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Interview

X-Alps race

How significant is the X-ALPS race for you; what does the X-Alps race mean to you?

X-Alps is like a dreamy adventure race in which I pass longitudinally through European Alps only by humans and paragliding. The fact that I can participate in this event makes me feel grateful for all those who have supported me. X-Alps is the best place where I can express myself.

How important is the vision for a paraglider competition pilot?

I suppose understanding theoretically the natural phenomenon that the wind blows and acquiring enough experiences, and how much wind I can adapt myself to will decide my performance as a paraglider. Having full command of flying techniques as a paraglider is of course the minimum requirement. We could fly for over 200 kilometres.

Does High Altitude affect your eyes/views?

Having flown 5000 kilometres above sea-level in the past, I have never experienced vision impairment. However I often misrecognised the objects due to malfunction of my brain.

What is your normal training : walking/running and paragliding ( km per day or week)

Every morning before going to work, climbing the mountain together with 15kg paraglider and flying down, or running are my daily duty. Additionally I usually do rising air hunting during the day.

What is the longest distance flight you ever did ?

Approximately 200 kilometres at Granada in Spain.

Tell us the highlight characteristics of your New Boomerang X6 paraglides.

My paraglider flies far higher.

Have you ever had a real fear in your flight carrear in the past ?

I am not sure if I have an ability to catch a scent of danger instantaneously, but I have never felt real fear in my life.

What are the benefits of wearing contact lenses, more specifically Menicon PremiO, for the X-Alps race for you?

Lens wear experience (before and now with PremiO)

Comparison with your previous lenses …
in term of comfort improvement? better vision ? longer period of wear ?

By comparison with One day ACUVUE by Johnson&Johnson used in the past, PremiO has better comfort, sometimes makes me feel having no contact lenses on my eyes, and offers less dry feeling after long day use. What I feel most is it provides me with the exceptionally accurate vision. I can clearly see and recognise distant objects.

Do you sleep with your PremiO contact lenses ?
Usually : max … nights …days
During the course : max …nights …days without removal ?

I just started using PremiO, but I have been wearing it 24 hours a day for one week.

Replacement do you replace them every 2 week or more often ? Usually and during the race ?

Since I am likely to forget when to replace, I change the lenses every one week.I can use PremiO lenses during the race as I do in my daily life.

Your visual correction; how can you see with Menicon PremiO lens as compared to the other lenses you used in the past ?

PremiO provides me with the extremely accurate vision. It helps me a lot see and feel the change of air streaming (e.g. birds, welter of grasses, cloud formation)

Would you recommend Menicon PremiO contact lenses to high performance sport athletes ? reasons (for yes & no)…

PremiO offers better comfort. Better comfort means it is unlikely to be taken out from my eyes by the wind. PremiO best suits for outdoor sports players (e.g. skiing, cycling).
Especially in the soaring sports, as it is important for players to recognise birds, smoke, welter of grasses etc, I can feel wearing PremiO contact lenses improved my performance up to 20%.

X-Alps race often forces me to move over in the mountains during night time. Not being able to see the landscape made me feel dangerous in the previous races, but PremiO brings some relief and reduces psychological feeling of fatigue.