show again once they experience it.Aki Haraguchi, who reports at the venue, makes comments such as "It's the XNUMXth time" and "I'm coming every time".

For us SBN / Yukibancho, the big news is that Tadashi Fuse has joined the group.And in this X-TRAIL JAM Straight Jump, Snow Bancho riders Akifumi Hiraoka, Atsushi Ishikawa, Tadashi Fuse, and Choco Vanilla Ball Arai, who was the Snow Bancho Friends and was decided to participate in the No. 1 WEB vote, will participate. ing.
In the Japanese qualifying, Tadashi Fuse showed a perfect aerial posture one-foot indie grab and double backflip, but the landing did not match and he was eliminated, and Vanivo also showed Switch B900, but the landing was disturbed and he was eliminated.However, the service spirit is vigorous, such as making the venue boil with the costume of a para man.I want to expect it next time.
▲ SBN & Yukibancho Friends: Left) RIO Tahara / Right) Vanivo

A gorgeous grand opening with the usual roaring sound.And the main race qualifying started.Participants are Matthew Klepel, Atsushi Ishikawa, Liszt Matira, Travis Rice, David Benedek, Mikkel Bang, Mutsuo Yamaguchi, Keiji Okamoto, Akifumi Hiraoka (Japanese invited player), Andy Finch, Takaharu Nakai, Kevin・ Pearce, Takato Taniguchi, Tostein Hogmo, Haku Suzuki, and Danny Davis.
First of all, the list is the one that hit over 1 points for the first run.Front 300 tail grab with Vita make 900.Furthermore, Keiji Okamoto, also known as KJ, surpassed that.Double back flip Indy grab with perfect make-up 319.And Haku Suzuki, who once boiled the Tokyo Dome many times, is a backside rodeo 325 Mellong Love with no complaints 900.Danny follows with a cork-like backside 333 and 720.The Japanese occupy the 301st and 1nd place of the first run, and the venue heats up at once.But it's not just the audience that's getting hot.The fighting spirit of the overseas invited players also ignited.
The second and first Matthew jumps out of the kicker and makes a switch backside 2 indie grab that makes you want to scream "high!" Mark the highest point of 1.Last year's champion Travis was second only to Matthew in a double backflip double grab 900.Akifumi Hiraoka also jumped too much on the first run and made a double back, but the second run was barely combined and confirmed to break through the qualifying at 335.As a result, Atsushi, who was at the last minute of the passing line, was decided to lose the qualifying in 334th place.It's a shame that Atsushi made up both Switchbackside 1s after overcoming last year's injury.However, this result was the first full-scale tournament participation after returning.It shouldn't be long before the day to clear the snow.
The results of the main qualifying round are as follows.
1. Matthew Klepel, 2. Travis Rice, 3. Haku Suzuki, 4. Keiji Okamoto, 5. Liszt Matilla, 6. Akifumi Hiraoka, 7. Danny Davis, 8. Torstein Horgmo

And the Semi Final jam session.There must be many spectators who come to see X-TRAIL JAM because they want to see this jam.An unlimited number of competitions within the time limit.It is no exaggeration to say that the real thrill of snowboarding is that it can appeal to styles and variations, unlike competition methods that tend to be biased toward the number of revolutions and difficulty.In fact, a number of dramas were born in this jam session.The spectators were expecting something and were witnessing something.
And the historic 25 minutes started.
Matthew made a switch backside 900, then Travis made a front flip to 180, Haku made a rodeo 540, KJ made a backsight 720, Wrist made a frontside 900, and Aki made a straight nose grab. Makeup, Danny made CAB900, Tostein made a switch backside 720 almost, and a round with a high make-up rate.
Let's take a look at the players of interest.Contrary to his humorous words and deeds, KJ completely completes the double backflip, and with a view to the double cork to 180 that Travis showed last year, he will make front cork 540 and front cork 900.He loves Travis and has practiced this technique many times.Travis makes a double cork to 180 in front of KJ! KJ also dared to challenge, but unfortunately he didn't make up.However, the high potential was fully demonstrated.
▲ Yukibancho Rider: Atsushi Ishikawa (10th in qualifying)
▲ Yukibancho Rider: Tadashi Fuse (9th in Japanese qualifying)

Torstein, who entered the race for the first time this time, was just past the qualifying, but the tricks with style are amazing. The switch backside 2 I showed on the second one was so smooth that it looked like a 900.
This is also a Scandinavian player, but this is the list that will be his third appearance.This also definitely decides where to decide. The 3th one finally decided the front side 7.
Matthew was the most dead on that day.Anyway, climbing, flying, and making up.During the jam session, I skipped 9 of them and made 7 of them.The highlight was the switch backside 6 that I showed on the 1080th! !!can not believe it.
Meanwhile, this man is still alive.Travis doesn't do the same trick as once.To list, front flip to1 ○, front 180 ○, CAB720 ○, backside rodeo 720 ×, double cork to720 ○, switch backside 180 ○, demon-high CAB540 ○, and one of the tightening we again I was amazed.Backside 900 ​​from Double Cork? !!1 rotations with cork rotation and 360 rotation with horizontal rotation, total 2 rotations, that is, 1 degrees.Moreover, it's completely make-up!This guy is evolving again!

The results of the Semi Final were announced in the midst of excitement.
1. Travis Rice, 2. Matthew Klepel, 3. Liszt Matilla, 4. Danny Davis, 5. Keiji Okamoto, 6. Torstein Horgmo, 7. Haku Suzuki, 8. Akifumi Hiraoka
Following the brief INTER MISSION, ZEEBRA's live will warm the venue.
▲ MOST IMPRESIVE RIDER: Keiji Okamoto (5th in the final round)
▲ SBN & Yukibancho Rider: Akifumi Hiraoka (8th in the final round)

And finally Final.
The first, the list failed the front 1.
Matthew fails Switchbackside 1260.
And Travis also failed the double cork 1080 that he showed at the end with jam.
The whereabouts of the game are still unknown.
Second, the arena is all standing.
And Liszt challenges the front side 1080 tail grab again.
make!Cheers just cracking in the hall.
Will Matthew take safety precautions to reduce the number of revolutions?Or will you challenge 1260 again?But he also chose the Switchbackside 1260 Indy Grab.However, the landing does not fit slightly.
The last rider, Travis, should be able to win if he can make tricks that exceed 1080 front.However, he also chose Double Cork 1 as well as the first one.From popping out to aerial posture is perfect ... but unfortunately I couldn't make up.

As a result, the victory of the list was decided.
The list that made 1080 under pressure was also great.However, Matthew and Travis challenged the final with the best technique they can do now, not as a safety measure.This Final, which captivated the audience, will probably be handed down.

▲ SJ RANK 3 BIB # 2 Mathieu Crepel
▲ SJ RANK 2 BIB # 12 Travis Rice
▲ SJ RANK 1 BIB # 8 Risto Mattila

As I wrote at the beginning, I pointed out the breakthrough of Japanese riders at this tournament.Especially when it comes to the Quarter Pipe, it can be said that there is almost no difference with the world.However, it is an undeniable fact that the monsters that far surpass the level up of the Japanese reign at the top of the world.
When will the Japanese samurai chase after this monster?

★ This tournament is certified as one of the highest rank 6 STAR tournaments of Swatch presents TTR.

text: Mr.