The "Wada Goya Festival" fosters a "genreless" snow culture

From January 17th to 18th, 2026, the "Wada Hut Festival," organized by bottomline, was held at the Wada Hut in Kagura Ski Resort. Over 70 skiers from various genres, including snowsurfing, telemark, and freestyle skiing, gathered for the event. Since its inception in 2017, this event has continued despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting a "genreless" snow culture. This report details the intense time spent where genres blended together

What is the Wadagoya Festival?

In front of the Wada Hut, located halfway up the Kagura ski resort, are a variety of unfamiliar pieces of equipment, including snow surfboards, telemark skis, and twin-tip skis. Just seeing the diversity of these items reveals that this is a gathering place for skiers with unique personalities

This is the venue for the "Wada Goya Festival," organized by the pro shop Bottomline

Bottomline is a ski and snowboard pro shop located in Nerima, Tokyo, and has a unique presence. It has attracted a core group of fans with its carefully selected products and professional tuning services that showcase the skills of artisans

This event, which took place over the weekend of January 17th (Sat) to 18th (Sun) with bottomline luxuriously renting out the Wada Hut, has been held for nine years despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic

"In nine years, everyone has aged nine years. I think there have been many changes in the passage of time. The riders who participate in this event have also changed little by little. But I think the one thing that hasn't changed is the spirit of enjoying the snowy mountains regardless of genre," says Tomoyuki Tabata, owner of bottomline and the mastermind behind this event

The scale of the event, accommodating over 70 participants, fully utilizes the Wada Hut. The fact that so many skiers from diverse genres gather there is proof that bottomline functions not just as a tuning gear shop, but as a community hub

Even among strangers, a shared passion for snow-covered mountains quickly bridges the gap between them. "Where do you usually ski?" "Is that snowboard working well?" Conversation flows naturally, and the circle of friends expands

ParticipatingLegends

A major characteristic of the "Wada Hut Festival" is the participation of various unique figures and so-called "legendary" celebrities from the snow industry. Let's introduce some of them

Naoto Koban(MOSS SNOWSTICK):
Developer and main rider for MOSS SNOWSTICK. His unique snowsurf style has been refined, and his riding, which recreates the feeling of surfing on the snowy mountains, has influenced many riders. He embodies the essence of snowsurfing.

Masahiko Sato(MOSS SNOWSTICK):
Spreading snowsurfing in various locations together with Mr. Koban. As the head of the school, he has a strong reputation for teaching basic techniques and practically conveys the "snowsurf" advocated by SNOWSTICK.

Takaoki Hashimoto(K2)
: A freestyler known by the nickname "Hashi." While belonging to K2, his unique style as a professional skateboarder conveys the depth of snowboarding. His unique worldview is captivating.

Naoyuki Watanabe(PRANA PUNKS)
: A legendary snowboarder who runs PRANA PUNKS and lives in Nagano. He has had a nice, on-again, off-again relationship with Mr. Tabata for a quarter of a century. He is known for his soulful riding and brand management.

Jiro Nakayama(GREEN LAB.):
Founder of GREEN LAB., a Japanese snowboard brand that celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. His flawless riding style, typical of Nagano, is the epitome of freeride.

Makoto Iguchi(MOSS SNOWSTICK)
: A close friend of Mr. Koban and an old acquaintance from the same hometown of Akita. A snow surfer who knows the Akita fields inside and out.

Katsushi Shoji(Professional Skier)
: Nicknamed "Sho-chan." Known for the legendary "Snow Dolphins" ski video. Opportunities to ski with him are rare these days. His passion for skiing at the forefront of the sport, even after turning 60, is contagious to all participants.

Hiromichi Kuga(Telemark Skier)
: Runs SARC and conveys the true essence of "telemark skiing," which is often misunderstood. A session to unravel the mystery hidden in the legs that spread forward and backward. You can develop an eye that is not deceived by appearances. Mr. Tabata's telemark mentor.

Ryuta Iwasaki(Freestyle Skier):
Although he comes from a freestyle background, he is a respected figure with his unique style. Currently, he uses "board skis" equipped with SB boots and bindings, and glides smoothly down the snowy mountains without poles. A pioneer of a new genre.

A session that transcends genres

Upon arriving at Wada Hut, we found that six sessions were taking place simultaneously on Saturday. There was a BC guided tour led by Katsushi Shoji, a telemark session by Hiromichi Kuga, a snowboard level-up lesson by Masahiko Sato, a snowsurf session by Naoto Koban and Makoto Iguchi, a snowboard freeride by Naoyuki Watanabe and Jiro Nakayama, and a "SB+SKI freeride" by Takaoki Hashimoto and Ryuta Iwasaki

Sunday offered even more unique "intergenre sessions."

In "Two-Piece Mix," Katsushi Shoji and Hiromichi Kuga fused the two cultures of alpine skiing and telemark skiing. In "Different Styles Mix," Naoto Koban, Takaoki Hashimoto, and Ryuta Iwasaki showcased three completely different styles—snowsurfing, snowboarding, and boardskiing—in a single session.

In "SB Nagano VS Akita," Jiro Nakayama and Makoto Iguchi incorporated the local style into their riding, while in "SB Legend," Yudo Yoshida and Masahiko Sato, filling in for Watanabe who had to leave the mountain at short notice, showcased the techniques and philosophies they had cultivated over many years

The chemical reaction that arises from intentionally mixing genres—that was the core of this event

BC (Backcountry) Session

I participated in the "BC Session" and the "Double-Ply Mixed Session," so I'd like to share my experience

The BC guided tour, led by Katsushi Shoji, featured support members who knew the Kagura mountain range inside and out, as well as guests from Tohoku, resulting in a diverse and enjoyable mountain trek

There hadn't been any snow for about two days, so we couldn't expect any powder. However, we had a powder ride in the morning under clear skies. The feeling of skiing down the open slopes under a blue sky was exceptional

In the afternoon, fog rolled in, so we moved to the tree area. With limited visibility, we skied through the trees. Everyone cheered at the unexpectedly good powder conditions

Mr. Iguchi's energy resonated with all the participants, enlivening the entire tour. Photographer Joji Uke documented the tour's events

In the backcountry, sharing equipment and skills is essential. Safety management, route selection, and snow condition assessment—skiers from different disciplines cooperate in situations where specialized knowledge is required

Advice from support members who know Kagura inside and out, and diverse field experiences from guests from Tohoku. Their shared knowledge enhances the safety and quality of the entire tour. A sense of unity arises precisely because we are in nature. The tension, different from that on groomed slopes, deepens the bonds between skiers. This is the true essence of a backcountry session. Differences in equipment are insignificant

Two-Piece Ski Exchange Session (Alpine x Telemark)

After enjoying the first tracks of the morning (the regular customers who came up hoping to get the first tracks were probably surprised to find that the slopes were already skied over and there was hardly any groomed snow left...), the "two-snowboard mixed" session began after we had had our fill of first tracks

The session began with brief advice from Katsushi Shoji and Hiromichi Kuga, and everyone then set off for Naeba. Interspersed with photo sessions, they practiced telemark and alpine lines. Through this repetition, they began to understand each other's techniques. Those using heel-free skiing struck poses during turns, displaying a more elegant style compared to the power-focused alpine skiing

As time passed, visibility in the mid-altitude areas became increasingly poor due to the fog, but everyone smiled when the view occasionally cleared. With a decent number of people in the session, gear problems are bound to occur, but the participants were fascinated by the gear they don't usually get to see up close. These kinds of problems can also be learning experiences, which is part of the fun of a mixed-specialty group

The Wadagoya hut at night and the chemical changes that occur there

The night at Wada Hut has begun. A sense of accomplishment after a day of skiing is evident on the faces of the participants

After changing clothes, a relaxed atmosphere prevails, and conversations naturally begin. Even those who spent the day on the same program, as well as members from different sessions, share the common profile of being "skiers," making conversation easy

As dusk fell, KEISON's mini-live performance began. Rather than a flashy performance like you'd find in a live music venue, his warm and inviting music suited the space of Wadagoya, gradually putting the audience at ease

I joined a table where the president of this media outlet and former managers of Kagura Ski Resort were gathered. I listened to the legends' incredible stories of their experiences. It's the kind of setting where you can hear stories like these. At the next table I joined, there were people from all sorts of backgrounds: someone who started snowboarding in their late 40s, a couple who snowboard all over Niigata, and someone who overcame illness to return to snowboarding

At each table, the conversations deepened. As night fell, the atmosphere became more heated. Skiers who had been in separate sessions during the day came together, transcending genres and ages, to share their past experiences and perspectives. From technical discussions and equipment choices to their individual philosophies and values. "Why are you drawn to the snow-covered mountains?" "What do you gain from skiing?" The conversations continued late into the night

While social media is ubiquitous and it seems like everything is being shared, there are some things that can only be shared in places like this. This space reminds us once again of the importance of face-to-face communication

One participant's comment that "it's because of the special space of Wada Hut that we can speak our minds honestly" was particularly memorable. The intense atmosphere created by over 70 participants sharing one space, staying in the same place all night without descending the mountain, allowed for deeper conversations that wouldn't normally be shared

The next day, they made a promise to ski together in each other's hometowns. That short two-day, one-night trip had definitely changed something

Pro shops foster the future of snowculture

There are likely pro shops and specialty stores in your town as well. It's a waste to only take your skis in for tuning at the end of the season. Chat with the shop owner, participate in shop-sponsored events, and make new friends. By making good use of pro shops, your snow life will surely become much richer

How about I take part in shaping the future of genre-less snow culture?

Photo:Joji Uya
Special Thanks: bottomline