In Niseko, there are many humorous/lewd ways of expressing how deep the snow is. When asked how the conditions are, one might respond with which body part skimmed the powdery surface. The more scarcely veiled the innuendo, the better; there’s a slice of ski culture for you. One of my personal favourites came from a rookie ski instructor last year. New-ish to the sport and fresh out of his first Niseko powder day, he made an attempt to express his excitement: “Oh, man it was so deep. It was like… Face deep!” What our new friend was attempting to describe is commonly know as a “face shot” in the skiing and riding world.
Face Shot [feys shot]
noun, plural face shots
1. Powder snow projected into the face of an unsuspecting (or suspecting) skier or snowboarder: I got so many face shots!
Needless to say, the rookie’s new expression went down in infamy and is still used to this day.
What it comes down to is this: putting the feeling of skiing powder into words is no easy task. To capture it in stills only scratches the surface. To film it only inspires envy. To truly know it, skiers and riders need flock to Niseko where a powder day isn’t just a rare moment of brilliance, but a way of life. Between January 1st and 15th 2014, 207 centimeters of snow came down to blanket the slopes. Ponder that one for a second. Even for Niseko, this is a record breaking season with the most snow that the month of January has seen since 1977.
The Lowdown
1. Niseko is comprised of four resorts, all under the Niseko United banner: Annupuri, Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu and Hanazono.
2. Visitors have the option to purchase passes valid for one or all resorts. The vast lift network allows easy skiing access to all four resorts. Alternately, Niseko United runs mountain shuttles free of charge when purchasing a Niseko United All Mountain pass– a steal at 6,000JPY, roughly $60.
3. There are many dinning options, but to make the most of your experience I recommend chowing down on the mountain. Try Boyosa, located near the top of Grand Hirafu‘s King Pair lift for authentic ski decor and casual Hokkaido dishes.
4. There are dozens of so-called ski schools and guide services. Buyer beware: not all are created equal. Look for official Niseko United accredited schools or tried and tested guides.
More on epic powder in Hokkaido to come!
Winter is coming,
K
Part of the Hokkaido, Japan Series:
Intro
Part I: Night Skiing in Niseko