Check out these links to SNOW SEASON JAPAN's friends and partners, and read about their experiences riding with us in Japan.
VICCI MILLER
UK Pro Snowboarder
http://www.oakley.co.uk/vicci/
http://www.bataleon.com/en/team/viccimiller
Bataleon team rider and a prominent figure in the women's scene snowboarding today, Vicci is from the UK, but bases herself in Grenoble, France. She visited us in Hakuba and Myoko last season and consistently blew us away with her ability to discover more hits than a seasoned local. She is officially SNOW SEASON JAPAN'S shredding hero. Check out Vicci at these sites:
"It was always a dream to ride and discover Japan and its culture, but I never believed that my trip would turn into the best of my life 90% thanks to the amazing team at SNOW SEASON JAPAN and 10% thanks to the dude in the sky who dumped 2 of the 10 meter snow base on our heads each night!
Japan is unlike any terrain I have ever seen, the parks are progressive and the pistes edge out to endless trees with no one in them. We rode backcountry that looked like a mini Alaska. There are pillow lines everywhere as so much snow dropped each night for 2 weeks. Filming wise you just look off a chairlift and there was a line of 6 pillows in a row with your name on it!! I am going back for as long as possible this winter.
There is so much that the Japanese experience offers and the first to hit me was the crazy food, I drank hot coffee out of vending machines, I ate things that you only discover the name of after! Riding in Japan is an entire experience and after a hard day the most amazing onsen - natural thermal hot bath awaits you. It's a chance to meet up with others and chat or just chill. However what really blew me away in Japan is the culture and the people. Everyone I met was amazing and so friendly, they believe in Karma and will go out of their way to help you feel at home as possible in their country.
After having competed in the Burton Nippon Open I traveled to meet up with the team at SNOW SEASON JAPAN who were our guides for a magazine trip around all the 15 resorts we had to get around in 15 days! The team were indispensable, not only really fun, incredible people… they introduced us to the locals, took us riding to all the backcountry spots, taught us the language and translated the menus in the most amazing local restaurants. They helped us with traveling and accommodation, taught us the customs and culture of the locals and were also kick ass riders that we ended up filming… and were just the nicest down to earth people that I am now proud to call my friends." Vicci Miller, UK pro snowboarder
DAVID MULHOLLAND
Freestyle Captain
Edinburgh University Snowsports Club
In charge of tricks and jibs at Edinburgh University's Snowsports Club, David is a regular on the uni scene. You can usually find him at British university competitions, on BUSC trips and hitting the dryslopes. He's been on snowboard trips to resorts all over France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy, as well as having done 2 seasons in France and one in New Zealand. A real highlight for him however, was spending 3 weeks snowboarding in Hakuba, Japan.
"If you want to experience bottomless untracked powder that just seems to never end, you have to ride in Japan. I have snowboarded in many countries all over the world, but I would undoubtedly say that Japan is the sickest place I've ever been! I've never seen so much snow in my life, as I did in Japan; it was actually insane! Endless tree runs and steep faces all to yourself, consistently everyday, you think you are in heaven. The terrain parks are immense too, built to very high standards and full of Japanese riders killing it, giving you loads of ninja style inspiration for your next trick. If you want to step up your game in powder and park, Japan is the place to be… I can't wait to finish uni and get back there!" David Mulholland, Freestyle Captain, Edinburgh University Snowsports Club
CAMILLA STODDART
Snowsports Photographer
Originally from Scotland, Camilla is a photographer based in Verbier, Switzerland and Wanaka, New Zealand. With an impressive client list ranging from international brands like Salomon, to shooting for magazines like Whitelines and Fall-line Skiing, Camilla can usually be found travelling the world in search of the best snow and shots. Last season she explored Japan's mountains far and wide with a crew of pro riders and skiers. She fell in love with Hakuba and Myoko and is already planning her return trip this coming season! We love her work. Check it out here:
"There are so many factors that I fell in love with about skiing in Japan. I will have to narrow it down to my 3 favorite things:
1. Skiing hard all day and then coming down the hill and getting straight into the onsen with your mates and chatting about the best day ever on snow.
2. Eating some of the best food for breakfast, lunch and tea …and feeling pretty damn healthy about it!
3. SNOW! …And so very much of it!
The snow and the onsens rock my world, but I would have to say that what struck me most about Japan and skiing there was how friendly the locals are. They will go out of their way to help you and make your day even better than it is. The Japanese are truly caring and generous race.
Well I met some really cool people when hanging in Hakuba (namely the SNOW SEASON JAPAN team) so nice in fact that our crew kidnapped them for the rest of the trip!! Hakuba is a great place full of folk who want to show you a good time. In Japan, local friends are invaluable - with these guys you will feel like a local in no time and have mates to show you what's what all over the town. There is some seriously good skiing/riding to be had in Hakuba and some very good places to eat and hang out too...
After the epic terrain of Hakuba, we went to Myoko and I fell in love with this wee place instantly. It is small and very non-commercialised. Anything goes and there are NO westerners to be found (very refreshing having come down from Aussie ridden Niseko). We found a rad little pub to hang out in with cool local rippers and a crazy onsen in the middle of the mountains. There are some seriously good powder stashes here in Myoko and they don't seem to mind about you skiing off through the trees. I will be back to this place!!
After our time in Japan, I can say the SNOW SEASON JAPAN crew are the people to know in Hakuba, everyone's friend and brimming with local knowledge. If you hang out with this crew then you are in for good times. I will be back in Hakuba and Myoko this Feb, hanging out with the SNOW SEASON JAPAN team, shredding the pillows of pow and taking a few snaps. This place is too good not to come back too..." Camilla Stoddart, Snowsports Photographer
POSY DIXON
UK Pro Snowboarder
UK Burton rider and 2007 British Slopestyle champion, Posy has chased the snow from Norway to New Zealand. Last year she came to Japan and knows good powder when she rides it!
"We didn't really get to grips with Japan until we met the crew at SNOW SEASON JAPAN. The minute we hooked up with them it was a non stop adventure, lapping all the best lines on the hill, eating the best food in the best bargain restaurants and enjoying the onsens without making totally fools of ourselves. The snow and terrain in Japan is the best I have ever ridden in my life, and the food is the best I've ever eaten - but in both cases you need a local to show you the ropes... and the SNOW SEASON JAPAN crew are the perfect guides for a sick trip. Go go go go go! You won't regret it." Posy Dixon, UK Burton Team Rider
IAN MILLAR
Photographer and magazine Editor
Long time Whistler local, Ian spends his summers photographing the mountain bike scene, writing, editing and riding bikes himself. His winters are filled with snowboarding, sled and heli action and more photography. He has worked as the Editor of Mountain Biking Magazine, published Modest Bike magazine and currently heads Noboard magazine. Despite living in one of the world's top ski resorts, he has come to Japan to ride every winter for the last few seasons. We're looking forward to seeing him again in Hakuba this winter too! Check out Ian's work at:
"I have lived the past 15 years in Whistler, British Columbia riding the mountains on my bike and snowboard. It's pretty much paradise if your into that sort of thing. A few years back I came to Japan for a 10 day vacation. I have a history with Japan as my family is Japanese. This was my first visit but I ended up staying for the whole month.
When I arrived it was dumping and as it turned out it was the biggest dump in the last 88 years. That worked out pretty good because I love pow! Since those days, I have been hooked on the Japanese powder lifestyle.
The thing with Japan, as opposed to home, is that it still has the small town vibe going on there. People were genuine and it was less about the show than it is in Whistler…not to mention I had an entire mountain of fresh snow to myself.
Two years later I learned that I actually had a handful of mountains to myself. I started venturing to other places and soon discovered more reasons to smile. Life is sweet in Hakuba." Ian Millar, Photographer and magazine Editor
LORNA CARMICHAEL
UK Sponsored Skier
With seasons in Europe, Canada and New Zealand under her belt, an impressive list of freestyle competition results and a Dark Summer cover shot to her name, Lorna was blown away by the powder and the parks when she visited us in Japan.
"The onsens in Japan are amazing. There's not much cooler than showering and thawing out in natural hotsprings, resting aching muscles after a day shredding silly amounts of pow! It's really awesome to see skiing in such a different culture - so different to Europe and North America. I love it!
I loved loads of sweet spots in Hakuba. The park at Hakuba 47 was cool - ace atmosphere and some serious shredders to inspire you. The pipe is pretty tidy too. My favourite was the powder though - waist deep in places and not another person in sight!
There's nothing that beats local knowledge …especially in a place like Japan where people don't speak much English and you don't know what's going on. The team at SNOW SEASON JAPAN make you feel at home, in a place that really couldn't be further from the language and culture you're used to! They showed us some special spots that you'll literally never forget riding. I miss it massively and want to go back… now!" Lorna Carmichael, British sponsored skier
STEVE DOWLE
Director of World Snowboard Guide
http://www.worldsnowboardguide.com/blogs/japan/japan08.cfm
www.worldsnowboardguide.com
Steve is never off trains, planes and automobiles on his mission to keep the World Snowboard Guide's long list of resorts fresh. Armed with his snowboard, he is always searching for new and exciting places, and still riding from first lift to last. Steve has snowboarded more resorts around the world than anyone else we know! Check out the World Snowboard Guide and the WSG's team blog from last season's Japan trip:
"Japan is a snow destination that hits every one of your senses. Those scenes from your favourite snowboarding video are not only there but very accessible. An embarrassing amount of fresh snow, rich culture and fantastic food; it's all there for you, so get out there and enjoy it before everyone finds out how good it is." Steve Dowle, Director, World Snowboard Guide
TED ALLSOPP
Director, Northern Escape Heli-Skiing
Terrace BC, Canada
Director of one of Canada's most prominent heli-skiing operations, Ted knows all about good powder. A seasoned traveller and awesome skier, he has ventured to mountainous locations far and wide, including: the US, Canada, Europe, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and most recently Japan.
"I visited the team at SNOW SEASON JAPAN in Hakuba last season and day after day, we ripped the best lines, rocked the trees and got stellar deep pow from start to finish. A day of epic Japanese powdie wouldn't be complete however, without an onsen, an essential experience on a Japanese adventure! With the combination of deep snow, amazing food and the incredible aprs ski onsens… Japan is like no other place and I'll be back for sure this season to rip it up again with the awesome crew at SNOW SEASON JAPAN." Ted Allsopp, Director, Northern Escape Heli-Skiing, Terrace BC, Canada
KEITH STUBBS
Snowboard Instructor Trainer and Snowsports Editor
Snowboarder, coach, head instructor trainer, examinor and writer… Keith is a man of many talents and has packed plenty into his 15 plus winter seasons. Keith is a Brit living in NZ and when he's not out chasing powder or getting new tricks dialled, he is Editor of Amphitheatre.co.nz, a website reporting on the Ruapehu snow scene.
"Imagine Tahoe sized snowfalls with Colorado quality snow and put them together and you have JAPOW! Having SNOW SEASON JAPAN as personal guides led to epic pillow lines, drops and tons of powder. I ate all kinds of new and wonderful food, and bathed in hot steamy natural onsens. Even a bad season in Japan is like a good season in Europe, and a good season in Japan will leave you with a life changing addiction. I'm really looking forward to exploring more of Japan this coming season!" Keith Stubbs, Snowboard Instructor Trainer and Snowsports Editor
SS20 is one of the UK's finest independent skate and snowboard shops. Operating since 1988 in Oxford, and now with a great online catalogue, SS20's aim has always been to provide the best possible equipment and advice in order to support the UK's skate & snowboard scenes. Within the snowboard scene SS20 has supported countless instructors, seasonaires and competitors.
This year SNOW SEASON JAPAN customers can get a discount on their purchases from SS20 - contact us for details! In the mean time check out the fresh gear here:
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