In early January, EOC Japan, which owns brands like K2, LINE, and VÖLKL, held a test ride event for related parties, media, and dealers at Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort in Hokkaido. We'll report on the backcountry tour that was held at the event, which brought together all of the company's riders
This report is brought to you by Hatano, a new member of the STEEP editorial team. The day after joining the company, he tackled his first interview with freshly printed business cards and a camera, appearing to be an immediate asset, at least in appearance.
His skiing background includes 20 years of alpine racing experience and 2 days of backcountry skiing. His home resort is the now-defunct Racing Camp Nobeyama. He grew up skiing on icy slopes after school at night in a highland area where the lowest winter temperatures in Japan are sometimes recorded.
He has visited ski resorts all over Japan, but to avoid exhausting himself, he always skied only two courses: one for warming up and one for the actual race, and had no experience with powder or backcountry.
Some time after retiring from competitive skiing, I decided that if "JAPOW" was really that good, I wanted to try it as a Japanese skier, so I experienced a backcountry tour for the first time last year. I was confused by everything, from the equipment to the techniques: my skins peeled off, the probes wouldn't extend properly, and the trees were scary. Right now, like a stray cat that has never been petted, I'm still trying to figure out how to accept this new, fluffy feeling and how to enjoy powder. I hope that
those with similar backgrounds, those interested in backcountry tours, and everyone who enjoys winter will read this experience report with a warm heart as a greeting.
"Premium" Private Tour
Moiwa Ski Resort, the venue for the tour, is a relatively quiet resort within Niseko, offering a rich natural landscape and slightly damp, creamy powder snow thanks to its proximity to the sea.
The venue was lined with new ski and boot models, and owners of independent shops and sponsored riders from all over Hokkaido eagerly tried them on. We were also able to learn more about next season's gear, including the much-anticipated double boa system.
Borrowed Cat
I was given the special opportunity to participate in a backcountry tour in between my interviews. I had only been told to meet at 9am, but I was surprised when I got to the meeting place. Of the 12 participants, four were veteran guides who have pioneered the Japanese backcountry scene, including someone we had interviewed for STEEP.
The other participants included the president of K2 Japan, a photographer, a writer, and other impressive people. Just by how everyone was dressed, I could imagine their movements while skiing. From head to toe, it felt like the equipment was perfectly fitted to their bodies.
Lead guideJun Horie's attire might seem light to a beginner, but in fashion terms, it had a certain "effortless chic." In contrast, I looked like a country bumpkin, having been out of Tokyo and on a snowy mountain for a long time, and I rented my skis, poles, and backpack. Dressed in unfamiliar equipment, I was nervous about whether I would look like a cat in clothes, and whether my slightly bulkier skis and body could keep up. I greeted everyone, and once everyone was assembled, the tour began. First up was the quad chairlift, so I followed along, emitting a presence weaker than a beacon.
Niseko Rules
Immediately after getting off the quad chairlift, in front of gate number 6, the first thing we did was check our beacons. Niseko has "Niseko Rules" in place to prevent accidents outside the ski resort, which stipulate that you must always exit the ski resort through the gates and wear a helmet and beacon. The person who
worked hard to establish these rules, who goes up the mountain earlier than anyone else every morning to patrol, and who continues to broadcast "Niseko Avalanche Information" for the safety of all ski resort personnel, is Akio Shintani, known as the "Legend of Niseko." He is the person after whom the famous course at Niseko HANAZONO Resort, "Legend of Shinya," is named. With this legend sending us off with a "Have a good climb," we each began our ascent one by one.
Everyone climbed the long 100-meter slope with ease. This aggressive climbing style is apparently called "split-leg climbing" or "reverse eight" in Japanese, and "herringbone" in English. It's named after the pattern that resembles the shape of a fish with its legs spread apart, and is primarily used as a running technique in Nordic skiing. But leaving aside such trivia, what I want to say is that everyone was as lively as a fish in water
A reliable mind bender
One of the attractions of Moiwa is that you can explore backcountry courses with a quad chairlift and a light hike. We skied down a few runs through the beautiful birch forest to warm up, and then hiked deep into the mountains. The guides were assigned to the front, front, back, and rear, creating a luxurious setup that gave us a premium sense of security.
The weather changed every time we stopped, with periods of sunshine followed by blizzards. The guides repeatedly discussed which route was best to adapt to the ever-changing conditions.
Most of the members were using Mindbenders. While the Wayback is good for tours that include long hikes, the Mindbenders are recommended if you want to prioritize both climbing performance and smoothness. The Mindbenders were certainly stable and easy to maneuver, and were fun to use on tight tree runs and rough powder
Extreme Therapy
Although I was a little fuzzy on how to use the equipment, every time I got a little lost, advice came flying from all sides. I was impressed that the guides were not only paying close attention to the surrounding situation, but also to the participants' every move
Stopping and climbing is taboo in alpine racing. It's a blood-curdling act, but it's what makes skiing on tours that much more enjoyable. I thought that skiing, sometimes not skiing, and taking breaks might be the secret to continuing skiing for a long time. I take walks through the forest, listening to the sound of the river flowing and the birds singing. A friend of mine said that backcountry skiing is like therapy, and I really think that's true
Play is the heart
Before we knew it, we had arrived at the skiing spot. Despite the strong wind blowing our skins away, we switched to skiing mode. The atmosphere seemed to become a little more tense. One by one, we all started skiing, cheering. We stopped at each checkpoint to listen to explanations about the different snow types, the terrain, and things to be careful of
This time, there was also a participant from Germany, and Horie gave all the explanations in both Japanese and German. He was considerate enough to suggest several routes before the meeting point so that everyone could ski on pristine powder. He also made suggestions tailored to each individual, such as, "I think this is more fun for you." While we were waiting our turn, I noticed that the only German participant was wearing Line skis, so I asked him why he chose them, and he replied, "Fun." I felt that was a good enough reason. With that kind of attitude, it seems like you can make good choices in both equipment and lines. Horie would occasionally watch the participants ski and say, "That was a good line."
Along the way, there were moments where we would surely get lost if we didn't follow the exact same line as the leader, and where we wouldn't be able to get back if we mistakenly went down into the valley. However, we encouraged each other, and the guide's jokes lightened the mood, allowing us to spend a time filled with excitement, tranquility, and gentle waves of emotion. One piece of
, especially in situations where the slope changed and we couldn't see ahead, toNakazawa"ski by instinct." Perhaps the true meaning of that is left to each individual's instinct.
Katsudon 25 AUD
As our conversation turned to ski resort food and recommended lunch menus, and the white snow began to look delicious, we realized that it was already past lunchtime, and four hours had passed. Four hours is not a long time to ski on the slopes, but the tour felt incredibly quick.
Although it was called a tour, we all felt like we were creating the time and space together. This was undoubtedly due to the guide's meticulous calculations, which included the appropriate route and pace, as well as individual discretion. As I'm writing this, I remember that I didn't do a single kick turn during the tour. It's amazing how smoothly and directly everyone navigated the complex terrain, even on the uphill lines.
Well, they say that hunger is the best seasoning, and just like how food tastes better when you're hungry, skiing is fun, climbing up and down the slopes yourself. I checked out the restaurant, which recommended the katsudon and cola, but they were quite expensive, so if you're timid like me, it might be a good idea to bring some snacks with you
The tour continues until you get home
This time, I had the profound experience of skiing in the mountains of Moiwa. What impressed me most was the warmth of the guides. They seemed to be genuinely enjoying playing in the mountains, embodying STEEP's "declaration of skiing for life." I
realized that simply having the skill to control your skis is not enough to ski safely and enjoyably. In the mountains, how you interact with things you cannot control can be a matter of life and death. Even while wrapped in layers of high-tech clothing, you need to sharpen your animal instincts and senses to perceive information. In addition to these sensory things, it is also necessary to make a reasonable plan and follow the rules. I think it is wise to go into the mountains with a guide, both to protect yourself and to enjoy backcountry skiing to the fullest.
This marks my third day of BC, but I'm going to start planning for the fourth day so I don't give up after three days. I also want to remain a beginner (someone who never forgets their beginner's mindset) no matter how many days I ski. I'd like to express my gratitude once again to everyone who cooperated with me in this interview despite the cold weather
Information
Moiwa Ski Resort
448 Niseko, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 048-1511
Official website:https://niseko-moiwa.jp/ja/
Official social media:Instagram│Facebook│X│Youtube
EOC JAPAN
1-10-5 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0032, Japan TMM Building 6F
Official website:https://www.eoc-japan.com/