Ski cross is a competitive race in which four skiers start at the same time and jockey for position while navigating an undulating course. Makiko Arai is an active competitor in this event, which is also referred to as a survival race in the snow. She was originally an alpine skier before switching to ski cross in 2022. We spoke with her about taking on a new type of skiing, the appeal of ski cross, her future goals, and some of her favorite spots in Tokyo.
You are from Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, which is known for its beautiful snow-covered scenery. Was skiing a familiar sport for you even from an early age?
“My father worked in the ski resort business, so I’d been playing on the slopes with my sister, who is four years older than me, since before I can remember. When my sister started taking skiing more seriously, I did everything I could to follow in her footsteps. I’ve been competitive ever since I was little, and I still have memories of putting my all into skiing in the hopes of surpassing my sister. When I was in elementary school, I started competing in alpine skiing tournaments, but I wasn’t a member of a club team. My father taught me how to ski, and on weekends I’d go with my family to ski resorts where the competitions were being held. I’d always look forward to taking hot spring baths with my family and eating delicious food at these resorts. It left me with the impression that skiing was just one part of our activities as a family.”
Nevertheless, you were good enough at it to win a national championship, and in the summer of your third year of junior high school, you went by yourself to Austria, a country known for its alpine skiing, and enrolled in one of the country’s best skier training schools.
“After I won the junior championship and started competing in international tournaments, I gradually started to become more aware of the world. That’s when I learned about a ski school in Austria, so I decided to take the exam for it, and I passed. So I went abroad in the middle of my third year of junior high school. But when I got there, all sorts of problems were waiting for me. First of all, I couldn’t understand what people were saying. All of the classes were taught in German, which I couldn’t understand at all, and it was a boarding school, so I was only able to go out one day a week. It was a four-year program, but by the time I was in my final year, about half of my classmates had already left.”
Despite the problems you faced, you spent four years honing your skills in Austria, then continued to demonstrate your skills as an alpine skier even after coming back to Japan. But amongst all that, in 2022 you decided to change your competition event to ski cross.
“I initially kept competing in alpine sports with the goal of competing in the Olympics, but then I suffered a bunch of injuries, including rupturing the ACLs in both of my knees. Each time, I had surgery and then went back to competing, but just as I started thinking my knees couldn’t take it anymore, someone asked me if I was interested in trying ski cross. I entered a competition just to give it a try, and it turned out to be really interesting. Unlike alpine skiing, where the skiers try to get the best time, ski cross is a race with four skiers at the same time competing for rank. It was a really refreshing experience… or rather, it brought back the memories of skiing with my sister when I was little and competing against each other. It made me feel the same way I did back then, when I simply thought ‘Skiing is fun!’ So I made the switch without any hesitation.”
Now that you are actually competing in ski cross, what do you find appealing about it?
“The courses have all sorts of undulations – jumps, waves, banks, and so on – and not only do you need the skill to clear them all at high speeds, but the contact between skiers and their individual tactics also have a big effect on the results of the race. It’s a very powerful sport, to the point that some people call it a survival race in the snow, so it’s also quite thrilling to watch. During a race, a split-second decision can turn the tables, and I think that aspect of it is what makes it so interesting and exciting.”
I’ve heard that in ski cross, you can reach speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour. Running into other skiers and crashing have got to be the scariest things about it.
“First of all, you need to train your mind, body, and skills to be able to withstand contact with other skiers. In my case, I ramped up my weight training regimen, built up my body, and gained about 7 kilograms. Aside from that, I also focus on interval training, because endurance is a must as well.”
How do you make use of your alpine skiing experience?
“The way to get the best advantage in ski cross is to get out in front of everyone else at the start. But as an alpine skier, one of my strengths is my turning ability. I can go into turns at high speeds, then accelerate quickly down straight stretches and overtake the other skiers. So, in a race, I’m always thinking about how far I can follow the skier in front of me and when I can overtake them. In terms of race planning, I analyze the characteristics of the other skiers and formulate a strategy for where and how to attack. In that sense, my coach and the other members of my team help me think of strategies, and they’re a big help.”
Anticipation is also building for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. What kind of goals do you have for this season and beyond?
“Of course, my goal is making it to the Olympics. First of all, in order to qualify, I have to be in the top 32 in terms of total points earned in the FIS World Cup, which takes place over about a year and a half, from the year before the Games up until just before the start. In order to make that happen, I’m mainly going to compete in the European Cup this season, and then in the World Championships taking place this March in Switzerland, and I’m hoping to get some solid results.”
It seems to be a battle that continues all over the world. Ski resorts vary from country to country, but do you have an area you particularly like?
“I like Italy quite a lot. It has a lot of ski resorts with expansive views, which makes skiing there feel really great. That’s why I especially like the Dolomites in Northern Italy, where the Olympics will be held. It’s a World Heritage Site, and its spectacular scenery, large number of courses, size, snow quality, and environment, are all amazing.”
How do you spend your time during the off-season? What are some of your favorite spots in Tokyo?
“My sister lives in Tokyo, so when I have time off, I spend all of my time visiting my nephews, who are 2 and 4 years old now. We usually go out to parks nearby, and one of the best ones I visited recently was JRA Equestrian Park, which is in Kamiyoga in Setagaya City. It was also the venue for the dressage events at both the 1964 and 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. There’s a massive lawn in the park where you can see children lying down or playing, and people are having picnics, too. It’s a really great place to relax. You can watch equestrian competitions there, too, and there are even events where you can interact directly with the horses, so it’s a place where adults, children, and visitors from abroad can all enjoy.”
Are there any other places you want to go or things you want to do in Tokyo?
“I’d like to go day-drinking with foreign athletes while I show them around Tokyo. Just recently, I’ve become capable of drinking alcohol, so I’d like to go bar-hopping in Ueno at places where we can drink during the daytime. One great thing about Japan is izakayas, with their cheap and delicious menus. I think if we munch on these snacks as we have some drinks together in a fun and lively atmosphere, we can definitely have a great time. I really want to make that happen someday.”
＜Profile＞
ARAI Makiko
Born in 1993 in Gifu Prefecture. In her third year of junior high school, she traveled alone to Austria to study abroad at a ski training school. Upon returning to Japan in 2013, she enrolled at Hosei University, which has a prestigious skiing program. She won her event in the FIS Far East Cup. In 2017, just as she began developing a solid record of results, she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in her left knee. In 2022, she switched her event from alpine skiing to ski cross, beginning her career as a member of the Japanese national team. She is aiming to qualify for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
