"Swatch Nines Snow 2026" (hereinafter referred to as "Nines") took place in early April at "Niseko Tokyu Grand Hiia." Known as one of the world’s premier action sports events, this was the first time it was held in Asia. What sets it apart is its emphasis on expressing personal style rather than competing for rankings. The event drew over 50 invited riders—including medalists from the international festival held in Milan and Cortina—and was a huge success. We spoke with founder Nico Zachek and rider Kaishuku Hirano, who participated as a member of the Swatch Pro Team, to hear their perspectives on “Nines” from the organizational and rider viewpoints, respectively.
- Text & Edit_Kazuki Sakaguchi
The essence of sports is not about competing, but about having fun.
PROFILE
A native of Germany. CEO of “The Nines.” After competing at the highest international level as a professional freestyle skier for over 15 years, he launched “Nine Knights” in 2008, the predecessor to “Swatch Nines Snow.” A die-hard action sports enthusiast.
Instagram:@nicozacek
—First, could you tell us what kind of event “Nines” is?
“Nines” is a one-of-a-kind entertainment event that places a strong emphasis on “showcasing” creativity, setting it apart entirely from traditional competitions where participants "compete" for rankings. There is no scoring and no rankings. Competitors can ride as many times as they like, whenever they choose. In addition to snowboarding, this event features four core disciplines: surfing, skateboarding, and biking.
—I heard that you held a workshop with the riders in preparation for this event. What was the workshop like?
Our main focus is course design. At “Nines,” our goal is to create courses that riders actually want to ride. For our workshop, we brought together 10 top riders and encouraged them to freely share their ideas for courses. We also invited architects and course designers to participate, creating an environment where we can actually bring those ideas to life.
—What prompted you to launch “Nines” in the first place?
I used to be a professional freestyle skier. Back then, I was ranked among the top 10 in the world, and I was constantly flying all over the globe to compete in tournaments. It was while living that physically and mentally demanding lifestyle that I realized something: the true essence of sports isn’t about competing, but about having fun with friends.
So, we decided to launch an event similar to an All-Star Game—not as a place where the world’s top athletes gather to compete, but as a place where they can truly enjoy themselves.
—That having fun is what matters.
I don’t think action sports like skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and mountain biking are competitive sports. For example, soccer has a score; there’s a clear objective—to score goals. Action sports, on the other hand, are enjoyable even without a score.
—I see. Nico, you started out as a freestyle skier, but why did you branch out into other action sports?
When we first launched in 2008, it was just a small gathering of freestyle skiers. As we continued to host events, we realized that “Nines” is a platform. Top athletes from around the world come together to have fun. We thought this concept could be adapted to other action sports as well. So, we expanded the event to include mountain biking in 2011, snowboarding in 2013, and surfing and skateboarding in 2024.
—Was there anything that was particularly difficult during that time?
We had a hard time finding sponsors. The media loves stories about which team won or who became world champion—topics related to winning and losing. Since we were doing the exact opposite, we had a hard time getting coverage at first. However, our concept—”rather than having the world’s top skaters gather to compete, they showcase their creativity through their skating”—is truly one-of-a-kind. Gradually, we began to attract sponsors who shared our vision.
—What is your impression of Swatch, which has been your main sponsor for the past four years?
I’ve felt a close connection to them because they’ve been supporting the scene ever since I started action sports at age 15—for about 30 years now. I have particularly vivid memories of them sponsoring major ski and surf competitions, as well as legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk.
So partnering with Swatch was a very natural progression. It turned out that, at exactly the same time, the Swatch team was also looking to prioritize creativity and fun over competitiveness, so the timing was perfect.
—Please share any memorable stories or anecdotes you have about your watches.
I’ve owned several Swatch watches since I was a child. Among them, I was particularly fond of the model with the SnowPass feature, which has a built-in IC chip and doubles as a lift ticket. It was so convenient—all I had to do was hold my wrist up when getting on the lift.
—This is the first time the event is being held in Asia. Why did you choose Japan?
There are many top riders in Japan. However, since riders have to cover their own travel expenses, it’s difficult for them to attend events held in Europe. I wanted to interact more with Japanese riders, so I decided to hold the event in Japan.
—And out of all those places, why Niseko?
While visiting various locations, the moment I saw Mount Yotei, I thought, “This is it!” “Nines” is an event designed for people to have fun while shooting cool videos and photos. Having that iconic, freestanding peak—which is reminiscent of Mount Fuji—in the background was just perfect. Since European mountains tend to form continuous ranges, the shape of Mount Yotei really gives me a sense of what makes Japan unique.
Also, since building the course requires a massive amount of snow, a place like Niseko—where it snows heavily—was ideal. Furthermore, Niseko’s snow quality is so world-renowned that it even inspired the coining of the term ”JAPOW” (Japan + Powder), making it the perfect venue for hosting an event that attracts top riders from around the globe.
—I think the best time of year for winter sports is January and February, so why is the event held in April?
In the spring, the snow softens, which helps cushion the impact of landing. Plus, major competitions like the Olympics and the X Games are over by the end of March, so there’s no risk of getting injured before the events. This is the time of year when athletes can really go all out on the slopes.
—Finally, could you tell us about your future plans?
Right now, we build courses for short-term events and then take them down afterward, but I’d like to create a permanent park under the “Nines” name. I’d be happy if we could establish the infrastructure for riding and leave a positive impact on the next generation of riders.
A place where you can express your true self.
PROFILE
He is from Niigata Prefecture. He has been making a name for himself on the world stage, including competing in an international festival held in Beijing in 2022 and setting a world record of 7.67 meters in the halfpipe at “THE SNOW LEAGUE” held in the United States this past March. He joined the Swatch Proteam in 2024. His older brother is Ayumu Hirano.
Instagram:@4kaishu
—First of all, congratulations on setting the world record at “THE SNOW LEAGUE”! What does it feel like to jump 7.67 meters?
Thank you! When I’m up in the air, I feel like a bird. But it doesn’t feel good at all—the fear takes over. When I wake up in the morning, the thought that I might die today crosses my mind, and I’m nervous all the way until I hit the slopes. But since hesitation can lead to death, once I got started, I went all out with the mindset, ”I’m going to make history at today’s snowboard meet.”
—I think action sports like snowboarding are a mental battle. If you have any routines you use to get yourself in the right frame of mind, please let me know.
I really focus on my breathing. There are so many amazing athletes at the venue that I get nervous, and with all the information coming in from around me, my heart starts racing. At times like that, if I step away from everyone and take a deep breath, I can calm down and focus.
—Umi Iwao has participated in “Nines” before, hasn’t she?
Yeah, this is my third time. At competitions, everyone’s focused on themselves and there’s a tense atmosphere, but at “Nines,” everyone’s relaxed, so I get to interact with players I wouldn’t normally talk to, and it’s inspiring every time. It’s fun to play with the world’s best, and it really gets me fired up to show them just how awesome I am.
—Please tell us if there’s a difference between how you skate in regular ranking competitions and in “Nines.”
At competitions, both the time allotted for practice and the start time for the run are strictly scheduled. Since I have to finish everything within that time frame, it puts a lot of pressure on me. On top of that, there are so many things I have to keep in mind—like trying to maintain good posture or entering the turn at a specific angle. I feel like I’m tied down by all those considerations.
But at “Nines,” you can ride as many times as you want, at your own pace. That’s why I can relax and perform the way I truly am. In fact, when I look back at the footage later, I can see that I’m riding more freely and naturally at “Nines.” Every time I participate in “Nines,” I’m reminded that this is what snowboarding is really all about.
—In your opinion, what aspects define Umi Iwao as a player?
My background is in skateboarding. I’ve been skateboarding since I was a kid at the park my dad runs, so I’ve developed a wide range of physical techniques and movement patterns there. I also sometimes incorporate inspiration from surfing—which I took up two years ago—into my snowboarding. My strength is that I have a perspective that people who only snowboard don’t have.
—I hear you were also involved in the course design through the workshop. There’s a section named after you called “Kaishu’s Quarter Pipe.” Could you tell us what aspects you focused on?
I wanted to create a space where riders could showcase a variety of tricks, and since we already had a jump ramp, I decided to add a quarter-pipe. I prioritized the excitement and impact of the footage, so I designed it to be as dynamic as possible.
—Swatch is sponsoring this event. Do you have any memories associated with Swatch watches?
I’m always busy with my three sports—snowboarding, surfing, and skateboarding—but having a watch helps me set a specific time and really focus on my riding. It’s especially useful at the beach, where my sense of time tends to get thrown off.
—Finally, could you tell us what you’ve enjoyed most about joining the Swatch Proteam?
The Swatch Proteam includes athletes from other action sports—like skateboarding, BMX, surfing, and MTB—as well as athletes from all over the world. Spending time with them has really broadened my horizons. Plus, they’re all such cool and awesome athletes—I have to say, it’s a great selection. I’m thrilled to be a part of the team, and I’m looking forward to sharing many more experiences with Swatch in the future.
