With winter soon approaching, it’s time to dust off your skis and get your winter jackets out of the closets. As a devout snow hedonist from a young age, I always got excited with the prospect of the first family ski trip to the slopes in Canada each winter. After a few years of skiing with my folks, I think they realized that the enthusiasm of youth surpassed their concept of what a pleasurable ski day was for them and so they enrolled me in a race-training program. This suited me fine, because I could ski as fast as I wanted. It also pleased them, because it was supervised by coaches and developed my technique.
I later went on to higher levels of ski racing across Alberta, then moved on to become an instructor — now I am a ski guide here in Hakuba and help manage a ski school. Those initial years of structured race training and skill development not only fostered a strong drive to train and compete, but also instilled a love of being outdoors and just having fun on the mountain.
This year here at Evergreen, besides our regular lessons, we are offering young people the opportunity to get involved in programs similar to those that I took part in. First timers are more than welcome to join in with our certified ski and snowboard coaches, who will get them going in either a race- or freestyle-oriented program. Including a freeride component in their program is also encouraged in order to allow children to ride the entire resort while working on style and finesse.
Our aim is to give children the opportunity to try either of these disciplines at a level structured to their ability, and to allow them to create attainable goals in their skiing or snowboarding. While skiing and snowboarding on their own are wonderful activities, besides being just a pastime for youth, the added element of challenge and competition allows participants an avenue through which to focus their energy. There is something contagiously exciting when one of your children or students lands their first 360, or beats the fastest time of their teammate on the course. It’s not all about winning either: camaraderie, having a laugh, learning the proper methods, and doing all of that in a safety-conscious manner are foundations for love of the sport and a love of the outdoors.
With supervised transport from the Tokyo area to and from Hakuba, meals and accommodation provided, and professional coaching from Evergreen, these programs can make a great weekend getaway for kids and parents alike. We may even create a few future Olympians in the process! — JAMES A. ROBB
