Japan – 2 months deep!

Over 2 months have passed and 12 meters of snow fallen… it’s been a while since my last post.

It’s been a mixture of long days, hard work, and ridiculous amounts of snow.

 

I departed New Zealand and arrived in Niseko earlier then planned to help with hasty preparations for the impending winter season. I applied for my visa only 10 days earlier, and booked a flight with just a couple of days notice. Before long I was at my desk tapping away at a key board in my new workplace.

The lifts were closed, but the place was already knee deep in snow. My Nike High-Tops were not going to cut it, so for the first time since leeds festival I donned a pair of wellington boots.

Home for the first week was the staff accommodation above Tamashi bar. It was heaps of fun! We had some climbing competitions in the living room; hunted for spots to night shred; got drunk; and watched ski movies. But as the town filled, rowdy seasonaires kept the noise level up till the early hours, while the snow clearers beeped away at 6am, and when they leave, the curry van starts pumping out bhangra music. So when Ambre arrived we headed a few minutes out of town to stay with a local family. While I miss Tamashi-II, the piece, tranquility and privacy of the countryside is welcome. Not forgetting the warm cosy king bed!

 Working for one of the areas high-end  accommodation providers, we both deal with some pretty highly-strung punters. But any stress is instantly forgotten as the lifts are open until 9pm, and a quick night shred in the powder soothes the soul.

 

The park has so far been a side attraction due to the terrain on offer. The super fun pillow lines and endless powder turns are enough to put a smile on anyones face. While the crazy deep powder ensures a pain free day, no-matter how many times I tomahawk down the mountain. We have had a couple of friends depart due to injury, one park related and one had a collision with a tree. Thus far all my major bails have been in the pow. I have been attempting to double back-flip, but all I have to show for it so far is a sore body and loads of videos of me crashing. But I am confident… It is gonna happen.

 

Off the board and skis I have been making the most of my ‘Guest Services’ role and have enjoyed some free night-snowshoeing across a frozen lake, tried out an ice/snow bicycle, been snowmobiling for the first time and been treated to some lovely restaurants.

 

I have also explored the mountain, and have taken the twenty minute hike to the peak a couple of times, got up at 6.30 in the morning for some exclusive first tracks in the famed Strawberry Fields and took Ambre to Mizuno-no Sawa – an apparently dangerous area where you have to attend a safety lecture before you can ski it. Easy I thought… just the Japanese being over cautious I thought… but after losing Ambre for twenty minutes while she was struggling face down in the snow, I might be a little cautious next time. Ambre later described herself “like ostrich with it s head in the sand”, and it was all pretty funny.

I was also lucky enough to take some time off to do some instructing during the busy periods, and had enough flexibility to take time to enter a couple of the little competitions going down in Hanozono and Hirafu. The rail jam outside a local bar was probably the most fun, but after being schooled by a 16year old I retired early and stuck to drinking.

Another massive perk of the job is free use of the Onsen’s, so after a hard days work or awesome days riding we can go an rest our body’s in the natural hot pools. All in all, the the odd gnarly punter and complete lack of sunshine is easily out weighed by the lovely snow and ski-bum lifestyle.

 

Here is a quick look at where we work… and a bit of me early season shredding.

 

For anybody that was wondering… Where is Niseko?…