Always Pushing" vol. 7, a new story built by Vans. The expanding possibilities of snowboarder Ryo Aizawa .

Always Pushing. Always pushing, always more. Recognizing this, Vans riders repeatedly challenge themselves to push the limits of what they can do. This article is part of a Series that explores the mindset and drive of Vans riders who are always seeking to improve their skills. This time, we are joined by Ryo Aizawa, a snowboarder of note who joined the " Vans " team this year. We follow in his footsteps as he expands the scope of his activities.

Text_Shogo Komatsu
Edit_Amane Yasuda

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Activities derived from snowboarding .

-Mr. Aizawa, you joined the "Vans" team in January of this year.

Aizawa:I am happy and honored. Vans is an important brand for me in street snowboarding, which is my main sport. I grew up watching Vans' "Landline," a feature-length video that featured many riders I admired.

-Who's skiing in "LANDLINE" fascinated you?

Aizawa:Dillon Ojo. Good choice of tricks and spots , cool approach and after the make. And his clothes, too. Snowboarding is so free in its expression that you can see what the person is thinking and how he or she lives his or her life.

-How did Dillon Ojo influence you?

Aizawa:There are many things, and I am sublimating them in my own way in the spirit of Ojo. There are many things that I cannot do as he did, and conversely, there are things that only I can do. I try to express in my own way what I have inherited from those who have built the culture.

-You were photographed in Canada and Japan for the global campaign for Vans' MTE series "Cross Path.

Aizawa:I used to think that it would be fine if I just did snowboarding in a cool way, but when I was given the opportunity to model for the first time, it was quite interesting. It was a new experience for me, and I thought it would be nice to do something like this, and I could see new possibilities.

-How was the comfort of the "Cross Path"?

Aizawa:. I wore them on the snow in Canada and in the streets in Tokyo. On the first day in Canada, I couldn't ski because my bag was lost, so I had to support other riders. I was supporting other riders, and when I wore them at that time, they didn't get wet, didn't steam up, and were really good. They were comfortable to wear on the streets of Tokyo.

-He said he could wear them in various situations.

Aizawa:. When I snowboard, I drive around and look for spots. Until now, I would have to put on my snowboard boots, go to the spot, and take them off when I drove. Now I only need one pair, so it's easier to move around. They are practical and I like the way they look.

MTE CROSSPATH will be available in October.

-You mentioned that you were able to see new possibilities in the filming of "Cross Paths," and I wonder if such experiences can be reflected in your own creativity, such as in "Ukiyo"?

Aizawa:Yes . It should not be just about snowboarding , everything should be connected. I thought it would be a good trend.

-Please tell us how you started "Ukiyo".

Aizawa:. I started when I was around 20 years old, so I didn't think too much about it. The name of the brand was appropriate, and I figured the results would come later. There are really cool people in the snowboarding scene, even if they are not famous. I wanted to hook up with some of those people through Ukiyo and present something really cool.

Be inspired by peers with different styles.

-. In recent years, you have shifted your focus from contests to the streets, haven't you?

Aizawa:I had always loved the streets because I watched "Landline," but I didn't know what to do first as a snowboarder, so I entered contests to get my name out there first.

-You have always wanted to have a style like "LANDLINE".

Aizawa:The skills of contestants are more advanced, but people who skate on the streets have a lot more to offer than just great technique, and that's what makes for a great product. . It is interesting to see the difference in style in the way people dress as well. Of course, there is the ease of wearing shoes, but it is also meaningful to wear "Vans," which are closely related to music and art.

-Snowboarding also has many different disciplines, and snowboarders with such diverse styles have gathered at Uzumaki.

Aizawa:Kazuhiro Kunimomo and Ayumu Hirano also participated. These two and I do different things. Ayumu does contests, Kunimomo does backcountry, and I do street. There are others who focus on carving, bowls, and rails. I think it was meaningful to have cool people from different fields participate in one event. It is difficult for snowboarders from different fields to mix and mingle with each other.

-Did you want to make "Uzumaki" a place for such people to interact with each other?

Aizawa:At first, we were just asked by a ski resort in Gunma Prefecture called Parcoal Tsumagoi Resort to hold some kind of event, but we held it and it ended up meaningfully.

-But I think that holding the event has broadened your vision.

Aizawa:There are so many different kinds of coolness, and it has really broadened my horizons. I had always thought that just snowboarding was cool and had no interest in anything else, so I think I was able to contribute to the scene in some small way as a result.

-I think we are often inspired by our peers because of our different styles.

Aizawa:Yes, I agree. Ayumu is a good example. I don't want to jump that high because I'm scared (laughs). (Laughs.) But he says that he is lucky if he is only injured, and that he is glad he did not die. I think snowboarding is more cool because there are people who are active in fields that I am not, and I think it will help me move forward. Also, there are things that I personally don't do because I don't think they are cool, but I have friends who do them in a cool way.

-There are things that we can notice because of our friends.

Aizawa:. my peers have helped me discover coolness that I didn't know existed. They are the ones who broaden my sensibilities.

-Do you have any goals for the future?

Aizawa:I don't have an ultimate goal. . I think I just do what I have to do now. Even if I don't set goals for myself, like the modeling I did for the Cross Paths global campaign or the Uzumaki event, if I do what I have to do, it will lead to good results. However, as a snowboarder, I always think about how I should continue to be. . Anyway, I try to ski every day and improve myself.