Postcards from Niseko is a new series for ’17-’18 we have developed with Rome SDS Ambassador, Evan Wilcox. He will be sending us digital postcards from Niseko, sharing images and videos of the famed japow, and detailing the adventures he gets up to.
Niseko is United
Locals are saying this winter is an anomaly so far. The storms are consistent. The quality of snow feels like mid-season. The only other time I’ve seen such regular snowfall was during January two winters ago. Needless to say, I’m gobbling up as many pow turns and face shots as possible.
All of the resorts on Mt. Niseko-Annupuri are open, and Niseko is once again united by that wonderful white stuff. Although I work for Hanazono, the northeastern resort, I’m lucky enough to possess an all-mountain Niseko United pass. I’ve had enough time to run around all the resorts already. The best part? There is absolutely no one riding the resorts right now. It’s only locals, and I haven’t seen a lift line yet. Hardly anyone even for first chair on the many bottomless days we’ve already had. Time to spin hot laps of resort pow with the buddies!
Every day is a pow day right now. I guess that’s why I moved here, but I wouldn’t have expected it to start so early in the winter. However, it’s still early season, and tons of fun features that get buried by mid-winter are asking to be hit. Virtually everything is a pillow right now, and I’m taking advantage of every opportunity throw a method into a deep landing.
The clouds you can put up in a single slash look like January, not November or early December.
The bamboo is still around, but is getting covered up rapidly.
Although the backcountry gates at the resort aren’t open, the snowpack looks as if it is one whole month ahead of last year. This gets me so excited, as backcountry season is nigh, and it should last longer in the spring as well. However, now is time to get those powder legs strong and rip as many japow-filled resort laps as you can!
Hello from Hokkaido! I'm Evan. I'm from Portland, Oregon, but now call Niseko my home. A few uninspiring snow years in the US left me with a hunger for deep snow, which let me to pick up and move to the snowiest place on earth. I now work marketing for Hanazono Niseko Resort and have the freedom to ride and explore these incredible mountains blessed with that world-famous japow. Follow my adventures here through Japan Grabs' Postcards!