NOK Continues Support for NOK Kids Backcountry Tour 2026

Introduces a new training program for junior athletes led by former world champion Antti Autti

NOK Corporation (Headquarters: Shibadaimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Group CEO and Representative Director: Masao Tsuru; hereinafter referred to as “NOK”) is sponsoring the “NOK Kids Backcountry Tour 2026,” a backcountry skiing and snowboarding program for parents and children organized by Nagai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture; Representative Director: Takumi Nagai).

The program is now in its fourth year since NOK began its sponsorship in 2023. It aims to foster children's healthy physical and mental development while deepening their understanding of environmental issues through hands-on experiences in nature.

As a new initiative this season, a Freeride Academy will be launched for junior athletes aiming to compete on the global stage. Former 2005 halfpipe world champion Antti Autti will join as a coach, providing participants with the opportunity to learn world-class techniques and mindset through direct instruction.

The program is conducted with careful attention to safety under the guidance of experienced mountain guides, allowing parents and children to share time on the slopes while experiencing the grandeur of nature together. Beyond the skiing experience itself, the program also includes educational sessions led by guides that explain topics such as how snow accumulates in mountainous regions, how snow-covered trees form, and the ecosystems of snowy mountain environments. These sessions provide participants with opportunities to deepen their understanding of the natural environment.

An "environmental classroom" will be held in Tokyo during the off-season, focusing on environmental issues using snow and ice as themes. The sessions will include explanations of global environmental changes and hands-on workshops using wood waste from snowboard boards, aiming to foster environmental awareness in children through fun and engaging activities.

“NOK Kids Backcountry Tour 2026” Overview

・Dates and Locations:

  *Note: The schedule may change depending on weather conditions.

・Eligibility: Elementary and middle school students and their parents
　*Note: The February 27 "Freeride Academy" session is for junior athletes only.

・Participation Fee: Free
    *Note: Transportation costs to the site, accommodation fees, equipment rental fees, lift tickets, etc., must be borne by participants.


・How to Apply: Please apply via https://www.kidsbackcountry.com/.
    Registration for each session will close once capacity is reached.

About Antti Autti

Antti Autti is a professional snowboarder born in Finland in 1985.
At the 2005 Winter X Games, he won the gold medal in Snowboard SuperPipe, becoming the first non-American athlete to do so. In the same year, he won both the Halfpipe and Big Air events at the World Championships and placed fifth at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
He is currently active as a professional freerider and filmmaker. Through initiatives such as steep-slope descents in the Arctic Circle, he shares snowboard culture from multiple perspectives. With a deep connection to Japan, he is widely recognized as one of the legends who has had a major influence on snowboarding scenes both in Japan and internationally.

What is Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding?

Backcountry skiing and snowboarding offer the opportunity to enjoy the untouched slopes of natural snowy mountains, as opposed to the groomed trails of artificial ski resorts. To experience the authentic appeal of mountain riding, these activities are typically conducted as guided tours led by experienced mountain guides, with safety and an understanding of nature as top priorities. In recent years, they have become increasingly popular among skiers and snowboarders. They are closely connected to the freeride style, in which riders make full use of natural mountain terrain to create their own lines.

Scenes from “NOK Kids Backcountry Tour 2025”