REPORT

The opening ceremony for the demonstration skiing division of the National Student Iwatake Skiing Competition, one of the largest and most traditional ski competitions in Japan, was held on 3/3 (Sun.), and the qualifying round for individual performances was held yesterday. Today, the main competition will begin at 9:00 a.m. with 322 men and 162 women competing. Hitomi Harayama (pictured), a member of the Meiji University Rondor skiing club, was very relaxed and posed for a photo just before the start of the competition.
[Up Bahn]

The finals for the men’s individual competition was taking place on the upper portion of Kamoshika (pictured). As the competitors began their runs, their teammates could be heard shouting encouragement. The athletes were making sharp, precise turns on the moderately firm, groomed powder snow surface. (*Pictured: Shinshu University Demonstration Skiing Team’s Reine Araya.)
[Kamoshika]

After their competition runs, Kei Matsumoto (pictured right, Waseda University Suga Ski Club) and Kana Itakura (pictured left, Waseda University Suga Ski Club), who placed first and third, respectively, in the Women’s Qualifying B runs yesterday, made themselves available for a photoshoot and interview. Kei Matsumoto told me, “I’m not performing my best today, but I will do what I can to advance to the finals.” Kana Itakura said, “I was able to do what I hoped to do in the first run, and I’ll try my best in the next rounds as well.”
[Kometsuga]

There was a thin fog hanging over the Mountain Side first thing in the morning. The South Slope was groomed with a moderately packed, powder snow surace, while the Sunny Valley course (pictured) was also groomed with moderately firm powder snow up top and wet snow with a powdery feel on the last part of the course. The student competitions will continue with the men’s and women’s finals tomorrow 3/6 (Wed.), the men’s and women’s rookie competitions on 3/7 (Thurs.), and the team competitions on 3/8 (Fri.).
[Sunny Valley Course]

　　　　
[Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field Details on 3/5 (Tue.)]
*All Courses are OPEN (Except for North)
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00-), and totally 7 lifts.
*Fees … 1 Day Ticket … Adult Weekends & Holidays JPY5,200, Weekday JPY5,000, 6-12 y/o Weekend & Holidays JPY3,200, Weekday JPY3,000, 60-69 y/o JPY4,800, Over 70 y/o JPY4,600 *A preschooler will be free per adult.
　
＊Printable Rental Discount Coupons!
Carving Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY3,000 / Outerwear JPY2,500!
Carving Ski・Snowboard High Performance Model Rental JPY500 OFF!
Kid’s Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY2,500 / Outerwear JPY1,500!
　　
*Request for the original data of our photographs
　

reported by Snownavi