Tadashi Fuse
Name: Tadashi Fuse
Born: Oct 8, 1977
Resides: Whistler BC And Yamagata Japan
Sponsor: Yes, Billabong, Vivo Headwear, Whistler / Blackcomb, Exit Snowboard Shop and Is Design.
Tadashi can you explain your turning point from an amateur snowboarder to pro?
When I was 18, I won a major Japanese halfpipe contest so JSBA gave me “pro” status. After that I went to a couple of contests around the world but I was more interested in jumping and riding around. In Japan, you need to win a few certain contests and they deem you a “pro”…I just never really was interested in contests so after I got my “pro” card, I just did what I wanted to do instead…
How did you first get hooked up with Vivo headwear and what does the brand mean to you?
Anthony approached my friend Yuho and Fusaki with the idea for a while but I was too busy to really put much thought into it. Anthony kept persisting and never gave up the hope to work with me so after the season was over, he came over to my house to skate our mini ramp with Corey and I got to know him better and understand that he didn’t just want to make a snowboard beanie company, rather he wanted to pump some energy and support into snowboarding through “Vivo”. I felt that we both shared the same idea of stoking people and sharing our experiences of snowboarding and skateboarding and Vivo was just a means to express our ideas and thoughts. Anthony was also a pro snowboarder so he really understands the sport which is very important to me. I appreciate that Vivo wants to use new materials and good quality instead of pumping out a whole bunch of cheap hats. Vivo really takes the time to make sure that what they make truly represents the rider who wears the hat and I am excited to see how people will react to next season’s line.
Do you have plans to design some signature items with Vivo headwear in the future?
Yes. I will be designing my signature beanie which is sort of like a ski mask. I like this type of beanie because it works well under my sled helmet and keeps me warm and protects me from the elements in the backcountry. I like simple everyday looks so I am happy that Vivo is into making the type of headwear that I can wear everyday. I also have a few other ideas and they will eventually come out in the line so keep an eye out for them!
You have been working with heart films the past few years can you tell us a little bit about the company and what it stands for?
Heart Films is a snowboard film content company that my friends Taro and Keiji and I came up with. I was tired of just filming for a company to “make a part”. I wanted to have more creative control and also be able to help push more Japanese riders as well as expose a few more international riders to the Japanese scene. It was just a simple idea that has now morphed into several other filmers, editors, production staff and a huge promo tour etc…I never really thought it would be this much work! But now with the recession, sponsors don’t have budgets, distributors are not paid by shops and effectively the distributors are not paying us so it is a vicious cycle. But we want to keep expressing our ideas about snowboarding and keep documenting the backcountry adventures and everyone’s progress and stoke so we will keep doing our best to film and showcase our work through web and DVD and continue to make progressive content for everyone to check out and get stoked on…
You recently moved from long time sponsor Burton to YES snowboards why did you make this move and what is YES all about?
Burton had made some major decisions about marketing and surviving this downturn in the economy They wanted to make sure all their bases were covered so they survived at the end of the day and riders were the most expendable area that they could trim so pretty much everyone who had a contract renewal, just did not get an opportunity to renew their contract, even to the point that they wouldn’t even keep riders even if they rode for product…It is not only the riders but all the support staff and just general staff that are now let go so they are trying to run a super tight ship. In the mean while Japan Burton knew how important it was to keep me on the team so they made every move possible to present a decent contract for me but at the end of the day, if the parent company is not feeling it, there is no future there. I love Burton products and they did a lot for me so I am grateful so I didn’t want to milk it with them if I wasn’t feeling it. I knew I had so much more to accomplish in snowboarding so I needed to move on and YES Now Boards was the perfect opportunity to ride and build a new company and brand with like minded, hard working riders who want to make sure that the messages of FUN and positive and good vibes was expressed through snowboarding and that is what is the most important to us…Not the hype or the trends…Bottom line, all of the YES crew just want to ride and push our limits and stoke each other out riding on good quality snowboards.
What is the favorite country you have traveled to and why?
My favorite places are Canada, LA and Japan. My friends live there and I can skate and do a lot of things…They make me feel at home…
Hands down what has been the scariest moment snowboarding in your life?
The scariest time was when I was filming with Anthony for White Out and I was riding a super steep section above a cliff that gave way and I was stuck where I could not climb back up and I could not jump the cliff because it was all rocks below and all I could do was slowly shimmy and traverse across to a safer area and hope that I didn’t fall to my death.
What is the funniest moment you have had while on a snowboard trip?
My funnest moments are when I am on road trips with my good friends. Usually Alaska when we have been driving non stop and we get kind of crazy…Something fun always happens then…You also get a lot of satisfaction out of the hard schedule because you drive non stop for 50 hours so you can make the weather window to shoot and then drive back another 50 hours…It’s hectic but thank god for all the Redbull…
How can you describe your snowboarding style?
I like riding and scoping natural terrain. I love powder! I like riding the mountain like a snowboard park, hitting natural lines and jumps. My style is more freeriding in the backcountry and exploring new terrain and riding and filming with my friends and pushing each other’s limits.
Do you have any riders that have inspired you through your snowboard board career?
I am inspired by Jamie Lynn for his style. Devun because when I saw him in Whiskey back in the day, he made me feel like I want to ride the backcountry and ride big mountains and sled etc…He made me feel like I needed to level up my riding and push myself in a bigger setting like the backcountry in Canada. That was the rider who introduced me to the world of the backcountry… Scotty Wittlake – he is real and his riding is super sick . He is the definition of core and I respect his style and image.
Any advice you can give to up and coming snowboarders in Japan trying to turn pro?
Just ride and not worry about getting sponsored. Just have fun and don’t do crazy dangerous things that would endanger your life or others. Ride all the time and just enjoy and maybe learn some english along the way…
Shout outs…
Thanks to everyone’s that stoked me out and supported me. My wife Yuko and my twin girls Sara and Hana.
