Location : Nozawaonsen
Addicted to the fun of natural terrain
One of the joys of freeriding is skiing over varied terrain.
Natural terrain, so-called natural terrain, is a favorite plaything for free skiers. It tickles the slippery playful heart, and makes you feel the excitement and curiosity of returning to your childhood.
When you see the rich terrain in front of you, it stirs your imagination and makes you irresistibly happy. Swamps, forests, jumps, mashes, logs, banks, swells, waves, walls beside the course... What kind of line do you ski on?
What kind of performance do you have? We asked riders and skiers in the snow industry who were addicted to the fun of ski resorts with rich topography to inspire us.
8 Ski Resorts with Interesting Natural Topography
[Hokkaido]
BC-like natural terrain hidden in the Niseko Moiwa forest
All of the forests in the ski area can be skied, and there is a treasure trove of natural topography just like the backcountry. Speaking of "Moiwa's Back Bowl", it is a famous spot that there are no people who don't know about freeriders who like Hokkaido. A natural park for mashing, logging, and jumping on natural pipes. The satisfaction level is overwhelming because you can enjoy it repeatedly by spinning the lift.
Although the mountain is compact in size, Moiwa is packed with terrain changes, making it fun no matter where you ski. It's a mountain where the scales fall from your eyes at the joy of playing in the natural terrain. Yet the snow is the finest powder of JAPOW, which boasts to the world. Moiwa has a particularly large amount of snow in the Niseko area, so deep powder riding is also possible. It's already a dream field.
■Course map
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| Top altitude 839m | Longest run 2,200m | Elevation difference 400m | Maximum slope 35° |
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8 courses | 3 lifts | Gondola -base | ropeway -book |
◆ Official HP / https://niseko-moiwa.jp/ja/
[Hokkaido] Rusutsu Resort
Side Country Park is a treasure chest of terrain play
Mt. Yotei intercepts the humidity that flows in from the Sea of Japan, and from December to February special dry powder accumulates intermittently at Rusutsu Resort. The face is reset by fresh snow almost every day, and the powder hit rate is also high. What makes Rusutsu even more attractive is the beautiful forest with its rich natural topography.
Rusutsu Resort has a "side country park" that delights overseas free ski movie crews. In the forest next to the course, there is a jumping platform and a rainbow rail using natural logs, and you can take photogenic pictures like the one above. Areas with good snow in Europe and the United States are at high altitudes, so they often become open burns. It's hard to find an environment where the face is covered with the finest powder in a broad-leaved forest, and there are objects to play with in the rich natural terrain. The park with plenty of natural taste is a happy place where you can enjoy powder, tree run and park all at once.
The 2020-21 season was closed, but the 21-22 season is a happy resumption of business. You can enjoy it from mid-January 2022 to mid-March 2022.
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| Top altitude 1,023m | Longest run 6,000m | Elevation difference 683m | Maximum slope 38° |
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15 courses | 9 lifts | 1 gondola | ropeway - book |
◆ Official website / https://rusutsu.com/
Abundant steep slopes rare in Sapporo Teine
The women's giant slalom course is famous for its steep slopes of over 30 degrees, but for freeskiers, the Kitakabe course is the most popular course. It is a 1,500 m2 long ride on a non-compressed snow slope with a maximum slope of 36 degrees, a tree run with terrain changes. The excitement doesn't stop there. After it snows, you can enjoy a “Steep & Deep” overhead deep snow ride. It is a challenging course that is expressed on the official website as "There is no turning back, so please refrain from those who are not confident."
Some say that all courses are interesting, not just the north wall. There are many steep slopes of over 30 degrees and swamps, which are rare in Hokkaido, and although the entire mountain is compact, you won't get tired of skiing all day long. The home of the Miura Dolphins, the rich terrain that nurtured many famous skiers such as Daisuke Sasaki and Tsuyoshi Kodama is still alive today.
■Course map
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| Top altitude 1,023m | Longest run 6,000m | Elevation difference 683m | Maximum slope 38° |
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15 courses | 9 lifts | 1 gondola | ropeway - book |
◆ Official website / https://sapporo-teine.com/snow/
[Nagano]
All the topography of Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is rich and interesting
The ski area is one of the largest in Japan for a single ski resort, and the elevation difference is 1085m. Nozawa Onsen is characterized by wide slopes, long running distances, and abundant natural topography. It is characterized by a long-run course opened on three ridges and a large steep slope, but the placement of the lifts is really appropriate, so it is possible to flow into various courses and turn around on the lifts. The shape of the stream, between the trees, and the gradual change in topography along the side of the course. The long spring season is fun as well as the powder season.
The representative is in the self-responsibility special area of Yamabiko Slope. High-quality snow accumulates here, and the amount of snowfall is large throughout the season. Rich ups and downs create swells, and there are many points where you can fly like a natural half pipe. There is also a part where you lick the undulations and run the board like a banked slalom.
As long as you don't pass through ropes or nets, you can always return to the course no matter where you ski, so it's a place where you won't get tired of skiing around the lift. However, since this is a "self-responsibility area", the ski resort is not responsible for injuries caused by bumping into a standing tree or lift. It is open on the premise of such a point.
■Course map
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| Top altitude 1,650m | Longest run 10,000m | Elevation difference 1085m | Maximum slope 39° |
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44 courses | 19 lifts | 2 gondolas | ropeway -book |
◆ Official website: http://www.nozawaski.com/winter/
[Nagano] Hakuba Iwatake
A treasure trove of natural topography that Hakuba locals secretly love
Although it has a relatively unassuming existence in Hakuba, which is crowded with big slopes, Iwatake's slope design that retains the fun of the natural topography is actually a big attraction. Speaking of topography heaven that locals cherish in HAKUBA VALLEY, it is here.
It is a treasure trove of natural topography, such as VIEWA, which has a series of huge banks, HIKAGE, a swamp course, and DANGAN, which has a series of huge banks. Large bowls, undulating ridges and creeks are uncompacted and become great powder areas after fresh snow. The non-compacted snow course has expanded year by year, and now it has expanded to 7 courses. The amazing thing about Iwatake is that you can slide on these gondolas.
■Course map
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| Top altitude 1,289m | Longest run 3,800m | Elevation difference 539m | Maximum slope 35° |
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26 courses | 9 lifts | 1 gondola | ropeway -book |
◆ Official HP / https://iwatake-mountain-resort.com/winter
[Nagano] Happo
of Japan's most dynamic slopes and wall heaven
The elevation difference is 1,071m, which is one of the best in Japan, and there are five main lines that slide down from the top of the slope.
All of them have a continuous slope structure where medium slopes and steep slopes appear one after another, and the biggest feature is that there are few rough "connecting" parts. Even if you slip and slip, there is still a slope with a feeling of slipping ahead. Its dynamic gliding feeling is probably the best in Japan. Happo is particularly famous for the bumpy slopes of Usagidaira, but the fact that there are so many variations in the direction of the slopes and changes in undulations is another attraction of Happo. Panorama Side and Riesen's long detour courses are banked terrain and wall paradise. Riesen has an altitude difference of 800m, and the wide long course is a signboard course where you can enjoy a long ride of 3000m in total length despite the terrain changes. In addition, the Olympic course I was not modified except by cutting trees when the course was constructed, so it remains almost natural terrain, which is also fun here.
Hakuba's local pros are well-known as a ``landscape paradise,'' and it's a ski resort where you won't get tired of skiing anywhere.
■Course map
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| Top altitude 1,831m | Longest run 8,000m | Elevation difference 1,071m | Maximum slope 35° |
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14 courses | 20 lifts | 1 gondola | ropeway -book |
◆ Official HP / https://www.happo-one.jp/
[Nagano]
In addition to the Madarao Kogen Tree Run, natural terrain points are available
Madarao Kogen is characterized by a course layout that makes the most of the undulating terrain. In particular, the tree run course, which slides through the trees, has a wide variety of 12 courses, and is famous for being the best tree run in Japan in terms of number and quality.
Madarao has increased the number of non-compressed snow courses year by year by making changes to the forest within the ski resort area. The scale is comparable to the number of compacted snow courses, and of course, the natural topography that has not been maintained has plenty of natural hit points that are rich in variation. The environment is perfect for skiing on natural terrain.
■Course map
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| Top altitude 1,350m | Longest run 2,500m | Elevation difference 440m | Maximum slope 37° |
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31 courses | 11 lifts | Gondola -base | ropeway -book |
◆ Official website: http://www.madarao.jp/ski
[Gunma] Marunuma Kogen
Gondola
There are several ski resorts in the Gunma area where you can enjoy natural terrain, but Marunuma Kogen stands out among them. What makes it so is the course design that "plays while flowing". There are various types of walls that make use of the rich natural topography, and since they are as large as one gondola, it is a “guessing paradise”. Combined with the snow quality that changes daily, the walls are always different every time you visit, so you never get bored. Since you can spin the gondola, you will be absorbed in playing with the terrain all day long.
Among them, the 4km long course from the ropeway summit station to the foot of the mountain is highly acclaimed as the most fun for skiers. While following the natural terrain, you can slide while hitting the left and right walls rhythmically. Like flowing water, the 4km downhill riding while drifting is the symbol of Marunuma, the land play kingdom.
■Course map
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| Top altitude 2,000m | Longest run 4,000m | Elevation difference 600m | Maximum slope 32° |
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13 courses | 8 lifts | 1 gondola | ropeway -book |
◆ Official HP / https://www.marunuma.jp/winter/
Other selected ski resorts with interesting topography
| Hokkaido | Wassamu Higashiyama | About halfway between Asahikawa City and Nayoro City. The course conditions are of the highest quality, thanks to snow compaction technology that surpasses the level of civilian ski resorts. |
| Hokkaido | Niyama Plateau | A ski resort near Hakodate. If you hit the powder, you will be able to fly around a lot due to the terrain. |
| Hokkaido | Niseko Hanazono | Strawberry has many mashes and can fly continuously |
| Iwate | Hachimantai Shimokura | Although it is compact, there are many terrains where the way to play is infinite depending on the sense of the slipper |
| Niigata | Seki Onsen | Where you can fall, where you can fly, where you can guess, creativity is tested |
| Niigata | GALA Yuzawa | A 2.5km descent course that opens in the afternoon. You won't get tired of the terrain changing every time you slide |
| Nagano | Yamaboku | Only two lifts are working, but I am very satisfied with the natural terrain and uncompacted snow. |
| Nagano | Ryuoo Ski Park | A tight course with trees on both sides. You can fly up and down! |
| Gifu | Takasu Snow Park | The diamond course is fun because the undulations change greatly depending on the snowfall conditions |
Tips for playing and sliding on natural terrain
look around anyway
To enjoy natural topography, it is necessary to start by looking for topographical changes. Start researching while on the lift. While overlooking the course, look around here and there, such as undulations, walls, one-sided slopes, gaps, etc., and check what is there.
The important thing is to keep your field of vision wide. If you raise your line of sight, you will feel more stable on the slide, and it will be easier to find interesting terrain that catches your eye one after another.
Predict slope changes in advance
Due to the untouched nature of the terrain, the slopes are often varied. Therefore, as a basic mindset, it is good to always anticipate change and move.
Looking over the entire wall, imagine a line that slides from the entrance to the exit. At first, I entered at a speed that I thought was a little early. If you can check the speed drop when climbing the wall, increase the speed as you get used to it. The faster you slide, the more you can feel the G from the side, and you might get hooked on the fun of the 3D terrain.
try every line
For example, walls have different angles and different slope conditions. Depending on the situation, I would like to try all kinds of lines such as approach angle, turn arc, carving, sliding, speed, etc. If you cut deeply and do a carving turn, you can hit the top part, and it's also good to fly a little with the lip.
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