Niseko is well known for it’s talented winter athletes but there are also some serious summer athletes who train in Niseko throughout the year and compete in the summer months.
Last month Niseko local Jess Ripper competed in the Goto Nagasaki International Triathlon and achieved a spectacular result finishing 1st in the men’s 30-34 age group, and 10th overall (3.8km swim / 180.2km bike / 42.2km run) with a time of 10:16:19.
Winners are grinners, 17 June / 2 July
2012 Goto Nagasaki International Triathlon, 17 June 2012
Jess has now qualified to represent Japan at the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Long Distance World Championships on the 29th and will be traveling to Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain this month. Jess is the current sole Hokkaido based qualifier and will be representing Hokkaido within the national team itself.
Training seriously through the long Hokkaido winter poses it’s own unique set of problems when preparing for an Ironman race. Jess could often be seen jogging in the snow, putting in laps at Niseko Alpen Hotel pool, or at home putting in hours of practice on his treadmill. With the return of spring outdoor training resumed and the Niseko region provided the prefect setting for Jess’s intense training schedule.
Jess out front leading Ken and Shigeru around lake Toya, 26 May 2012
Weekend training, 15 July 2012
A short video with some clips of Jess and friends in action last weekend on a ‘Konbu Loop’ ride.
Local Niseko businesses, family and friends are working towards supporting Jess in his Ironman quest representing Niseko and Japan on the world stage. Please contact Jess for more information jess.ripper@me.com / 09095107213.
Weekend training near route 5 near Niseko, 15 July 2012
