Hokkaido (help·info) (北海道, Hokkaidō^?, literally "Northern Sea Circuit"), formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectures. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel. The largest city on Hokkaido is its capital, Sapporo, which is also its only ordinance-designated city.

Hokkaido was settled by Ainu, Nivkh, and Orok 20,000 years ago. The Nihon Shoki, finished in 720, is often said to be the first mention of Hokkaido in recorded history. According to the text, Abe no Hirafu led a large navy and army to northern areas from 658 to 660 and came into contact with the Mishihase and Emishi. One of the places Hirafu went to was called Watarishima (渡島), which is often believed to be present-day Hokkaido. However, many theories exist in relation to the details of this event, including the location of Watarishima and the common belief that the Emishi in Watarishima were the ancestors of the present-day Ainu people.

Ueli Kestenholz (born 10 May 1975) is a Swiss snowboarder and Speedriding pioneer.

Kestenholz was Snowboard World Champion in 2000 and 2001. He won the first ever Olympic Medal in Snowboarding: Bronze at the 1998 Winter Olympics (Giant Slalom). He's a two times Gold medalist/Winner at the Winter X-Games in Boardercross/BoarderX. After his third Olympic Games of Torino 2006, Ueli quit the Worldcup circuit to focus 100% on Freeriding. Besides Freeriding on a Snowboard, he became one of the pioneers of Speedriding/Speedflying in Switzerland. Together with Mathias Roten they created Playgravity, an award winning multisport-movie, showing their amazing speedriding-descent of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau in one day. In May 2009 he did a speedriding first descent of the famous Matterhorn.

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