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§42 People makes Hirafu colorful (5)

You can enjoy the charm of the snowboard by fine powder snow of Hirafu.

Japan Snowboarding Association authorized MOTHER GOOSE
Director KIMURA Seiko

In the mid-1990s, the boom of snowboarding had come rapidly.
On weekends, a lot of tourists from the mainland and a lot of young snowboarders with brand new snowboard from Sapporo and its surroundings came to Hirafu. Adoption of snowboard as official events (giant slalom, half pipe) for Nagano Winter Olympic Games (1998) had become a powerful tailwind to spread snowboard. KIMURA Seiko was born in Kutchan. In 1998, she opened a snowboard school authorized by Japan Snowboarding Association (JSBA) in Hirafu.

第42回、マザーグース、木村 聖子さん

KIMURA Seiko(Front Left) and Members of Junior Team

Of course the winter play was skiing in the days of a child. For children were born and raised in Kutchan, in winter there is no play other than skiing. When snowboard began to attract attention, I wanted to do things other than skiing and I tried snowboard. I became crazy about snowboarding immediately.
I learned the basics of snowboarding at SEKI Noriaki’s authorized snowboard school in Rusutsu Resort (Rusutsu, Abuta).
I became more addicted to snowboarding; I took a certification of authorized instructor soon. And I became a snowboard instructor. Before long, replacing Mr. Seki, I became a director of the school.
After about seven years, I opened the snowboard school “Mother Goose” authorized by Japan Snowboarding Association (JSBA) back in Hirafu.

First, I was intended to set snowboarding solidly in place in my hometown by teaching the basics of snowboard as well as the basics of human being. So, I am also focusing on the following three attitudes. You must take good care of your equipment. Even a child must carry one’s baggage by oneself. You must say hello in a good manner. The better you improve your snowboarding, the more you can enjoy the charm of the snowboard by fine powder snow of Hirafu.

I have been committed to snowboarding for beginners have a good time anyway. So, I called the school “Mother Goose” without a sporty image. We are instructing beginners to be able to turn as soon as possible, without regard to small things. Even if beginners can turn, they can enjoy snowboarding. Anyone should want to improve naturally by feeling pleasure of snowboarding.

Children of Kutchan shape the future of Hirafu. So I established a junior team named “Jaga Borders” in the school. (“Jaga” means potato that is Kutchan’s famous produce.) The junior team brought up WATANABE Daisuke who is trying to participate for Sochi Olympic Games (2014, Russia).

Shortly after the school has opened, I noticed that running the school is not merely business in slope of my hometown, but also I have duty to contribute to Hirafu and Kutchan. And I am discussing about Hirafu and Kutchan with people of lodging and lift companies; I also took part to Junior Chamber. I think I am participating more deeply in the town where I was born and raised.

Japan Snowboarding Association authorized MOTHER GOOSE
5, Minami 4, Kutchan
Tel.: 0136-23-3173
http://www5.ocn.ne.jp/~goose/