X-TRAIL JAM IN TOKYO DOME "Quarterpipe"
■ The first day.Last day of the snowboarding contest
X-TRAIL JAM is celebrating its 5th time this year.It has already been recognized by snowboarders as an event that heralds the start of winter, and gathering at Tokyo Dome is a sign of the start of the season.
X-TRAIL JAM has shown up a snowboarding contest in a way never seen before, and has continued a snow event held only in the snowy mountains in the middle of the big city of Tokyo.Was it what the organizer aimed for or wasn't it?Or maybe because the audience wanted it.The five years accumulated at Tokyo Dome have made X-TRAIL JAM completely different from other snowboarding events.
Certainly, the audience is intoxicated by the rider's sophisticated technique, and the high-level tricks are so exciting that it seems that blood has flowed all over the body, and the screams of delight are repeated.However, the appeal of X-TRAIL JAM cannot be fully explained by the excitement of such sports. 4th last year.It was hidden in the shadow of a rider named Rio.
Last year, Rio was the only Japanese to win the quarterpipe final.The competition format for the final is a jam session.You can fly as many jam sessions as you like within a certain period of time.How much you can show will also affect how many you can fly.Momentum, the riders climbed to the starting point with a speed close to running, and started shortly after breathing.Once you start, it's a world where concentration and instant power are important.Immediately after completing a breathtaking ride to the last minute, he ran up to a height of 25 meters above the ground again.What if I repeat this?Usually my legs get stuck.I'm breathing up.However, Rio stepped forward, breathing on his shoulders, but did not stop slipping.Rio, who continued to slip as it was, finally fell into a state of oxygen deficiency.I can't hear the surrounding sounds, and I can't understand the content even if I'm spoken to.In such a vague consciousness, Rio, who continued to fly only with the reflexes as a snowboarder accumulated in his body, finally flew higher than anyone else and won the Highest Air Award brilliantly.In other words, it climbed out of reach of anyone else.I just want to fly purely for no reason.And higher than anyone else.Only simple rules that any snowboarder can understand can push the rider to the limit. After finishing the 4th time, X-TRAIL JAM will find the Tobira that evolves from "season sports event" to "human drama called snowboarder".
And this year.Rio has once again won the quarterpipe final.A man who crushed his jaw in the spring and couldn't bite into Roku until before the summer was exempted from the Japanese qualifying as a seed player from last year's results.It is said that he will participate in the semi-finals.
By the way, in the Japanese qualifying, the top 14 riders will advance to the semi-finals after running 6 runs each from 6 riders selected through online voting.As usual, quarterpipes with artificial snow on artificial walls require unique tips.This year, the walls are a little open, and most riders have entered from the backside and played with strong kicking tricks.Up to 4 out of 30 people who passed the Japanese qualifying are lined up with vertical tricks such as Mac Twist and Upper Deck.Among them, Tadashi Fuse showed off a toe fakie like a precision machine, with the takeoff point and landing point unchanged by 6 cm.Although he said he chose the trick to fly the highest, he decided to show off a vivid transition judgment that no one could imitate.Osamu Ohira, who passed the Japanese qualifying in XNUMXth place, was the only one to bring it to the flat spin with an early oop.Moreover, while approaching with the heel edge, the last kick is a super-technical opportunity to make the toe edge work.Other riders praise the mysterious flat spin, even though it can only do this.
Let's talk about one accident here.Haku Suzuki has been ranked second in straight jumps for three consecutive years.Considering the large number of world-class players, this result should be fully evaluated.However, as long as there is a top, it is instinct to aim for that.That is why X-TRAIL JAM is a special tournament for Haku. I don't want to make the second place a reserved seat.Aim for the top with a straight jump.That is the X-TRAIL JAM for Haku.
This year, the count also participated in the quarterpipe.The result of the online voting was recommended by many fans, but for Haku, the result of the online voting is nothing but happy.While aiming for a straight jump, do everything you can with the quarterpipe to please your audience.That was the goal for this year.This is the first qualifying round for Haku.Haku, who made a mistake in edging at the takeoff railroad crossing, fell.When you fall on your lip, you will twist your left knee.My left knee had been hurt from the front, but in this fall I was forced to bend my knee sideways.Feeling something was wrong, I skipped the second run and finally finished the quarterpipe qualifying without putting any effort into my knees.Haku's left leg, which returned to the player waiting room, became swollen and he could not even walk alone.
Let's get back to the competition.From the quarterpipe semi-finals, a total of 16 riders will compete in a jam session format, including seed players from overseas.The foreign players who appeared from here will show off tricks with a high degree of perfection that will make you truly world class.Gian Simmen, who expresses the joy of snowboarding with his whole body by unfolding various tricks every time, makes a double grab or an old-style nose grab lightly on the front 720.As his hobby is juggling, the number one Jonas Emery is front flipping at the same time as the start when it comes to entertaining the audience.I approached the quarterpipe as it was and decided to slow down the backside 540.Travis Rice has performed powerful tricks with a powerful flight.With strong legs that will surely land on any trick, he will steadily handle 720 in all directions.That one-foot Mac twist is what I expect from Terrier Harkansen, who has already become the face of X-TRAIL JAM and is known as the legendary rider.Of course, Terrier knows that too.However, if it is not the right time yet, I will aim for Hi Air with a normal Mac twist while deciding when to pull out the treasure sword of the legendary family.In addition, Andy Finch, who has so many tricks that it is said that there are no tricks that can not be done, will participate for the first time.While showing off the spin tricks on the switchback side one after another, insert a simple grab trick at the key points.Riders who have acquired such skills and experience will appeal themselves in less than 30 minutes.Riders approach one after another and perform tricks at a height that looks up so that the announcement of the venue that calls the player's name is not in time.It will not be announced who is leading the points until the end of the competition.That is why riders are always required to slide at their best.In this way, the judges selected seven riders to advance to the final.Rio was also listed as the only Japanese in it.
Quarterpipe final.A festival of tricks by seven selected riders called the Super Final.7 minutes for all riders standing there to fully squeeze out their power.The appearance of Rio, who pushed himself to the limit last year, is imprinted on the memory of the audience and the hearts of the participating riders.That's why this year's final was so hot.As usual, Rio leads the rhythm, and with his favorite check flip, he easily reaches a height of 25 meters.Andy Finch made Switch 5, which makes me think that he still had such a trick.Travis Rice chases after Andy's trick with the same trick.However, Andy may have switched his aim from trick to height, and he flies straight up with a momentum that exceeds Rio's flight time.In addition, Terrier fully converts speed to height with a method that he is good at.I became a resident in the air completely with no waste.Rio chases the terrier again with a chuck flip.
Then all kinds of tricks were unfolded, and the last 5 minutes where everything was squeezed so that it seemed that there was nothing more.When Rio started, the cheers of the venue pumped up to full volume.Oxygen cylinders are also available this year, and doctors are also waiting.For that reason, no rider has appeared that leads to oxygen deficiency.However, the rider is already at the limit of his physical strength and energy.It is the air in this venue that pushes the rider's back.It's this cheer that seems to boil from the depths of the ground that moves the body, which makes you feel like sitting down on the spot if you get rid of it.It's the enthusiasm of the audience that clearly envelops the venue with its mass.Two more, can you fly or not?The battle against time.Fight with other riders.Fight against yourself.Swallowing them all, Rio started and hit the highest 2 meters and 5 centimeters of the day.Unfortunately, he missed the podium by only 20 points.However, he won the highest air for the second consecutive year and excited the audience the most this year as well.
On this day, X-TRAIL JAM completely opened the door.The contest drawn by a serious athlete is the highest quality drama. X-TRAIL JAM, which has entered its fifth year, has advanced to the next level on the first day.
Winner: Andy Finch (USA)
Runner-up: Travis Rice (USA)
3rd place: Terje Haakonsen (NOR)
Highest Air: Rio Tahara (JPN) / 5m20cm
Text: TAKURO HAYASHI.
X-TRAIL JAM IN TOKYO DOME / SNOWBOARD-STRAIGHT JUMP & QUARTER PIPE-AND MUSIC SESSION
2004.12.11 sat-12sun Tokyo Dome
▼ It is a pattern of X-TRAIL JAM IN TOKYO DOME.Click the image below to enlarge it for viewing.
X-TRAIL JAM IN TOKYO DOME "Straight Jump"
■ Second day.And the first day of a new level
The progress of the competition is easier to understand in the straight jump than in the quarter pipe.The reason is that the scoring method called "two-run best" is simply adopted, in which one person adopts the score of the one who can fly two by two.The audience can calculate how the current run was while the judges were scoring, who will fly next, and how many points they should have to win.There is no time to call the player's name like jam, so there is no busyness.However, the straight jump is also a jam session only in the final.On this day, a Japanese qualifying session will be held in which 10 out of 3 Japanese riders will be selected, followed by a qualifying session in which 16 to 8 riders, including seed players and Japanese qualifying riders, will drop out.Up to this point, the competition has been advanced with "Touran Best", and the final is a jam session with eight riders.The three winners will compete for the Super Final in "Tour Run Best" and decide the final ranking.
The slope of the landing on this jump platform is large, and the head will increase dramatically just by jumping a little too much.However, if you make a small jump, the score will not increase.How to aim for a clean landing with a jumping platform that can be said to be a falling system.Standing properly is the highest priority rather than increasing the score.It was Shota Suzuki who attacked such a difficult jumping platform among the riders of the Japanese qualifying who were selected by voting using the Internet.Although he missed the Japanese qualifying in the quarterpipe the day before, he was disappointed by the straight jump, which can be said to be a snow humiliation battle.He scored 720 points on the front side 268, and by the time the first qualifying run was over, he was in the provisional top position.It was Konishi (Takafumi Konishi) who waited for Shota to run alone.She made a beautiful switch backside 720, which she is good at, and ranked first in qualifying with 272 points.Jun Kamada, who showed a stylish flat spin with the form locked on the front side 3, bite into 540rd place in the qualifying, and the top 3 players proceeded to the qualifying.
In the qualifying, Akifumi Hiraoka, Tadashi Fuse, Mutsuo Yamaguchi, Haku Suzuki and others who were seed players in last year's results will be listed.From here on, it's a tricky conversation.First, JJ Thomas jumps out into the air with a heel rodeo 540 melancholy.Following Gian Simmen is last year's champion.While aiming for consecutive victories, he still demonstrates his style.The backside 720 indie is a pork style with a tight forefoot.In addition, Heiki Sosa spins with a front side 720 tail grab, making full use of the flight time, and 14-year-old Luke Mitrani bravely tries the front side 720.Unfortunately, I couldn't stand on the landing, but the cheering of the audience was heated up by pushing with a small body.Travis Rice develops the front side 720 melancholy, which is its specialty, in a compact form in two rotations.Shota Suzuki, who won from the Japanese qualifying, is a tail grab on the front side 720.Jun Kamada came here and chose the backside 720 indie, an astringent trick that is awesome to the expert.Maybe the entertainer's blood makes a noise, Jonas Emery's backside 720 is a two-grab nose and tail.I did the difficult trick of grabbing two places in the distance with a smile.Mutsui Yamaguchi, the Japanese spin master, is expected to have a high turnover.As expected, the front side 900 has been appealing with stale fish from the first shot.After this, Akifumi Hiraoka shoots a switchbackside 720 melancholy, and Tadashi Fuse sets up with a slow cab 720 melancholy.
And the name of Haku Suzuki was called.I hurt my left knee on the quarterpipe the day before, and at one point I couldn't walk alone.I thought about missing a straight jump, but Haku stood on the starting point with his knees fixed by taping.This morning, Haku said in a small voice.
"Don't overdo it, but I don't want to go home without doing anything."
It was a start to say so.
A straight jump puts a strain on the hind legs when landing.Haku's stance is Goofy.And Haku's specialty is the cab 900.Since we approach with a switch, the weight is put on the entry with the left foot in front.Furthermore, when landing, the left foot is behind.The Cab 900 was the trick I wanted to avoid most for Haku, who was hurt his left knee.In fact, although he released the first cab 900, which he was good at, Haku couldn't stand on the landing.I managed to stand up, but I couldn't step on the board for the subsequent braking.It's okay because I flew one.You can't force yourself to break your knees anymore.Some people around me should have thought so.The competition progresses with various anxieties and worries, hopes for winning, and a straightforward spirit that can only be seen in front.
Following Haku, Konishi is Switchbackside 720.And the legendary man, Terrier Harkansen, connects from Backflip Melancholia to Backside 180.Andy Finch, like an encyclopedia of tricks, finished the backside 720 with a melancholic and indie two-grab, and David Benedick, the first rider, grabbed the cab 540 with a mute.However, the style is so stylish that it is better to call it switch indie.Without knowing David's stance, it would have looked like a frontside 540 indie.
Tadashi Fuse and Shota Suzuki are the only Japanese who have finished the first run and are in the top eight.Haku was in 8th place.The second qualifying session to pray for the best jump that no one will make a mistake.If there is one reversal, the ranking will go up significantly.However, even if you are in the 12th place, if someone who follows you does better than you, your ranking will go down.I don't know how much I will be when everyone finishes slipping.That's why I fly with all my strength so that I don't have to regret it.Then, every time someone seriously flies, the venue will be filled with joy and disappointment.
The second run was also a rodeo attack by JJ Thomas, but he couldn't exceed the score of the first run and wasn't in the top eight.Gian Simmen was provisionally in 8th place, but again showed off his super pork on his second backside 11 indie.I landed this jump cleanly and marked 720 points at once.I jumped to 312nd place.Heiki Sosa, who is in 2rd place provisionally, does not have to overdo it at all, but he does a super high level trick called backside 3 melancholy.With this, he won 900 points and jumped up to the provisional 322st place.By the way, this 1 points is the highest score in this tournament.I would like to ask how high the tension of Heiki was.
Luke Mitrani didn't make it to 15th place in the first run, but he showed his best concentration here.The second one is the same front side 720 as the first one, but it is a tail grab.In addition, he endured the landing with a head and got a high score of 296 points.He broke into the provisional 7th place and knocked down Tadashi Fuse, who was the provisional 8th place at this time, to the provisional 9th place.
Following Luke, Travis Rice rolls out a switchbackside 540, but he can't land as he wants.That said, Travis has already taken second place provisionally on his first jump.You don't have to rush anything.By the way, Shota Suzuki on the right line brought out the nose grab of the backside 900 for the second time.However, this 900 did not lead to landing, and Shota's score remained at 288 points.The ranking is 8th, and he barely hopes to advance to the final.
After this, Jun Kamada showed a backside 720 indie, but 261 points.Temporary 5th place Jonas Emery made a generous chimpanzee air with a nose grab.Spin Master Mutsuo Yamaguchi has delivered a front side 900 stalefish as well as the first one.It turned vividly and seemed to stand clean, but could not withstand the impact of landing.As a result, 219 points.Shota is still in 8th place.
Akifumi Hiraoka played in the switchback side 720 melancholy of the rebirth, but he could not reach the qualifying pass line with 239 points.Tadashi Fuse changed his policy to show his style.I showed a tweak with a high degree of perfection that I would never notice that it was a switch unless I was told.Applause and stepping sounded like a rumbling in this style, and many audiences were intoxicated by the style.However, the score was 251 points, which could not surpass the first cab 720.
At this point, Haku's knees should have been close to the limit.No one will complain if you cancel your participation here.Haku would have known that.However, Haku decided to fly.About another one will be managed.It was a cab 900 melancholy stepping on that.Perhaps Haku was getting a feel for the first jump.How much can you overdo it?How much impact can be absorbed by muscle strength?So, after landing, Haku stepped on his whole body like never before, stepped on the sole, and clenched his teeth to support his body while trying not to make an edge.And 291 points.The score difference with Shota is only 3 points.Haku's position will be changed to provisional 8th place.Only Conitan and David Benedick were the only riders who hadn't slipped yet and were in 9th place or lower.If either of the two scores 291 points or more, Haku will not advance to the final.For today's judging, 720 points are hard if you stand up nicely with 280 or more.If the grab is decided, it will be 290 points.Both Konishi and David are well-thought-out riders to hit 290 points.However, although Konishi released a front side 900 indie, he made a mistake in landing, and David could not decide to land the cab 900 mute.
It's a decision.Haku is the only Japanese to go to the final.In the tournament where I hurt my knees and thought about missing, I got a chance to exceed the second place in the reserved seat.After finishing the qualifying, Haku said with a half-crying face.
"I was scared. I was really scared. I thought it was okay, but when I started slipping, I couldn't think of anything. I wish I had a little more ..."
In this way, Haku's final at the limit began. Fly as much as you can in a 25 minute jam session.That is the condition for winning.Rio ran out of oxygen at last year's tournament.With that rhythm, everything goes on.Heiki shoots 720s in all directions one after another and traces them with the same tricks as Jean pursues them.Andy gradually shifts up the number of revolutions from the switch stance to 720 and 900 on the back side.If Travis had a backside spin on the switch, he would deploy a regular corkscrew.Jonas flies on a mysterious axis of rotation and heats up the audience while flipping front in various places.And, as if to appeal the perfection of each one, Terrier shows a trick that accurately engraves the movement while suppressing the number of rotations.In this air, Haku made a cab 900 and endured landing on the backside 720.Looking at it, it seems that the landing is stable for each one and it is on the board.In this heated session, Haku is improving his skills one by one.And when I made the Heelside Rodeo 720 Melancholia, which was completed this summer, with a spirit, Haku's tension went up to Max.Raise your index finger while pushing your hands up many times.I can go.You can do the tricks you want to do rather than the ranking.The body moves as usual.Haku felt the response.The audience was delighted to see the usual Haku, clapping their hands, and shaking the entire Tokyo Dome with the deep bass of cheers as the Haku flew.In the shadow, Haku was hike-up and returned twice.2 minutes of jam session.Rapid exercise in a short period of time and the resulting oxygen deficiency and dehydration.And pain and tension.All of them attack the rider.It didn't reach the audience.However, Haku of the day pushed himself more than anyone, and pursued it more than anyone, fearing his limits more than anyone.I was groping for my limits as if I were crawling in the darkness.By mistake, not to exceed it.
Heiki, Andy, and Travis won the Super Final, and Heiki won the X-TRAIL JAM straight jump for the first time on the backside 3.Watching the situation, Haku said.
"Yeah, I'm satisfied. I couldn't make it to the Super Final, so I'm in 4th place provisionally? But I'm more happy with 2th place today than with 4nd place so far. That's why I'm more happy today. "
What is there when you really try to push the limits?How often can you say that you have done your best in your daily life?How exciting it is to be serious.How pure is it to be serious?And how much will it impress people?
Throughout the two days, X-TRAIL JAM showed a serious rider in a state where he might break himself.That's not just Rio and Haku, but all the riders who participated.I came with the intention of winning.That is why I did my best not to lose.
X-TRAIL JAM has opened the door.There was a new drama that went beyond the snowboarding contest.Tens of thousands of audiences will boost one serious athlete and push it to a higher level with just cheering.And athletes can impress tens of thousands of people with just one board.Such a dream-like drama is unfolding here.
Winner: Heikki Sorse (FIN)
Runner-up: Andy Finch (USA)
3rd place: Travis Rice (USA)
Text: TAKURO HAYASHI.
X-TRAIL JAM IN TOKYO DOME / SNOWBOARD-STRAIGHT JUMP & QUARTER PIPE-AND MUSIC SESSION
2004.12.11 sat-12sun Tokyo Dome
▼ It is a pattern of X-TRAIL JAM IN TOKYO DOME.Click the image below to enlarge it for viewing.
