Located in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, where snowfall is plentiful, Maiko Snow Resort (hereafter referred to as Maiko) is currently developing ungroomed areas and tree run areas, taking advantage of the snow that falls almost daily. Even in February, snowfall is frequent, and there is still plenty of powder to enjoy at Maiko. Skier Ken Hirose and snowboarder Hiroki Hoshi, who are both familiar with the area, shared their tips on how to enjoy the resort
First, let's take a look at a short clip of the two of them filmed at the end of January
Photo gallery of this shoot
A unique ski resort located just off the interchange
Maiko is great for skiing, but its biggest selling point is its easy access. It's a little over two hours' drive from Nerima IC on the Kanetsu Expressway, and just one minute from Shiozawa-Ishiuchi IC. It's one of the few ski resorts in Japan with such convenient access, located right in front of an IC
Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, where Maiko is located, is known as an area that receives particularly heavy snowfall within Niigata Prefecture, but the roads are equipped with snow-melting systems such as snow-melting pipes, so driving on snowy roads is no problem. This
ski resort is very friendly to skiers and snowboarders from the Kanto region.
Along with its easy access, Maiko's appeal lies in its large scale and the variety of slopes that come with it. Maiko has 10 lifts and 26 courses, the longest of which is 6,000m (the Run Run course)
Maiko has two entrances, one on the hotel side and one on the gondola side, and the slopes are divided into three areas: the Maiko area, the Okuzoeji area, and the Nagamine area
The Maiko area has a hotel and many gentle slopes, making it popular with families and school trip groups (of course, there are also ungroomed slopes and slopes for advanced skiers). It also has a snow park and night skiing on weekends only.
The Nagamine area on the gondola side has many steep and medium slopes, making it fun for intermediate and advanced skiers. However, there are detours around the slopes, so there are courses that anyone can enjoy.
The Okusoji area is located deep in the mountain on the gondola side, with wide north-facing slopes. Taking advantage of these characteristics, it is home to a wide range of tree run areas and ungroomed snow areas, which we will be introducing in detail here.
There is also a connecting lift between the Maiko area, whose entrance is on the hotel side, and the Nagamine and Okusoji areas, whose entrances are on the gondola side, so you can travel between the two areas
Get an overview of the ungroomed slopes and tree run areas
In the Okusoji area, next to the Okusoji Quad Lift, there is the Haglöfs tree run area, which consists of three sections. The terrain among the trees is full of subtle changes, making it perfect for a pleasant ride. The slopes are relatively gentle, so you can return to the slope no matter where you ski, making it perfect for those who want to try tree running. Anyone can ski in this area as long as they apply online in advance and wear a helmet and armband
In addition, tree runs are available in the forest between the Champion Course in the Maiko area and the Gold Course and Silver Course
Two riders' guide to conquering Maiko powder
That's an overview of the Maiko powder and tree run areas. You now know that there are a variety of ungroomed snow and tree run areas in the three areas. So, how should you prepare yourself first thing in the morning to get your powder on? Let's find out the best option
Let's hear from some professional skiers and snowboarders who frequently visit Maiko about their own tips for conquering Maiko
The case of skier Ken Hirose
"First thing in the morning, I take the gondola to the Okusoji area. The great thing about Maiko is that you don't have to change lifts and you can gain altitude in one go. Then I take the Okukuwa (Okusoji Quad Lift) and aim for the first track on the ungroomed Gungun Course. Above Gungun Course there is a partially groomed slope, so I go straight down from there and pick up speed before dropping off. I like to ski in areas with good terrain and accumulated snow. The slopes are steep and you can run in powder at high speeds, so it's so exciting I'm addicted."
"Next, we take the Oku Pair (Okusoji Pair Lift) and ski dynamically with big turns down the ungroomed slopes of the Zokuzoku Course. One of my favorite things about this course is that it's steep and wide, but another great thing is that you can clearly see your tracks when you're on the lift (laughs).
After that, we tackle gates 1 to 3 in the Haglöfs tree run area in order.
At gate 1, you tend to go left because it's a stream, but if you go too far left you'll end up at the bottom of the stream and it will take a while to get back on the slopes. If you ski while keeping the Okukuwa on the right side in mind, it's easy to return and you can do long runs, so I recommend it.
As for gates 2 and 3, the slope is relatively gentle and the distance is short, but the key point is that even if you go late, there will still be no tracks left
"Once I've skied the ungroomed snow and tree runs in the Okusoji area to my satisfaction, I'll head to the off-piste zone
Alternatively, you can skip the Okuzoeji area first thing in the morning and head straight to the off-piste zone in the Nagamine area. If you're skiing Mentsuru, you can ski hard down the middle, then ski a few tracks on the open areas on either side of the course. This is a popular course because you can ski long runs of powder with just a short walk, but if you get there early you can have the powder all to yourself before the crowds gather.
After that, ski the tree run area in the Okuzoeji area where there's still powder left.
Snowboarder Hiroki Hoshi
Snowboarder Hoshi Hiroki commented on the wide variety of slopes available
"Maiko's appeal lies in the wide variety of powder snow. For example, the Okusoji area has mellow tree runs and steep, high-speed powder runs, so you can ski on a variety of slopes. When snowboarding, even gentle tree runs can be fun as you can hit small streams and fine terrain, and on sunny days when your boards are rolling, you can enjoy some great snowboarding. If you want a more exciting run, you can ski on ungroomed snow on the Gungun Course or Zokuzoku Course, so it's great to be able to try different runs on the same lift."
"In the morning, I always take the gondola up to the Okusoji area. There, I don't take part in the powder competition on the Gun Gun Course, but instead enjoy carving and powder on the Gui Gui Course, which has some ungroomed snow and is groomed. There's also lots of powder on the side of the course, which feels great. Also, while the Gun Gun Course has steep slopes for advanced skiers, the Gui Gui Course is sloped enough for intermediate skiers, so I recommend it even for those who aren't up to the Gun Gun Course
After that, when the back pair opens up, I ski the ungroomed slopes of the Zokuzoku course. The course is wide, so even if there are a lot of people, if you look around, the powder will remain for a long time. After that, I ski the Haglöfs tree run area, and that's about it. After that, I move to the Nagamine area and ski the off-piste zones or the powder beside the groomed courses. People tend to gather in the backstreet area first thing in the morning, so if you get to the Nagamine area early, you can enjoy the powder beside the courses for a long time
"Before you know it, it's already lunchtime.
In the afternoon, we move to the Maiko area and enjoy the championship course and snow park. That's the flow of the day.
Not only are there a wide variety of slopes, but the slopes are oriented differently depending on the area, so you can enjoy powder snow in a variety of different snow types. I think it's fun to come to Maiko and compare the different types of powder, such as smooth powder and bouncy powder."
That's how riders can enjoy themselves. On a good day when snowfall is expected, head to the ski resort with the image that the two riders mentioned in mind
Riders who skied this time
SB: Hoshi Hiroki (left)
continues to ski in Minamiuonuma and is active in filming and freeride competitions in the local mountains. He became a member of the DRAGON family this season.
Instagram: @hiroki_nts
SKI: Hirose Ken (right)
Lives in Gunma Prefecture. He's light on his feet and will go anywhere in search of good snow. On snowy days, he especially likes to ski in Maiko and Nakazato.
Instagram: @kenny_fjc
■Information
Maiko Snow Resort
2056-108 Maiko, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, 949-6423
Official website: https://www.maiko-resort.com/
Official social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LINE