We repay nature of Niseko from now on
Telemark Ski Assosiation of Japan’s honorary chairman, YUKIYAMA SANSO
YAMAMOTO YUKIO

　I was born in Iwanai in 1948. My father was teacher. Because father
became the principal of Soga Elementary School (Niseko), our family
moved to Niseko.

　We think that I am skier by nature. Because there was always ski in
everyday living. When I was primary schoolchild, means of
transportation of the winter season of about a half year was ski.
Therefore, even to neighboring house, we wore ski. Mail carrier sent
mail in ski, too. On the other hand, skiing was play. Father was crazy
about ski. When I gained physical strength, father took me to
backcountry skiing with father.

　Father was player of cross-country skiing before the war. Father
wrote several manuals after the war. From the considerable past of 1961
when lift was established, skiing was carried out flourishingly in
Niseko. Not to mention from Hokkaido, many people came to ski from
district except Hokkaido. They were people who really liked nature and
ski of Niseko.

　Lift started a business 50 years ago, and slope came to be
maintained. Large-scale tournaments such as all-Japan championship or
National Athletic Meet were held, and visitors who came to skiing area
triggered by it increased. But it became limited to slope that we could
do it with ski when lift was installed, and slope came to be
maintained. Skier with technique was able to ski freely in old days
wherever of mountain. However, it has been regulated that any skier
went outside slope. For skier with technique, this regulation is
unreasonable.

　However, it is dangerous that person without technique of ski goes
out to backcountry. In fact, after the 1980s, some accidents occurred
in backcountry. There was thereby time when ski in backcountry was
strongly regulated. Volunteer concerned about skiing not being possible
in backcountry made “Niseko rule”. Both sides of people who wanted to
regulate ski in backcountry to get rid of accident and skier who wanted
to glide in backcountry without regulation groped for with cooperation,
and, as a result, “Niseko rule” was devised. I think that we can enjoy
skiing safely in backcountry by following “Niseko rule”. I think that
activity in essentially free backcountry should revive by following
this rule.

　I opened “Yukiyama Sanso” in Hirafu in 1976 and did business for
approximately 15 years. I looked for free, mobile ski to play with
visitors in slope and wilderness without lift in spring. And I tried
telemark ski which nobody did in those days. I read manual of telemark
ski which father left and mastered telemark ski by self-education. As
you know, telemark ski is technique of skiing that developed in the
Norwegian Telemark district. Telemark ski differentiated in Alpen ski
and cross-country skiing later. Telemark ski is ski which is most
suitable for means of transportation in the mountains which can perform
“climbing, walk, run” easily. Friends who did telemark skiing gradually
increased, and they spread telemark skiing in various parts of Japan.

　By the way, cross-country skiing is very effective to guide visitor
in nature of Niseko. Because snow is firm, and there is much good
weather, the early spring is most suitable. Because you came to Niseko
with much effort, you should enjoy nature except slope. I think that it
should become common to be accompanied by guide who knows the field
well when visitor is in nature to enjoy nature more. I want more people
to know value and role of guide. I intend to bring up such a culture
patiently.

　Niseko is not so very large, but nature in the Aria is very
various. There are Mt. Yotei, Shiribetsu river, Niseko An’nupuri and
the Sea of Japan. As for me, both body and heart were brought up in
climate of Niseko. In this land, I did many fun, splendid experiences.
And I want to share such time with many people in future.

　At opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the Hirafu skiing area
opening of business, we think something to repay to nature which gave
splendid time to me so far. When we think like that, nature and our
relations will change.