It’s time to leave Japan and the snow is amazing . . . typical. Our last night ride sesh was amazing and I was stoked to get one last hit of good pow before we bailed. It had been dumping for two days so it was on. Mark, Rob, Ferret, Ben, Animal and I woke up pumped to go ride. We got ready in pretty good time, loaded the boards, cleared the windscreen and we’re off….well not at all…the dunga battery had gone flat after 5 mins of running the fan and windscreen wipers! No biggie…Ben and Mark make the 5 minute hike to the gas station to ask for jumper leads. Haha that would be simple if you spoke Japanese.

After a 5 minute display of hand signals and picture they got their message across. The guy from the gas station drove them back to our house ready for the jump…”Where are the keys?!” haha Ben figure out that he must of dropped them on the way to the gas station…sweet lets go find them…yeah that also would be sweet if there wasn’t 20cm of fresh snow everywhere. Mark was the only one that was optimistic and went on the search. Somehow 5 minutes later he turns up and has found them…no idea how, it was a single key! Anyways now with the van started, the fuel gauge was on empty…to be expected…back to the gas station to fill up and a tip for our Japanese mate who helped us. chur chur fullas.

We shredded all afternoon and evening and scored some of the best snow we had ever had so the mornings drama didn’t seem too bad at all. Shame to leave when the forecast is for 3 more days of snow but it had to be done.

All in all I have been stoked with my time in Japan. The mountain we rode was Hirafu which is right next to Niseko village. Awesome place.

Go check it out. Chur

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