Video: Seasons of Shred - Big in Japan

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MasterOfStone (Jul 30, 2013 at 1:34)

Japan has a lot of potential for developing mtb trails/tracks, the sport is relatively new to Japanese but the number of people interested in riding outdoors is increasing. To keep this momentum in my opinion it is not only necessary to obtain permission from local communities and their local government but also for visitors to commit to respecting local rules and keeping the environment clean. Also shopping in their small local stores/restaurants is a way of creating a good image for the mtb community at large.

Other than that, awesome riding from this two guys. I can't wait to see the next episode of Seasons of Shred.

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orientdave (Jul 30, 2013 at 1:55)

This. Especially here in Japan. Land access is difficult. Mutually beneficial trail developments have to take the lead here or the MTB community will find itself very quickly shut out of places to ride. If you come here people, try and get yourself on a Trail Cutter day with Marcy-san www.facebook.com/pages/TRAIL-CUTTER/232983946719007?fref=ts and Fukui Izumi bike park too. www.facebook.com/fukuiizumi?fref=ts

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fabe (Jul 30, 2013 at 19:16)

100% agreed with you guys.
Mother nature gave them a huge potential... Unfortunately unexploited.
Riders in here should more focus on these issues rather than their riding gears and bike parts.

Also It's not unusual to see some guys using 3000 USD brand new DH bikes for going to supermarket.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/9905035
Drink holder, BMW stickers, lights...

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toytoy (Jul 31, 2013 at 11:00)

its cool to see dh all over the world

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Kuris (Jul 30, 2013 at 4:10)

Indeed, Japan has a lot of potential for developing mtb trails/tracks but Japan does nothing to do at all to develop it. I have been living & riding here for over 10 years but I do not see any improvements. No young people are riding, no major improvements on the level of the mass riders, no major initiative taken to move the sport and park to the next level, no support and a lot of barriers are made by the locals "old" community. Many tracks are full of useless stairs and are made for the hikers. Riders are not welcomed at all (including into the public transportations). The tracks and parks (in summer season) are not easy to access by train/bus and it costs a huge amount of money if you do so. No car = no mountain bike park. I really support & respect the Fukui park guys who build the tracks but they lack of support from the land owner/community to move the park to the next level (open the lift / the restaurant...). This video is nice on a marketing point of view to promote Japan as a great MTB destination but let say clearly that Japan is currently not an easy place to ride and to have fun on a downhill bike. That is regrettable as most of the country is occupied by nice mountains and could become a great spot (where you can ride from March to December). For example, there are many high mountains around the Kansai area (Osaka and Kobe) but 0 mountain bike park (the closest one is at 3 and half hour of driving distance). I cannot understand...

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orientdave (Jul 30, 2013 at 6:23)

Agreed Kuris. There is absolutely HUGE potential here, and as you say there is a lack of understanding or a huge amount of inertia, particularly among the landowners, of the potential of land to be used to provide an extra source of income. Izumi is a case in point, where the lifts / restaurants / toilets / taps are all closed down for the summer: no running water or electricity there people: riders are not seen as a serious source of income by people who are not themselves riders.

However there is one other reason I think is equally important, and that could go a very long way to explaining the general slow pace of MTB facilities being developed over here, and that is the education system and how it affects young riders. If you go to Fujimi, Izumi, Winghills etc, and take a look at the average age of the riders, it will be a good 10 to 20 years over the average age of riders that I see populating the vids of the BC bike parks; it is the dads here who do most of the riding, not their young sons. If their sons get into riding they will generally be very encouraged to take it up and develop their skills, but only until they reach the age called "juken" (study hard for University entrance examinations) at which point, one or both of their parents will ban bike riding in favour of some serious homework hours or cram school. And there you have it, a generation gone who find it hard to get back into it as they juggle life, work and the treadmill of the salaried employee. It is not conducive to a riding lifestyle. Oh, and the prices are criminal here!!!

So, they slowly melt away from the scene, until that is they reach middle age, when they start again. And the whole cycle starts over. Continues.....

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orientdave (Jul 30, 2013 at 6:23)

My local BMX track slash short course MTB course closed its doors two years ago because of lack of interest, and re-opened last year with a massive emphasis on bringing toddlers and young families into the facilities; people whose parents don't ride! They are making a success of it by focussing on young riders with 15 years of riding to come before their parents ban it!!! And yes, riders are behind the plans.

Given that all the recently developed trails and MTB centres I know of have been started by riders, it is imperative for the MTB scene here in Japan that we keep the 17 to 25 year olds interested and riding somehow; they are the ones with the energy and ideas for the future.

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andymeadows (Jul 30, 2013 at 6:59)

Completely agree, I am luckily enough to live in Niseko, a ski resort in Hokkaido. Over the last two years we have opened up a MTB park, currently with one DH track that we are building on every week. Great support from local businesses and riders, but we need more people to come visit and ride! There is also this summer a second track that just opened up 30 mins away in Rusutsu. Things are happening here!!!

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fabe (Jul 30, 2013 at 19:19)

100% agreed with you guys.
Mother nature gave them a huge potential... Unfortunately unexploited.
Riders in here should more focus on these issues rather than their riding gears and bike parts.

Also It's not unusual to see some guys using 3000 USD brand new DH bikes for going to supermarket.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/9905035
Drink holder, BMW stickers, lights...

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chyu (Jul 30, 2013 at 0:46)

After all these wheel fight, freeride is making a comeback to save the day.

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kumabiker (Jul 30, 2013 at 4:37)

I spent about 3 months traveling with the top mountain bikers in Japan. They were great people and talented. Allot of the older generation were pretty excited to see us around and they knew us as great people. Paper pushing makes it hard to do anything in Japan but I see nothing but progression there in regards to mountain biking

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Smell-The-Glove (Jul 30, 2013 at 12:41)

It kinda reminds me of something, what it is, hmmmm... oh yeah, just about every other bike park jump in the world

Don't get me wrong, top notch riders in a top notch location but it just seems like a waste to travel so far, to such an interesting country, just to hit the same kinda jumps you have at home. Why not show us more of the country?

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Sshredder (Jul 30, 2013 at 10:23)

Sweet vid. You want to check out the local Japanese riding scene? Watch NikoNiko,s vids. He and his friends have built a DJ stash and ride wiked single track.
His vids are Home grown but are great fun to watch!

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norcobum123 (Jul 30, 2013 at 1:05)

the real trails in japan are as good as whistler! can't wait to start seeing some riding on the terrain in nagano www.flickr.com/photos/30520265@N05/9268418326

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dacook (Jul 30, 2013 at 8:08)

I´m proud that I was the Guide for their next Adventure in Austria!!! And i can tell you that this Guys are also really good in riding technical terrain - you will see!!!

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HaggartyProductions (Jul 30, 2013 at 0:29)

That was so sick! I think Asia should have more bike parks like this so people in Asia have more places to ride, Once again that was sick the riding was off the hook, VOD

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TheTrailsideCrew (Jul 30, 2013 at 7:30)

This andrew taylor... First saw him in drop in series season 5 on rip tv. Then, not very often, i saw him in an edit. Everytime my mind is blown. Go ahead mr taylor.

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filiperibeiro (Jul 30, 2013 at 10:55)

didn't even imagine there was stuff so big in japan....now i'm regretting not bringing my bike with me when i went there two years ago... :-(

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huertaCS (Jul 30, 2013 at 8:45)

Wondering how well those Adidas shoes grip......guessing they are standard issue lifestyle hi-tops with regular soles???

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peter4564 (Aug 4, 2013 at 9:39)

I love this video AWSOME !!!
who can tell me what this is song ??? PLEASE~~

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won-sean-animal-chin (Jul 30, 2013 at 0:33)

S o S !! nice. is that new mad child?

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JoCr (Jul 30, 2013 at 9:38)

yes. its judgement day

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jamesnun (Jul 30, 2013 at 4:25)

Mad child...swollen members?

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phalanx FL (Jul 30, 2013 at 13:47)

yup

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okaocchi (Jul 30, 2013 at 3:01)

Please come to Japan someday. I'm looking forward to seeing you again.

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PNWshredder (Jul 30, 2013 at 12:11)

what types of bikes are they riding? sick video!

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tjitm (Aug 1, 2013 at 9:36)

YT tues, at least, one of em did

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dogma13 (Jul 30, 2013 at 0:28)

niki makes us austrians proud

great video, but trickin a big bike looks way too easy

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boostmaster (Jul 30, 2013 at 1:08)

that was a really sick video

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Shredder-boy (Jul 30, 2013 at 1:31)

Yeah man throwing it down on the big bikes! #FreerideIsNotDead

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cbginger7 (Jul 30, 2013 at 9:33)

What kind of bike was that other guys not the Marin quad but the other ??

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justice9 (Jul 30, 2013 at 9:09)

GOOD

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Schmitty (Jul 30, 2013 at 8:27)

Badass!!!