Cortina / ○320cm / Partly Cloudy2021.Feb.11

The JAPAN FREERIDE OPEN (JFO) kicked off today with the quick two-day event scheduled to conclude tomorrow. Today’s junior category saw 37 skiers and 23 boarders join the competition.After completing registration and check-in, the participants were divided into 11 groups and sat through a brief orientation about the schedule and rules by the instructor who would also be giving them their afternoon freeride lesson.
[Ikenota]

The overnight snows had ceased by 8:00 a.m., and the morning sun was shining through the low-lying clouds. Frost could be seen covering the trees in a frozen veil of white at the top of the resort (pictured) where around 15cm of fresh snow had accumulated, along with around 5cm at the base of the mountain.Conditions were ideal on the groomed runs such as the Hiedayama Rinkan, Itadaira, Ikenota and Ipponmatsu courses where the compacted surface of the slopes was composed of soft powder snow.
[Tree Run Area]

The upper portion of the Warabidaira Slope, just south of the tree run (pictured), was the stage for the JFO junior category competition.Due to the rising temperatures warming the slopes and loosening the snow surface, extra time was given for the course inspection, resulting in the start time being pushed back to 10:50 a.m.Many of the riders seemed to be struggling in the wet, heavy snow, while some could be seem taking advantage of the undulating terrain to trade turns on the sticky slopes for air time.
[Tree Run Area]

I caught up with one of the junior male competitors (pictured, left) who told me, “This was my second time to participate in this event. I had a really good time.” A father cheering at the goal area said he was hopeful his child would finish towards the top of the podium.
Tomorrow’s open category (15 years and older) will be held in the same area, and is scheduled to get going at 9:30 a.m.
[Warabidaira]

[Availability Information for Feb. 11]

* Almost All Areas Available (Except for Giant, Itadaira-one, Itadaira Rinkan, Rabbit, Snake, Kamoshika)

* Available Lifts … No.2 Quad (8:30 a.m.–), totally 4 lifts

* Lift Price … Adult: JPY4,200, Child: JPY2,600, Over 60 y/o: JPY3,700

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi