FIS News
New location for Freestyle Ski World Cup Moguls events in Japan
Following the successful outcome of the moguls competitions and the record breaking TV and social media audiences at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi (RUS), Japan is stepping up to host a FIS moguls and dual moguls World Cup event.
After holding competitions since 1988, in Fukushima, Niigata and Nagano, the World Cup will now move to Lake Tazawako in Akita. From 28th February-1st March 2015 four competitions for ladies and men will take place at Akita’s largest ski area, Tazawa Kogen which overlooks the lake of Tazawako, a famous tourist destination. Akita is known for its abundant snowfall and hot springs, several of which can be found in the hills above the Lake Tazawako.
FIS Freestyle Skiing Coordinator Joseph Fitzgerald recently returned from a visit to Japan where events for the next three seasons were finalised. He met with Norihisa Satake – Governor, Yoichi Suzuki – President of the Japanese Ski Association, Ken-Ichiro Sato - Deputy Speaker of the Akita Prefectural Assembly and President of the Akita Ski Association, and representatives of the Akita prefecture and Semboku City.
Fitzgerald commented: “The competitions have the full support of Norihisa Satake, the governor of the Akita prefecture and the Organising Committee is well prepared and highly motivated. The governor is a keen skier and mentioned he had skied on the competition slopes when he was younger. More than 100 athletes will compete in two days of competitions which are expected to be followed by more than 5,000 spectators on-site. Especially prior to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Asia, this is an important milestone in encouraging the continued development of the sport in Japan and in Asia in general.”
During the visit, all parties performed an on-site inspection and elaborated discussed the requirements for the staging of the events. ”We are dealing with a fully functioning ski area, lots a lot of snow and a large competition staff of 150 people who are eager and motivated to run the competitions. Accommodations for the teams are well situated. I know that the competitors always look forward to coming to Japan and this will be another new experience”, reported Fitzgerald.
The Tazawako Kogen ski resort forms part of the Shirakami mountain range, 17,000 hectares of which make up Japan’s first entry in UNESCO’s natural World Heritage list. The highest peaks in the range are Mount Mukai-Shirakamidake at 1,250 meters and Mount Shirakamidake at 1,235 meters above sea level.
Source: the official FIS site
After holding competitions since 1988, in Fukushima, Niigata and Nagano, the World Cup will now move to Lake Tazawako in Akita. From 28th February-1st March 2015 four competitions for ladies and men will take place at Akita’s largest ski area, Tazawa Kogen which overlooks the lake of Tazawako, a famous tourist destination. Akita is known for its abundant snowfall and hot springs, several of which can be found in the hills above the Lake Tazawako.
FIS Freestyle Skiing Coordinator Joseph Fitzgerald recently returned from a visit to Japan where events for the next three seasons were finalised. He met with Norihisa Satake – Governor, Yoichi Suzuki – President of the Japanese Ski Association, Ken-Ichiro Sato - Deputy Speaker of the Akita Prefectural Assembly and President of the Akita Ski Association, and representatives of the Akita prefecture and Semboku City.
Fitzgerald commented: “The competitions have the full support of Norihisa Satake, the governor of the Akita prefecture and the Organising Committee is well prepared and highly motivated. The governor is a keen skier and mentioned he had skied on the competition slopes when he was younger. More than 100 athletes will compete in two days of competitions which are expected to be followed by more than 5,000 spectators on-site. Especially prior to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Asia, this is an important milestone in encouraging the continued development of the sport in Japan and in Asia in general.”
During the visit, all parties performed an on-site inspection and elaborated discussed the requirements for the staging of the events. ”We are dealing with a fully functioning ski area, lots a lot of snow and a large competition staff of 150 people who are eager and motivated to run the competitions. Accommodations for the teams are well situated. I know that the competitors always look forward to coming to Japan and this will be another new experience”, reported Fitzgerald.
The Tazawako Kogen ski resort forms part of the Shirakami mountain range, 17,000 hectares of which make up Japan’s first entry in UNESCO’s natural World Heritage list. The highest peaks in the range are Mount Mukai-Shirakamidake at 1,250 meters and Mount Shirakamidake at 1,235 meters above sea level.
Source: the official FIS site
