Powder, Sushi, Japanese culture; that was what the Warren Smith Ski Academy Japan powder Camps were all about. Last year Warren Smith and Melody Sky went to Japan to research the possibility of Japan being a potential location to run Powder Camps. What they came back with was a result better than they could ever have expected.
Respecting the Mountain - Japanese Style
The Academy made history in being the first ever ski tuition organisation to be granted exclusive permission to take groups off piste in the "Sacred trees" of Furano.
The 11 day ski trip was split between the resorts Niseko and Furano, with a day trip to Kamui. There are three main resorts in Niseko; Annapuri, Niseko Village and Hirafu.
Here the tree skiing is magnificent, with extensive floodlit night skiing, even off-piste, running up until 9pm every evening. The Academy Powder ski coaching and development began in these areas before transferring to the resort of Furano. In Furano a guide and 2 patrol escorted the Academy on a historical journey to the finest off-piste terrain with the most beautiful pine and Silver Birch forest densely filled with powder. The area was untouched by anyone else, and the Academy clients knew this was to be the best skiing they had ever done.
Warren ran a transceiver check with everybody in the group before accessing the off piste terrain. He talked about the area, what to look out for, potential dangers, general ski etiquette and also about respecting the mountain. He spoke highly of the patrol, and the job they were doing for the mountain. This instilled confidence in the Patrol for what the Academy were doing, which seemed to make the whole operation work really smoothly.
Of the 20 people on the Camp, not one had to ski in another's tracks. The area was vast and safe due to the gradient and the trees. It was also a fantastic learning environment due to the light texture of the snow and its depth, meaning nothing underfoot could catch out a skier, giving greater confidence to ski the powder. The group were guided to the same areas Warren and Melody had tried, tested and photographed the year before, and they also had their photographs taken in the same areas. The experience was magical and will never be forgotten.
To read more about the Camps, have a look at the blog that was kept over the 11 days and see what the skiers have to say. Read here: http://www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com/japan-blog/
Provided by Melody Sky, Warren Smith Ski Academy