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„Sapporo was a great experience!“
Looking back on the first Japanese Nordic Combined World Cup since 2006, of course the first person to ask about his experiences is Yoshito Watabe. With two excellent Top Ten results in Sapporo, Japan’s jumping sensation proved that he is able to hold his own on the cross-country track and well on the way to develop into an Nordic Combined athlete to watch. In this edition of TUESDAY TALK, the 23-year-old talks about his first home World Cup experience, brother Akito and his goals for Falun and the rest of the season.
Your weekend in Sapporo went very well for you result-wise with a 7th and 5th place. Are you satisfied with your performance?
Yoshito Watabe: Yes, I think it was good. Of course my target was a podium at home but I still think what I was able to show in Sapporo were good results and performances for me.
Together with the two Fletchers, there were also two Watabe-brothers in the Top Ten on Saturday. Does it actually help to have your brother in the field, to work together or do you rather ski your own race?
Watabe: I don't feel about Akito as a brother when we’re skiing in a World Cup field. He is one of the other athletes, one of my teammates. But for sure, his skiing is often very helpful to me and also his results, to see what we are able to achieve sometimes helps with giving me power and motivation for the next challenges.
As a younger athlete, you have never had a „home“ World Cup competition in Japan before. What was different from a World Cup weekend somewhere else in the World? How much does it help to have friends and family around to support you?
Watabe: To be honest, I felt not much different when it comes to the whole process of a World Cup competition. Though I definitely have to say that the jet lag and the many cheers in Japanese were rare experience for me! (laughs) Of course, the warm support of my family and friends and many other people in the audience gave me much power. That was a great experience.
Were you able to show some of the other athletes some typical Japanese culture?
Watabe: Actually not really a lot because I don't know Sapporo very well as I don’t live there. But I think all of the other athletes who came to Japan enjoyed the experience. It was good and I'm very glad about that.
What is the plan until the World Championships in Falun now?
Watabe: We are staying in Japan for the weekend in Val fi Fiemme now and will go on a training camp in Lillehammer right before the World Championships start. Now we will get some rest and then we will get ready!
And finally, we also have to ask about your goals for falun and the rest of the season.
Watabe: My target is to reach the podium at least once and the 15th place for the overall World Cup ranking this season. For Falun, it is a great dream to be standing on the podium in the individual and in the team competitions.
Your weekend in Sapporo went very well for you result-wise with a 7th and 5th place. Are you satisfied with your performance?
Yoshito Watabe: Yes, I think it was good. Of course my target was a podium at home but I still think what I was able to show in Sapporo were good results and performances for me.
Together with the two Fletchers, there were also two Watabe-brothers in the Top Ten on Saturday. Does it actually help to have your brother in the field, to work together or do you rather ski your own race?
Watabe: I don't feel about Akito as a brother when we’re skiing in a World Cup field. He is one of the other athletes, one of my teammates. But for sure, his skiing is often very helpful to me and also his results, to see what we are able to achieve sometimes helps with giving me power and motivation for the next challenges.
As a younger athlete, you have never had a „home“ World Cup competition in Japan before. What was different from a World Cup weekend somewhere else in the World? How much does it help to have friends and family around to support you?
Watabe: To be honest, I felt not much different when it comes to the whole process of a World Cup competition. Though I definitely have to say that the jet lag and the many cheers in Japanese were rare experience for me! (laughs) Of course, the warm support of my family and friends and many other people in the audience gave me much power. That was a great experience.
Were you able to show some of the other athletes some typical Japanese culture?
Watabe: Actually not really a lot because I don't know Sapporo very well as I don’t live there. But I think all of the other athletes who came to Japan enjoyed the experience. It was good and I'm very glad about that.
What is the plan until the World Championships in Falun now?
Watabe: We are staying in Japan for the weekend in Val fi Fiemme now and will go on a training camp in Lillehammer right before the World Championships start. Now we will get some rest and then we will get ready!
And finally, we also have to ask about your goals for falun and the rest of the season.
Watabe: My target is to reach the podium at least once and the 15th place for the overall World Cup ranking this season. For Falun, it is a great dream to be standing on the podium in the individual and in the team competitions.
Source: fis-ski.com
