Principal's Greeting

First held at 2006 HAKUBA CORTINA

I've enjoyed snowboarding since I was 15. At 22, I signed my first pro contract, achieved some modest results in competitions, and experienced victory as part of the Japanese team at a freeride event held in France. Around age 28, I started offering sessions where I ride with clients, calling them “PRIVATE SESSION.” The “PS” I still use today is an abbreviation of that.

I was the sole coach. When I started these sessions, my professional career was nearing its end. I thought: What if I could share all the experiences and skills I'd gained over the years not just for my own enjoyment, but to help others enjoy riding too? And by actually starting this business and interacting with clients, I felt certain I was on the right path. Things like cliff jumps or straight-line descents down steep slopes were all things I couldn't do anymore.

The reason we still use the somewhat complicated name “School Session” today is that this legacy from the past carries over not just in the name, but also in the content.

The professionals and coaches listed here all bring diverse experiences and share vital techniques and key points with everyone.

We value the “neutral position” – a term commonly used. We sometimes call it ‘Possession’ because it sounds kind of cool, but this has a different meaning from “natural position.” Please discover this meaning for yourself on the snow.

We won't dwell on the definition of freeriding. Whether it's ski resort courses, fresh powder areas, tree runs, or backcountry—we'll continue teaching you skiing that excels in all these situations.

PS FREERIDING SCHOOL SESSION
Principal
Yoshitaka Ota

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)