if you’re not first you’re last
IF YOU’RE NOT FIRST YOU’RE LAST kate smith If you had one shot, or one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted, in one moment. Would you capture it, or just let it slip? In my case, I let my opportunity slip.
Every year at the beginning of March, the
Actually I let it roll a couple times then
“けっつじょり 世界選手権 (Ketsujori World
sadly slide across the finish line. My
Championship)” is held. A winding course
little town, Chokai, does its best to get
carved out of the snow up by the Sarukura
on the map. “How can we attract more
Onsen is the stage for this competition.
tourists? How can we show the rest of
You trek to the top of the slope and slide
Akita that we’re more than just a hike up
down on a fertilizer bag using your hips to
a mountain?” Well, by hosting a sledding
navigate the turns. You get two timed runs
competition, duh.
and they’re added together, the lowest total
7
Sledding competition, Priscilla Chong
