Ski Career Success Despite Bumpy Slopes

2005 All Japan Technical Ski Champion SATO Hisaya

"Nana-korobi ya-oki" (seven failures then success) is a Japanese proverb meaning that a person continues to stand up even if they fail many times. The career of Aomori-native SATO Hisaya (33), a professional skier who won the All Japan Technical Ski Championship last March, has mirrored this proverb. Since Hisaya's father is a friend of MIURA Yuichiro, an adventure skier known around the world who has successfully skiied down from the peak of Mt. Everest, Hisaya learned skiing from his father from the age of three.

Hisaya first demonstrated his talent when he was an elementary school student, from 4th grade, Hisaya won in three straight years at the Tohoku Ski Championship and he scored two consecutive victories at the All Japan Championships while in 2nd and 3rd grade of junior high school. The young skier then went on to become a star of the Japan national team. In high school, he fell into a slump, but when he reached 3rd grade, he came out of the rut and was selected as a member of the World Cup team. However, at a race in Italy he suffered a major accident resulting in a cut ligament in his leg which prevented him from taking part in the event. His family, including his father who had dreamed of his son's participation in the Olympics, became very depressed.

Major Injury Before Olympics
Hisaya was then asked by sports goods manufacturer DESCENTE, Ltd. to join their company - an offer he accepted. After he recovered from his injury, he was selected for a position he longed for: member of the World Cup team that was to compete at Shizukuishi (Morioka, Japan) in 1993. "As it was just after my recovery, my family was very happy." However, God turned His back on the talented skier and his event was cancelled due to bad weather.

However, that was not to be the end of the unfortunate string of events that affected him. While Hisaya was training in South America for the upcoming Lillehammer Winter Olympics held in 1994, he tore his ligament again. He was shocked. "From the spot I called my father who told me through his tears, 'You've made so much effort. I'm proud of you. Come back home.' As I could feel his sorrow, it was very hard." To add to his bad luck, Hisaya was withdrawn from the national team.

The young skier then completely lost his motivation, to the point where he did not even watch the broadcast of the Lillehammer games. However, after receiving encouragement from people around him, his desire to ski was reborn. Because DESCENTE was manufacturing ski wear for the Swiss team, Hisaya offered a proposal saying that he would like to join the Swiss national team training camp on his own account. His company accepted his proposal and offered to continue paying his monthly salary.

In the summer of 1995, Hisaya joined the Swiss national team training camp. However, he was not welcomed by his fellow team members. When he entered the dining hall, they did not greet him. In fact, they ignored him completely and nobody spoke to him. A few days later he participated in time races and scored a high ranking. Then, the situation changed dramatically. "They said, 'you are our fellow from today.' Since then I could enjoy myself and my results kept improving."

When he participated in the European Cup in 1996, he scored a better time than any of the other All Japan members. When he returned home, he won at the All Japan Championship, and subsequently he was ranked as the top Japanese skier in the world ranking. People cheered, saying "Revival of SATO Hisaya!" "I wanted to tell people 'I made it.'" Then, just when he believed that he would be selected as a member for the Nagano Olympics, he was betrayed again by God. To his surprise he was not selected. As the result was unexpected, Hisaya gave up his competitive skiing career.

Overcame the Demonstrator Examination Hurdle
Disheartened, Hisaya decided to obtain a demonstrator license, which is the highest level of ski instructor. At present, only 21 men and 7 women hold this license. To become a demonstrator, one has to pass a difficult examination including written, practical skill and interview tests. Hisaya passed them all. "I was watching a TV program of the Nagano Olympics while I was coaching," he recalls. "A Swiss skier won the race and my team mates ranked highly. Honestly, I had to think I could make it better if I could join the competition," Hisaya says. Before long, he married NAKAZAWA Miki, who is also a ski demonstrator. "My character and hobbies are different from her, but we get along very well," Hisaya says self-consciously.

Now, Hisaya has begun to challenge for the All Japan Technical Ski Championship, which involves demonstrating ski skills in nine different events. Although he was highly ranked, he had not won for seven years. In March this year, the competition was held at Happoone. Hisaya was in good shape and was ranked in first place before the last ski run. "I thought I could win if I went well in the last ski, but my body became frozen and I could not ski well." He waited until the second placed KASHIWAGI Yoshiyuki took his last ski run. Yoshiyuki was a strong opponent who would achieve three consecutive victories if he won this event. He performed very well, and while Hisaya almost gave up, when he looked up at the board, he saw he had won by a narrow margin. God had finally smiled on Hisaya.

Hisaya and his defeated rival Kashiwagi embraced each other, praising each other's performances. Hisaya could not stop his tears. Kashiwagi knew the reason behind Hisaya's emotion and said, "I don't regret this result as I was defeated by you, Hisaya." Beside the victory stand Hisaya embraced his loving wife Miki, who had supported him throughout much of his challenging career. It was the most touching scene. After that he called his father, who quietly said "Congratulations!" feelings of pride commingling with every word.

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