Enjoying the Blaublitz Akita Ski School
On February 1st, we held a ski school for children of employees from our Yokote and Yuzawa factories. Orbray collaborates with the NPO Blaublitz Akita Sports Network, established by Akita's professional soccer team Blaublitz Akita to promote sports and develop athletes. The ski school is held on winter weekends at Tengamori Ski Resort in Yokote City. This year, the number of participants and season pass purchasers has more than tripled compared to last year.
While Yokote rarely sees clear skies in winter, this day blessed us with beautiful blue skies. Compared to last year, there was plenty of snow, creating perfect conditions.
With many coaches present, participants received detailed instructions tailored to their skill levels. While some groups took leisurely breaks between runs, others energetically skied continuously throughout the two-hour lesson.
In the past, skiing was commonly part of physical education classes in winter. Recently, however, even children in snowy regions are becoming less familiar with skiing. Many children participating this time were almost complete beginners. Nevertheless, after just two hours of lessons, they gained enough confidence to ride the lift and ski down from higher slopes.
Children who started with "try-ski" aids (which fix ski tips in a snowplow position) were able to ski without assistance by the end of the class.
The Namiki family has been passionate about winter sports for generations. It began with my grandfather's enthusiasm for skiing, which he wanted to share with employees and their families, and so built accommodations in Echigo-Yuzawa. My father was also an avid skier, and under his influence, I started skiing at age two, participating in employee tours and even serving as the company ski school principal.
I became engrossed in snowboarding, which my innovation-loving father brought back from the United States. Despite not being naturally athletic, I took to snowboarding, winning national championships and competing in World Cup events worldwide. While my competitive days were challenging, looking back, I'm grateful for the enriching experience and support I received. Now, I want to share with others the joy of winter sports that has enriched my life.
Learning that children weren't skiing much despite living just 30 minutes from ski resorts in Yuzawa and Yokote, we started the ski school with Blaublitz Akita a year ago. Thanks to flyer distribution in southern Akita and word-of-mouth from previous participants, more children are now purchasing season passes and frequently visiting the ski resort.
The children's response to this ski school was excellent, with many saying they "really enjoyed the almost one-on-one coaching and wanted to ski more."
Skiing equipment can be expensive, especially for growing children who need new boots each year. To address this, we collaborated with Blaublitz Akita to collect used equipment, gathering over 900 items! These are now available for free rental, making skiing more accessible to everyone.
We're excited to announce the launch of our adult ski club. For those interested in joining, please reach out to Blaublitz Akita for more information.
We also hold an adult ski circle with Blaublitz Akita.
