Japan's powder is of the highest quality, and there are countless inbound skiers and snowboarders who come to Japan from all over the world to experience it. However, if your home mountain is Whistler, Canada, which is one of the best in the world, you can ski all over the powder. Yet every year, I come all the way to Japan to skate in the middle of winter, when the snow is at its best. Why?
Skier Shane Szocs
I'd like to introduce you to a Canadian who loves Japan. He lives in Whistler, a top snow resort in North America. My name is Shane Zack. When he was young, he represented Canada in mogul skiing, and during the early days of twin-tip skiing, he was a member of the Canadian Air Force, which was all the rage, and is a man who has led the world of freeride.
This is an article about Shane in a freeskiing magazine called "Generation-X" that was published around the time when Shane was very active. With his movie star-like presence and dynamic riding, he has always attracted attention in the freeski world.
Canadians aiming for core JAPOW
Shane's first visit to Japan dates back to about 30 years ago. His visits to Japan began when he was in his early 20s. About 20 years have passed since then. He visited famous ski areas in Japan such as Niseko, Naeba, Nozawa Onsen, and Shiga Kogen long before the arrival of inbound tourists. After coming to Japan as a player, he fell in love with Japan's snow quality and took every opportunity to come to Japan many times.
Around the time Shane turned 40. In Japan, the number of inbound tourists visiting Japan for skiing and snowboarding is gradually increasing. Shane had also been active as a professional athlete up to this point, but he gradually wanted to skate in Japan for himself. One year, he and his Japanese friend CHIYASU went on an unplanned trip to Tohoku for about two weeks.
The purpose is to find a Japanese-style snow spot where you can feel Japan with its wonderful snow quality. The reason is that Japan's JAPOW, such as Niseko, Hakuba, and Myoko, are becoming more and more famous, and even when I come to Japan to skate, I feel like ``There are so many gaijins and so many English speakers, I don't feel like Japan at all.'' I feel like Japan without gaijins. I want to go skiing at a ski resort.''
I looked at the slopes of ski resorts on Google Earth beforehand, and toured around a number of local ski areas in Tohoku, thinking they would be good. Shane was able to discover several ski areas in each prefecture that he liked, including Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Miyagi, and Yamagata. Among them, there was one place like this. The snow quality is good and it looks like we can explore sidecountry and backcountry spots. Nearby, there is a secluded hot spring full of Japanese atmosphere.
Since 2013, Shane and his friends have been staying at this ski resort for about 10 days to two weeks every year. She brings Canadian whiskey with her and makes sure to greet patrols and ski resort officials by saying, ``We're going to ski safely in the backcountry.'' So even when they come, the people involved have been welcoming them with open arms, saying, ``They've come in large numbers again. I wonder if more inbound tourists like this will come.''
Although he was unable to visit for three years due to the coronavirus pandemic, he will restart in 2023. This year (2024), I skated with eight Canadians and Americans from mid-January to early February.
Why do I come to the local ski resort every year during peak season in January, even though I live in a famous and ridiculously nice resort called Whistler?
I asked Shane. Q. Why did you leave Whistler and come all the way to Japan during the top season?
Shane: It's important to visit Japan during the coldest period of the year, when there are big cold waves.The same goes for Whistler, but Japan also has a short season.If possible, come in January or February. It's true that it's hard to leave Whistler when you're in good conditions during the top season, but Japan is different anyway. That's what makes it so appealing.
Because look! This retro two-seater Riding a lift, going to a small resort, powder, and hardly any people. That's what we like!"
Q. What is the best thing about traveling to Japan?
Shane: I think the quality of Hokkaido and Honshu is a little different. Especially Tohoku. First of all, there are a lot of Australians in Hokkaido, and it's probably because it's easy to access. It's further north, so the season is quite long. However, I think Honshu has more diversity in its mountain topography.The quality of the snow is definitely JAPOW, similar to Hokkaido. Hokkaido means you can enjoy the best of Hokkaido, and Honshu means you can enjoy options unique to Honshu. It's good to have variety on a ski trip to Japan.''
Q. Why do you travel for more than 10 days?
Shane: “If you want to ski in really good conditions, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll hit it in five days or a week.If you stay for a longer period of time, fresh snow may fall during your stay.The same thing happened this time. It's snowing. Also, the food, the hot springs, and I like sumo, but I need at least two weeks to enjoy sumo in Tokyo in January."
Q. What is your most unforgettable memory from your trip to Japan?
Shane: “Well, there were so many great memories and deep days, it’s hard to choose, but if I had to say, it would probably be the miraculous experience at Seki Onsen in Myoko where I skated on my 30th birthday.” Five epic runs. I had a lot of powder tree runs all to myself. I was on my own for an entire afternoon even though I was skiing multiple lifts. It was amazing."
Q. Bonus question. What do you think are the major changes in the ski industry over the past 15 years?
Shane: “I think a lot has changed over the last 15 years. The tricks young kids do are incredibly difficult, both in the park and in the backcountry. Skis, boots, and bindings are now designed to work together well, and the evolution is amazing.
If you want to go somewhere like this in the backcountry, there is a piece of gear called ``Zubari'' that perfectly matches the situation. At the same time, there are many skis that can be used dexterously from the backcountry to on-piste. I'm really surprised. It's very convenient for traveling both on the slopes and in the backcountry, like I did on this trip.''
It's a secret though
The name of the ski resort they go to is a secret. It's a small ski resort in Tohoku with a hot spring nearby, and among the locals it's called ``Kamoshika Onsen.''
Now that we are in the midst of an inbound tourism boom, foreigners like Shane who have graduated from Niseko and Hakuba are looking for new spots. If possible, Shane says he would like to preserve the environment of Kamoshika Onsen, where there are few foreigners. That's why he agreed to an interview with the promise not to reveal the name of the place. ``I wouldn't hate it if a ski spot like this, where you can feel the goodness of Japan, turned out to be like a foreign country,'' says Shane. We Japanese are proud of the ski resorts in Japan that are so loved and cherished.
It might be a good idea to accelerate development and create a ski area that transforms into a Western-style resort that satisfies inbound tourists. However, I would also like to listen to the messages of overseas skiers who visit ski resorts every year in search of ski resorts that retain a sense of Japanese character.
Thanks to Shane Szocs, Ryoma Chiyasu, Kamoshika Onsen Crew
Photo: Jun Yanagisawa, Hiroshi Owada
Editing: Chise