Posted by mark on 5/1/2003, 3:30 am Predator Wear: admin@predatorwear.com mark@predatorwear.com
210.232.42.221
At the base of Hakuba Goryu ski resort, in the Hakuba Valley in Nagano prefecture, Japan, there is a brand spankin' new water ramping facility. Created, built, maintaned and operated by the F-Style freestyle ski school, (tsunokai.com), the facility boasts three terrain park style ramps into a new 10' deep pool, as well as patio furnature, guard chairs, and a flybed tramp on a cement pad. Today was the second day of operation ever for this facility and it was utilized today by about 15 skiers. After coming off the hill from mogul and park skiing, we observed young japanese men and women lounging about the pool, bouncing, and launcing tricks into the pool.
This facility is probably unknown to most residents of the Hakuba valley, but it is a prime reason why Japan will become a freeskiing force next season and beyond. While residents of most ski communities in the US do not have access to water ramps in at our resorts, these facilities are popping up left and right at Japanese resorts. It's like a freeskiing cold war, because freeskiing competitions of the future are being decided now by access and dedicated practice at ramps like this one. Imagine being able to throw 100 rodeos, 100 mistys, 100 backflips, or 100 1080's per week all summer long, only minutes from your home. It's possible for residents of Lake Placid or Park City, but I feel that as residents of a community like North Lake Tahoe, unable to train like this, we are being left behind. Tahoe certainly has the demand for such facilities, yet we do not have a ramp. Why?
The Japanese are very good at adapting to change and communicating. These characteristics develop concepts, create plans, and make things happen. Combind that with hard volunteer work, and diplomatic relations with the resort, and BAM! You wind up with a water ramp to hang out at and jump at from May 1st through October.
In North Lake Tahoe, we are good at many things, but coming together as a community to make things like this happen is not our forte.
Why am I writing this? Because now you know. We are being left behind. Let's do something about it. Please feel free to leave your ideas in response to this posting.
This is a time of change for the freestyle community around Tahoe, with Duke Peterson's abrupt departure, (R.I.P, Duke), and the departure of Raymond DeVre, the uncertainty of Greg Harrington's role in the scheme of things, resignation of Squaw head coach, Ben Redfield, it's clear that we are at a turning point for freestyle in Tahoe. What's going to happen? Nothing, if we, the skiers don't do anything. I'm calling for quality networking and collaboration to create solutions. Step up to the plate and volunteer yourself to the cause. We're almost there, but we need a club, forum, or scheduled meetings to make it happen. Key people and organizations that can lend to the situation around tahoe include:
Ben Redfield: Highest certified air coach west of Utah
Clay Beck: Alpine Meadows head coach, already has water ramp plans underway
Kerry Miller: Utah Winter Sports Park Guru
Squaw, Alpine, Heavenly and Northstar Freeride and freestyle team members
Freestyle parents
Greg Harrington: Resourceful coach, NZ Ski Camps,
I'm calling you out! Let's get together and do something!
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