REPORT

Today, allow us to introduce one of the up-and-coming participants in the Technical Ski Championships. Yui Katsuura (pictured, from Hokkaido), a Mizuno Brand Ambassador, is a young skier who has been finishing higher up the rankings each year, coming in 17th in 2019, 9th in 2021, and 8th in 2022. This year, she finished the first day of qualifying in 5th place, only 6 points behind the leader.
[Usagidaira Slope]

Around 7:00 a.m. this morning it was pouring rain, and there was some worry about the weather during the competition, but by the time I headed up to Usagidaira with the athletes at 7:40 a.m., the rain had almost completely stopped, and blue skies were peeking through the clouds. The groomed granular snow surface on the Panorama Course had a moderately soft outer layer, and the rhythmic sound of athletes warming up with quick turns broke the morning silence.
[Panorama Course]

National Demonstrator Katsutomo Ishimizu (pictured, from Gifu), who sat in a tie for 15th place on the first day of qualifying, runs a ski school in Honokidaira, while also posting videos on technique and more on YOUTUBE. More and more athletes in the ski industry are taking advantage of social media to directly and independently disseminate information. (*You may notice that his bib was fluttering in the strong morning winds.)
[Usagidaira Slope]

Takao Maruyama (pictured, from Nagano), who is retiring as a National Demonstrator at the end of this season, is making his 22nd appearance in the technical qualifiers this year, having first competed in 2001 when he was a senior in college. On the first day of qualifying, he was tied for third place with Shun Okumura and Keisuke Iyama, only three points outside of first place. Incidentally, Maruyama will be giving special lessons from 3/17 (Fri.) to 3/20 (Mon.), and a retirement party will be held for him on 3/18 (Sat.).
[Usagidaira Slope]

*Results for the 2nd day of Technical Qualifying: Men – 1st Shun Okumura (Kyoto, 1,109 points), 2nd Ryu Takeda (Hokkaido, 1,103 points), 3rd Yuki Kawakami (Gunma, 1,102 points), 5th Takao Maruyama (Nagano, 1,095 points), 16th – Katsutomo Ishimizu (Gifu, 1,084 points), 161st – Yuto Muraki (Gakuren, 1,033 points) / Women – 1st Yui Sunohara (Nagano, 1,094 points), 2nd Kurumi Kamiya (Hokkaido, 1,092 points), 3rd Kao Yumino (Hokkaido, 1,086 points), 4th Miku Kuriyama (Niigata, 1,085 points), 10th Yui Katsuura (Hokkaido, 1070 points)

　　
[Happo-One Opening Information for 3/10 (Fri.)]
*All courses are available!
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00 a.m.-), totally 15 lifts
*Fees … Adult JPY6,500, 6-17 y/o JPY3,200, Over 65 y/o JPY5,800 (Until Mar. 12)

*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!

*Click here to purchase photos found in this report
　
　
reported by Snownavi