2 Peaks 1 Day

Today was one of those days (as every day should be) when you get to be reminded of awesome life is in general. I took off from the lodge with a van, my skins and an open-ended plan for the day. It is always a bit nerve racking setting up for a big tour in Japan because the weather is extremely volatile. A lot of places like to claim their weather changes fast. New England has a saying "if you don't like the weather wait 5 minutes" Well New England and Utah weather are nothing compared to Japan. Somehow, the sun stayed out the entire day and made for some awesome sight seeing.

I climbed up the first peak which is adjacent to Goshiki village/onsen. I will definitely return there to build some jumps and ski some steep lines I scouted. For today, I just went to the peak to ski the bowl at the top. I was riding solo so the leeward slope with the nice big cornice to jump off was enticing, however for once my logic pulled through with the victory. Iwanoupuri was the first peak I reached that looked over the back side of my home mountain Niseko. Like all mountains around, the very top was a bit wind crusted but after a few turns it turned to a beautiful surfy snow that you almost feel nothing below your feet. Carving is effortless, unlike the skin up.

After a great quick run, I hopped in the van and drove down the road a bit to another parking lot where I just clicked in and started going. Luckily I found a skin track that went about 3/4 up the way of Iowanoupuri. Another beautiful 360 degree view peak. As I started to admire the expandable view in every direction I noticed the Pacific Ocean over my left shoulder. Yup, deepest snow I have ever skied that close to the ocean. Quite the run down as the snow became a bit heavy near the bottom, but still one of the more fun runs I have done here in Japan. All in all, it was an awesome day and the adventure alone was well worth it.

Here is a video of the second run on Iowanoupuri (first one my go pro was pretty fogged):

http://www.snowjapan.tv/sjtv/video/2peaks1day

                                                         Iowanoupuri looking at Niseko

Breaking trail up Nionoupuri

                                      

Pacific ocean in the background of Nitonoupuri

Epic pow!

Today was one of the better resort days I have had since I've been here. The snow wasn't the deepest at the top but it was that sensational surfy snow that reminds you of why the 15 minute bootpack surrounded by goombas was all worth while. The top was quite the show to say the least. Pretty sure I saw a pair of snowblades about to drop into the bowl. Almost wish I had stuck around for that one, but being 10th in line I was keen to take advantage of the open and untouched pow field ahead of me. Mid mountain was deep, so deep. Missed out on about half of the trip down because my go pro couldn't clear itself of the face shots.

http://vimeo.com/19056550

Just Real Quick

So we took a trip up to the infamous Avalanche Barriers in Hokkaido, Japan. Simon Ramsey (http://www.niseko.ne.jp/cgi/en/tenki/tenki.cgi?S=2) was able to snap some photos really quick. Here they are:

Clayton eating snow

Me doing a flat 3 off the last barrier

The Arc'teryx guys are in town (Erik Hjorleifson and Jonaven Moore) and they have been having a ball. I think I caught Erik saying something about the best night skiing he's ever had, but guess you guys should see for yourself :) I know the night skiing here is by far the best I have skied after 4pm.

Trying to find a way to convert footage for webisode 2 so it should be done shortly. Piling up the extra footage so it will be easier to replace some shots for better ones. Really excited for the coming weeks.

Getting Adventurous

Clayton and I went out yesterday and stepped out a pretty fun jump that was recently featured with the Nimbus crew. We opened up the landing a little bit so it is possible to take it a few different ways instead of one through a 5 ft margin of landing. We each got to hit it once but the compression definitely made things difficult. Should have a pretty solid session once we get a fresh blanket on it. Speed was pretty easy to figure out...go as fast as you can.

The Arc'teryx crew just arrived at the lodge and it looks like they timed it up right. They are looking to get some shots and although the sun may not cooperate we are expected to get 60 cm over the next 3 days (about 3 feet) so there should be no lack of possibilities.

Should have a pretty solid video soon just waiting for a fire wire cable that fits my computer so I can put in the multiple angle shots. We expect to be building a hip in the near future that will be more than plentiful for any desired trick one may have. Should be about a 55-65 ft gap with the possibility to go bigger or smaller than that. Pretty excited about the next few days to come :)

Snow...

Coming from Utah I had some pretty high expectations of what kind of snowfall I would see in Japan. Well they were met and surpassed. We have had almost 2 meters or just over 6 feet of snow in the past 5 days and it has just been insane. I woke up this morning to sunshine and about 15 minutes after breakfast  it was absolutely dumping snow. Got about a foot in between then and now, currently the sun is back out a bit. The weather is extremely volatile here but it makes for some good scenery and a nice change. 

The lodge has been very busy, but the riders have come out of the woodworks and winter has officially begun. Even our cook Ryo threw down off a stump turned 20 foot cliff drop. Should have a pretty epic video in the next couple days of the Black Diamond crew shredding in the mean time here are some pictures...enjoy and sorry for the delayed post :) Also did a virtual tour of the lodge which you can check out here on facebook: Virtual Tour of the Lodge

Flat 3 off "stumpy's"

                                                                  Entrance to the lodge

                                                                           Side of the lodge

The first few days of riding

So basically what I am going to be doing is every week bring in a mostly video and some text description of the ski bum life in Japan. Big shout out to Clayton at the Black Diamond Lodge in Niseko, Japan (www.bdlodge.com). Basically the place is a Canadian lodge immersed in the mountainous Hokkaido Japan. It is a 5 minute walk to the Niseko conglomerate of a resort and there are great people from all nationalities around.

Clayton and I have been scouting around for the latest and greatest booter spots, pillow lines, night clubs, you name it that Japan has to offer. We have had some big names such as Poor Boyz and MSP in the past and we are hoping to get some big names this year as well. So stay tuned in for the adventures of a ski bum in Japan and what the lodge has to offer. I apologize for the all go pro edit but it is the only resource available until we get a more designated crew. So enjoy and have a Happy New Year! 2011 should bring lots of adventures.

http://vimeo.com/18320608