Twas the morning of the night before, the hang over was real. Climbing out of my hostel built timber capsule at 1am with a very sore head, I released we are in the North of Japan! Ricky and Del who were very spritely from the minimal amounts of shochu they drank, dragged us that afternoon to the Sapporo Beer Brewery for and afternoon of beer tasting, which the sore brain did enjoy.
Up early and on a bus to Niseko, where our crazy english friend Duncan picked us up and took us to the hostel in East Hirafu the Popcorn lodge!. Ramen for lunch then night riding at Grand Hirafu. Head phones in, Major Laser blaring, Hard and fast. The new snow on the groomers was a little tracked out although it was fun to bomb the hills. There was however still 20 centimetres of fresh in the trees.
The next 3 days we changed to our short boards for a bit more of a freestyle throw down, as the snow forecast wasn’t predicting the 50-70 cm’s a day we were getting in Myoko. There was only around 10-15 cm’s of new snow each day, that on the groomers did get tracked out pretty quickly, however we could still find it in the trees.
Traversing the mountain till we hit Niseko resort where we found cat tracks and cliffs we could boost off in to the powder and have some fun. Hamish throwing his tame dogs like a mad man, Del throwing her huge Indie grabs, Ricky throwing down some stylish frontside 3’s, Marty being straight Canadian and going Massive! and myself grabbing and spinning.
Thee amount of snow that was around our residence aquatic for one thing… building a booted to fresh pow. Wild cats to face plants to beer skulls that was our afternoon till the sun went down. Marty won hands down the best wild cat to neck cracker to beer skull! See the Video! haha
Dinner was down in the town of Kutchan at a traditional Japanese sushi house! Like buying pizza in Italy it was original, delicious and proper sushi! Sitting on tatami mats with a very low table. Real Japanese.
An absolute coincidence, friends of all of us Jules and Jules that we had all met whilst living and snowboarding in Canada where in Niseko the same time as us! Riding with them was like the old days at Sunshine Village in Banff.
Australia Day in Niseko was like Australia Day at home…. Massive. My alarm was a beer being opened next to my ear.. Thanks Ricky. After breakfast beers, we traversed our way from Hirafu to Hanazono where we met up with Jules, Jules and there crew. Park laps and lift Beers on Australia Day. After some street food for dinner, we found ourselves at a door, it wasn’t and ordinary door it was a fridge door at the front of a building, Like walking through the cupboard in to Narnia, only on the other side was the most amazing Japanese whiskey bar.
Then it was departure time. Hamish and I where leaving the rest of the crew. Said our good buys then off to the Airport. Back in Narita airport on the main island of Honshu we had some time to kill so we headed in to the town of Narita where the was a mammoth Buddhist temple where we happen to be right on time to catch a buddhist ceremony. Back to the Airport, back to Australia land and back to reality. Ricky Del and Marty are still in Japan and off to Canada next where they will be keeping us up to on there Epic Snow Adventure.
All in all this first Epic Snow tour was an absolute success, we met many great people and travelled to many great places and Snowboarded the great country we call Japan. We will be going back next year and every year, taking you and whoever wants to join us on these trips of a life time. We will keep you posted on costings, dates and locations for all up coming Epic Snow Tours. We will also be doing reviews on all things snow related, boards, skis, mountains, resorts and places to stay.
Stay tuned
Benny V
