北京オリンピック 堀島行真選手の銅メダルに日本の技術2月6日 1時27分
スキーフリースタイル男子モーグルでエースの堀島行真選手が今大会、日本選手初のメダルとなる銅メダルを獲得しました。そこには日本の技術が注ぎ込まれたスキー板の存在がありました。(ネットワーク報道部・松本裕樹)
世界が支持するスキー板
堀島選手が使ったスキー板を製造・販売しているのは大阪府守口市にある会社の社長、藤本誠さん（63）。率いる社員はわずか3人です。
藤本さん
メダルが獲得できてよかったです。堀島選手は成長したなと思いました。ほかのメダリストも含めてよく知っているので、そのこともよかったです。
藤本さんのスキー板は海外のトッププレーヤーも高く評価。男子モーグルで金銀銅の選手がいずれも使っていました。また現在の男女世界トップ30に入る約8割の選手が藤本さんのスキー板を愛用しています。
きっかけは「上村愛子を勝たせたい」
藤本さんがスキー板を作り始めたのは23年前。当時、海外メーカーのゴーグルやグローブの国内代理店を営んでいた中でサポートしていた日本代表の上村愛子選手に「オリンピックでメダルを目指すためのスキー板を作る」と約束したのがきっかけでした。
藤本さん
上村選手の滑りを見て板が合っていないと感じたので、「僕が作ってやろうか？」と軽い感じで言ったから上村選手も半信半疑だったと思うんだけど。作るからにはナンバーワンのスキー板を目指そうと誓いました。
従来の素材を大胆に見直す
The first thing I worked on was reviewing the materials.
Conventional polyurethane skis may break due to the impact of landing, and Mr. Fujimoto focused on wood, which has optimum flexibility and strength and is easy to arrange.
I used domestic wood.
As a result of trial and error, it is said that by combining three soft beech boards and two hard Itaya maple boards, a total of five boards, we arrived at a shape close to the current ski board.
In addition, we asked the only edge maker in Japan in Niigata prefecture to make a cut in the edge at the edge of the board.
This increases the suppleness of the edges and makes it possible to absorb the impact on the "humps" on the mogul course.
Mr. Fujimoto
I made a new board and asked Uemura and a strong overseas player to test drive it.
And I repeated the work of listening to the points for improvement.
Advice on ski length
Horishima, who won the bronze medal this time, changed the length of the skis because of the regret that he finished 11th at the last Pyeongchang Olympics.
In order to further enhance the world's top class turn, Mr. Horishima was approached by Mr. Horishima, saying, "I want to make it 10 cm longer than before."
In response to this, Mr. Fujimoto advised that "it is really unreasonable to suddenly lengthen it by 10 cm," and settled down by making it 5 cm.
And in this season's World Cup, it has led to a good result of podium for 9 consecutive races since the opening race.
I'm aiming for a gold medal from now on
Due to the influence of the new Corona, Mr. Fujimoto could not go to the site and could only support him through the TV screen.
The goal is to get a gold medal while staying close to the players.
Mr. Fujimoto
I would like to work on the development of the board as long as my body moves.
I would like to support Japanese players so that they can win gold medals.
I want to see the situation locally.
I am confident of making good things.
Japanese women's moguls also use Mr. Fujimoto's skis
Women's Moguls will be held on the 6th, and 17-year-old high school second grader Anri Kawamura, Hinako Tomitaka, Kisara Sumiyoshi, Junko Hoshino, who have marked three wins in the World Cup this season, will be held in Japan. Will participate.
All four players use Mr. Fujimoto's skis.