The documentary movie ``BEYOND'' about HEAD's global athletes who were active in various snowfields around the world during the 2023-24 season was released on Saturday, November 16th. Rusutsu Resort in Hokkaido was chosen as one of the shooting locations. Four skiers show off their exciting riding and fun resort life in Rusutsu. Let's introduce the 12 days the crew spent together with the beautiful footage.
“BEYOND” concept
“BEYOND” has the meaning of “beyond/beyond”. For HEAD athletes, the moment of ``BEYOND'' means pushing beyond one's personal limits. There, they will discover new skiing experiences and a sense of accomplishment with their loved ones.
Why Rusutsu? We asked producer Jeff Thomas
Jeff Thomas, who produced BEYOND, is a filmer based in Whistler, Canada who has been traveling around the world following the ski scene for over 20 years. Around 2010, when SALOMON started ``SALOMON SKI TV'' worldwide, he participated in this project along with freeskiing legend Mike Douglas, and came to Japan for the first time in 2011 to film the project.
``When I called a friend in Japan and asked her, ``Where should we go?'' she said, ``Right now, you should go to Hokkaido, especially Rusutsu.'' ``Because it has the most snow, it's fun, and it's the best.'' and.
At that time, Supernatural Park was also being built. That's how I found out about Rusutsu, and since then I've been able to connect with the Rusutsu Resort staff, and we've kept in touch, and I've probably visited five or six times already.
The reason I keep coming back to Rusutsu is that I get lucky every time I go, and now that I know the place so well, I can shoot very efficiently and well.''
It was very impressive to see the crew unable to stop laughing at the fun of the natural park that takes advantage of Rusutsu's deep powder and natural topography.
Skiers were shouting "This is insane!" over Rusutsu's deep powder.
After that, Jeff produced the HEAD team's movie "SHINRIN-YOKU ~Forest Bathing" in 2019, set in Rusutsu.
"I've always loved tree skiing and it's one of my strong passions. In Canada, we have big old cedars and other trees. When I went to Japan for the first time and passed a forest on a snowy mountain, I saw a similar type of tree. I thought it was a tree, but it looked completely different. It was so beautiful, and I was so excited. That's when I decided to shoot a movie that would tell a story centered around trees. My favorite Rusutsu.
Every time I pass through Rusutsu Forest, the wind sounds a little different. I think this is because there are not many coniferous trees and there are many broad-leaved trees. That's why the forest sounds different. It's very calming. The way the snow falls is also different. As you pass through the forest, the contrast between the white snow and the dark green of the forest trees becomes even more striking. Its visual stimulation and beauty are beyond words. That's what moved me. Sliding and playing in the forest while bathing your whole body in the blessings of nature will soothe your soul. I thought the Rusutsu forest and tree riding were perfect for the expression ``forest bathing.''
``BEYOND'' is a new movie created by Jeff, who is passionate about the great nature of Rusutsu and how to reflect its charm on film. Here is Jeff's special Rusutsu video part. Recording time is just under 6 minutes. Please watch till the end.
The timing chosen for shooting and the actual snow
Jeff boarded Rusutsu on January 10, 2024 for the filming of “BEYOND”. The film crew that spent 12 days with us included four HEAD team athletes: IAN MORRISON, MEG CUMMING, XANDER GULDMAN, and JENNA KELLER. And the photographer is world-famous Grant Gunderson ( https://grantgunderson.com/ ).
Among them, Ian Morrison is a professional skier and professional mountain biker from Whistler, Canada. Her father is Paul Morrison, a master ski photographer (he has been featured in gravure photos for the Japanese ski magazine ``BRAVOSKI'' for many years). He is a popular figure in movies, magazines, and other North American media for his dynamic backcountry skiing. Alexander Guldman is a young player who quickly attracted attention in the 2023 FWT. He was named ``Breakout Skier of the Year'' for his combination of style and technique in the movies ``The Land of Giants'' and ``Unified.''
``The first time I went to Rusutsu was on January 2nd 12 years ago.The trip was so amazing that the date has always stuck in my mind.It's a little later this time, but January will come. However, this time it was a little windy. Fortunately, we were able to find some fresh powder and some interesting spots during that time, and we were blessed with some blue skies. ? Of course it's "JAPOW".
Athletes say, ``Rusutsu powder is incredibly light and the best powder I've ever had!'' '' he said.''
The charm of Rusutsu felt by the crew
How was the shooting actually carried out?
``When planning a photo shoot, I think about many things, such as the weather, the purpose of the day, and the movements of the skiers.If the wind is coming from the south, I'll go north, and if the wind is coming from the east, I'll go west. Always look at weather data to find good snow in strong winds. So we have a meeting over breakfast at 6 o'clock every morning to discuss what we took yesterday and what we'll do today. It was also important to be flexible and understand the snow quality, amount, and terrain.”
Rusutsu and Eiba have 37 courses on three mountains: West Mt., East Mt., and Mt. The vast field is functionally laid out with hooded lifts and gondolas, allowing for efficient skiing and comfortable movement.
How did the crew ski Rusutsu?
"I've skied all over Rusutsu. For example, I've skied in a lot of different places, including Mt. Isola and behind Mt. I also shot in the backcountry here and there.
However, I tried to make it look more like a resort without emphasizing the backcountry feel too much. In fact, without using snowmobiles or CAT, most of the areas are accessible by lift, so you use the lift every morning to ski within the resort, and when the slopes become crowded, you hike into the backcountry and return to the resort. It was.
I think the video shows a nice snow scene in the sunlight. We were blessed with blue skies and enjoyed the scenery. While I was diving in the powder, there were also days when the weather was nice and I could see Lake Toya, the volcano, and Mt. Yotei. Skiers and snowboarders who come to Japan from overseas come looking forward to the powder, but when they actually stand on the snow, they are often even more surprised by Japan's spectacular scenery. The athletes seemed to have never expected to be able to see the Pacific Ocean, a lake, and even a large volcano, and were left in awe by the incredible scenery.''
Ian Morrison said:
“I had never been to Japan before. Skating JAPOW was at the top of my bucket list. Rusutsu was a dream come true.
The skiing was the best I've ever experienced, the lightest, deepest powder imaginable.
The terrain is dynamic, playful, and full of variety, making it very interesting. It was amazing to wake up every morning to find new snow blanketing the entire resort.”
Meg Cumming says:
“The most impressive thing about shooting in Rusutsu is finding your own zone, with easy-to-access off-piste terrain, almost unspoiled terrain, and no visibility of anyone else's tracks. They made filming and skating very exciting and fun. Skating Rusutsu was like a gem. It felt like being in your own magical forest."
Approaching Mt. Shiribetsu
During their stay, the crew reportedly accessed Mt. Shiribetsu several times by helicopter. Mt. Shiribetsu is a beautiful independent peak and a special area that can be accessed by Rusutsu Resort's helicopter. You can enjoy the fresh powder that has just fallen and the spectacular view from the top of the mountain that overlooks Mt. Yotei, Lake Toya, and even the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean.
"Mt. Shiribetsu is such a cool and beautiful mountain. I can't believe we were able to approach that place by helicopter. The athletes were so excited, too."
Differences between Niseko and Western resorts
Jeff has traveled to famous mountains and resorts around the world. In fact, ``BEYOND'' also includes a segment on Niseko as a filming location in Japan. We asked Jeff about the differences between Rusutsu and Niseko, and how they differ from resorts in North America.
``For example, when you go out into the backcountry in Rusutsu, there are almost no people, but in Niseko you can see hundreds of people.Rusutsu is not so crowded, it is a little quiet and small in a good way.Rusutsu Village The people you meet at restaurants are also charming.I guess you could say it's a little different from Niseko. It's adorable. The night skiing in Niseko is great, and the mountains are big and cool. But Rusutsu suits my style. It's compact and has a lot of variety, so it's fun to play around the lift. Rusutsu has a unique atmosphere that is more peaceful and playful.
Even compared to resorts in North America, I think Rusutsu has a more playful atmosphere. One of the athletes this time, Alexander Guldman, said, ``Skiing here is very playful.'' ``It's like a roller coaster, and it's fun to slide down the mountain as if you were surfing.'' I'm also happy and wonderful to be able to feel Japanese cultural hospitality wherever I go. Athletes definitely want to come back! That's what he said.''
Fun activities in Rusutsu
It wasn't just Mt. Rusutsu that had the crew excited.
``As you can see from the video, we did a lot of other things besides skating.We also enjoyed a lot of activities like snow rafting, dog sledding, drift car racing, and driving through the woods.
It was a long stay of 12 days, so by including a few activities in between, we were able to keep things sharp and the flow of the shoot became better. I woke up at 6 a.m., went skiing first thing in the morning, took lots of photos while the snow was fresh in the morning, and after getting off the mountain, I enjoyed activities and took a sauna to refresh myself. We ate dinner, drank alcohol until 1am, and did karaoke.
Out of all the countless photo trips I've been on, I think this was probably the most full-throttle and fun trip I've ever been on. I can safely say that it was the most fulfilling 12 days of my life. We had so much fun every day, we were always laughing and telling jokes."
A fulfilling stay
The crew stayed in a log house at the resort for a 12-day stay.
``Our stay in Rusutsu was really great. The log house was really cool and you could walk to restaurants and bars within a few minutes, but still have the feel of a mountain hut. It's convenient because if you want to go skiing at night, you can go right back. Yes, we had breakfast at the hotel, but everyone chose Japanese food.The most popular dish for dinner was the sukiyaki.The food at Rusutsu is really great.
Oh yeah, everyone was surprised by the small amusement park in the hotel. “What is this? I can't believe there's a merry-go-round at a ski resort!'' I was so excited. Jenna Keller said this.
``I've never been to a resort that even remotely resembles Rusutsu's atmosphere. With a merry-go-round, an amusement park, and big mountains, it felt like skiing inside a giant snow globe.''
Ian Morrison posted photos of his Rusutsu trip on his Instagram. It's interesting to see the crew filming and get a glimpse of resort life at Rusutsu.
What impressed me most in Rusutsu
Finally, I asked Jeff what was the most moving and memorable thing about this trip.
``The unforgettable thing about this Rusutsu shoot was that on the last day, about 40 centimeters of fresh snow fell during the night, and then it cleared up.Everyone was so excited and said, ``It was great.'' It was the last day, so everyone skated with a special feeling. The athletes were very excited and moved by the blessings that JAPOW gave them.
Of course it was great skiing with all this powder, beautiful trees, and rich terrain, but it was also amazing how much the people of Rusutsu welcomed us. That was probably the most moving thing. We often went out to eat at the same restaurant every night, and became close friends with the chef and staff. He was happy every time he saw us, and we even took pictures together every night. I think this is the charm of Rusutsu as a whole, and I really enjoyed the family atmosphere. I have always been impressed with Rusutsu's hospitality, but this time it was a particularly family-like and very happy experience.
Please check out the Rusutsu segment. I'm really happy to be able to introduce the fun and wonderful scenery of Rusutsu, and I think that with the help of four amazing athletes and a photographer, we were able to take some of the best photos I've ever taken. And this trip became one I will never forget. I hope that many people will watch this movie and have a similar experience. Rusutsu is definitely a great destination and I wholeheartedly recommend it! ”
Information
Rusutsu Resort
13 Izumikawa, Rusutsu Village, Abuta District, Hokkaido 048-1711
Official Website: https://rusutsu.com/Official
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