Yoshihiro Sato, a snowboarder living in Hirosaki, finished second in the freeboard ski and snowboard international competition snowboard division at the Appi Kogen Ski Resort (Hachimantai, Iwate Prefecture).

The tournament that Mr. Sato participated in was the FWQ qualifying series of the "Freeride World Tour" (FWT). FWT was first held in Switzerland in 1996 and is now the world's largest freeride tour competition. Held in Europe, North America, Asia, etc., more than 5,600 players participated in 2018. It is said that you can participate in FWQ held in various places and participate in FWT with total points earned.

Freeride skis and snowboards are free to ski from a fixed start to a goal, where you compete for technique and style, not speed. Five items such as slippage, speed, jumps and tricks that take advantage of the terrain are the criteria for examination. It is attracting attention from all over the world as a new snow sport, and this is the first time that the event has been held in Tohoku.

Mr. Sato is from Gunma and moved to Hirosaki when he got married. Launching "GOOD ADVENTURE", which plans outdoor tours and sports that touch nature, accepts backcountry tours around Mt. Iwaki, and offers trekking and mountaineering guides.

“Aomori has a blessed natural environment suitable for skiing and snowboarding, such as Mt. Iwaki and Hakkoda, and there are enthusiasts who come from both outside the prefecture and abroad. Enjoy the fun of snow sports such as freeride and backcountry in Aomori. I wanted to make people know more about it,” says Sato.

Mr. Sato, who was the first player to participate in the tournament, said that the tension at the starting point was the first time. “Iwakiyama is more inclined and I told myself that I could get the results if I could do it as usual. I was pressured to see the previous players falling down one after the other, but the first jump was successful. What I did was the momentum, and I made it to the end without making mistakes."

"At the award ceremony, I accidentally stood on the podium without holding a snowboard board," he said with a wry smile. There are no plans to participate in the tournament this season, but they are scheduled to participate in the FWT in Hakuba, Nagano next season. “I want to achieve further results and aim for the world,” showing his motivation.