Rusutsu Resort's tree run & powder for professionals |

Many areas are blessed with evenly distributed snowfall this season.

Even in February, popular spots are kept in good condition with regular snowfall and chilly weather. The early stages of the season have passed, but the powder season is still alive and well.
Hokkaido, in particular, has a large amount of snow and good snow quality, so there are plenty of options for ski resorts. If you expect to stay for a few days, the conditions are perfect for applying powder. So, let's take a look at Rusutsu Resort with two riders, skier Toru Kawaguchi and snowboarder Asato Yoshida, who have a keen sense of interesting terrain and fresh snow, for three days in late January.

The size of the scale is the largest in Hokkaido,
forming a ski resort from 3 mountains

Skier Toru Kawaguchi and snowboarder Asato Yoshida visited Rusutsu in late January. Although there was no heavy snowfall during the three days we slid, about 10 cm of fresh snow fell every day, and if we chose a spot, the snow and wind would reset the slope. Good conditions with the temperature dropping below -10°C every morning.

First, here are the best shots and video clips from the three days.

Rusutsu is one of the few places in Hokkaido, or even in Japan, where you can ski longer distances.
As you can see from the slope map below, Rusutsu Resort is made up of three mountains.
From right to left, West Mt., East Mt., and Mt.Isola have 37 courses laid out on the slopes of each mountain, and many of them are long courses that allow you to increase the running distance. The total running distance of the course is about 42km, and it is not a size that can be skied in one day.

Each of the three mountains has its own characteristics.

Let's get an overview first. West Mt. is located in the back right of the map with Mt. Yotei in the background. It is easy to access in front of the hotel and the size of the mountain is compact. The lower part is popular with families and beginners because the slope is gentle, but there are also places where you can enjoy steep slopes such as single slopes and tree runs. There is also a night game, so you can enjoy the powder at night.

East Mt. (East), which accesses Mt.Isola in the back left of the map, is characterized by a gondola and a long distance. Starting from the gondola mountaintop station, there is a course along the ridge with a wonderful view, a course with a moderate slope that is slippery, and the steepest slope of 40 degrees in Rusutsu.

The deepest part of the ski resort is Mt.Isola. Starting with a 3,500m long run course, there is a wide variety of slopes, combining courses along ridges and swamps that weave in between. This is the area where powder skiers rush to visit.

In addition, all areas other than the course within the boundaries of the ski resort (yellow dotted line) are open to the public as self-responsibility areas. Various topography such as the direction of the slope, the degree of inclination, the density of trees, swamps, chutes, and mash. Due to these topographical conditions and snow conditions that change daily, this is a place where you can enjoy yourself with a fresh feeling every time you visit.

I asked the rider about terrain information and weather conditions

Asato Yoshida, who has been skiing Rusutsu for many years, is familiar with the weather conditions and terrain information here. It's often said that Rusutsu is calm when it's raining in Niseko or exposed to strong winds. Mt. Yotei, which is the symbol of this area, seems to have nothing to do with it.

“Since the ski resort has a lot of swamp terrain, snow tends to accumulate on the south and east sides due to the wind blowing from the north and west. There are various slopes to choose from.Also
, when the strong cold air from the northwest blows out to the Pacific Ocean side, Niseko will have a lot of wet snow, but the amount of snow that falls on Mt. Yotei will also change. When cold air comes in from the west, Rusutsu tends to get a lot of snow.”

On the other hand, Toru Kawaguchi also mentioned the weather.

“Rusutsu is more influenced by the Pacific Ocean than by the weather on the Sea of ​​Japan side. It's a place where it's easy to hit.It's only about 30km away in a straight line, but the conditions are a little different from
Niseko.The altitude of Rusutsu is not that high, so it has the advantage of being sunny after it rains.
Also, the live camera installed in the Isola area clears the snow once at 16:00, so I think it would be a good idea to check it in the morning to see how the snow is falling.”

Recommendation area & points recommended by two people The
tree area is interesting as well as the non-compressed snow course

I wonder what the routine for skating on Rusutsu will be like. I asked each of them about their lines. First of all, from Asato Yoshida.

“I often turn Isola. The trees around Heavenly are well-spaced and slippery, and there are large mash and logs on the sides. , Course C. The slope is beautiful with compacted snow and no steps at the boundary, so on days when it doesn't snow, it's fun to carve and ski while tracing the terrain. There are a lot of things to aim for, so I often pass the slopes in the east.However, the tree area between Vivaldi and Tignes in the east has a slope and good terrain.There are few people who aim first, so it is a little-known spot. It's a real target."

Toru Kawaguchi shares the same opinion.

"If you look at the place, it's probably around Heavenly. There's a lot of space between the trees, and there's a lot of terrain. There are different types of rivers, such as deep and shallow, and there are pillows depending on the place, so there are various items that you can play with. As Asato said, East is interesting because there are many lines that people don't aim at.There are logs and mashes that are easy to jump, so it's fun to connect them to one line and skate. Generally speaking, no matter where you enter the tree area, you can return to the course without worrying too much, so I think this is a representative ski resort where you can enjoy tree runs.”

Japan's largest tree run area and slope variation in self-responsibility area

Three days of chasing after the two and skating.
The ski resort is so vast that you will never get bored. The course that spreads out on the slopes of the three mountains faces a direction other than west, so the location where the snow accumulates changes depending on the snowfall conditions and the direction and strength of the wind. Still, considering the skiing distance and slope composition, it can be said that skiing starting from East Mt. (East) and Mt.

The slope variations in the tree areas of these two mountains are almost limitless. It is easy to understand why domestic and foreign filmers choose Rusutsu as their shooting location. There are many locations that look great, such as an open barn, a technical slope with a tight gap between trees, mash that is piled up with snow on a fallen tree, and a log with snow on a huge tree. The direction and degree of slopes vary, so you have a wide range of options depending on the conditions. That's a big point that other ski resorts don't have.

Also, as the two said, both East Mt. It also helps that the terrain is easy to return to.
There are warning signs for prohibited ropes and dangerous areas, so if you follow the instructions, you won't get lost even if you enter the tree area for the first time. Also, the hooded lift has a course map attached, so you can check where you slipped while riding the lift. If you are visiting for the first time, you should start by sliding on the trees right next to the course, and once you start to understand the topography and location, gradually expand the range. There are countless points in the tree area. It is also interesting to find the sunny slopes depending on the wind direction and snowfall. The pleasure of finding a slope that you like, such as terrain and snow conditions, is many times more fun than skiing on a fixed course. Above all, you can fully feel the real thrill of skiing and snowboarding in nature.

The tree area is also attractive, but the East Mt. and Mt.Isola courses are interesting because of the terrain. In particular, the 7°average slope of the "Furikozawa Course" between East Mt. There are walls on both sides of the stream course, and the point is to connect them and slide. Some are artificially kicked to fly, or have a bank shape that makes it easy to turn and hit. Even on gentle slopes where it is difficult to ride at speed, using such items will increase your speed and increase the fun many times over. Similarly, the lower part of the Heavenly Canyon Course has many slopes that can be enjoyed for free riding, such as places where you can double jump and large walls that are worth hitting.

Photo = Takahiro Nakanishi , Rusutsu Resort
Text = Takeru Ogawa
Movie = Naoki Takahari

Rusutsu Resort
Address: 13 Izumigawa, Rusutsu Village, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 048-1711
Contact: Tel. 0136-46-3331 (representative)
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