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Voted 1st out of 1 reviewed ski resorts in Japan
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Niseko's AMAZING off piste
Reviewed 3 Sep 2015
Blessed with a gargantuan average snowfall of 15m per season, Niseko has more fresh powder dumped on its slopes than any other resort on Earth. Blistering in straight from Siberia, the pow here is the lightest, driest, fluffiest you’ll ever experience. Previously bound by strict laws which kept all visitors within the resort boundaries, this epic back and side country has been freed up for us powder hounds to enjoy. Just bear in mind that certain areas are still strictly no-go, and once you’re through the gates, you’re completely on your own (bringing a buddy is a MUST!). But all this is totally worth it because nowhere else can guarantee powder so deep you’ll be snorkelling down the mountainside, frozen smoke rolling over your shoulders. Drop through gates 1 or 2 straight into the An’nupuri bowls for massive verticals, big-ass cliffs and super deep trees to carve your way through. Let me warn you: after one taste of this route, you’ll be looping it all week long because there’s more incredible lines down through these bowls than you could ski all season. Traverse from gates 3 or 4 to the western flank, and after a small hike up to Mt Niseko’s peak there’s an awesomely long run all the way down through untouched champagne stashes which leads you back through the Hanazono trees. If you’re more inclined to stay inside the boundaries, I think this part of the resort is a real treat. I could spend days tearing through the lines of silver birches, making fresh tracks on down through the Strawberry and Blueberry Field areas.
NISEKO SNOWBOARDING
Reviewed 1 Sep 2015
The cool kids call this place ‘Ni-sick-o’, and the rest of us know it as a powder paradise – but we’re all in agreement that it’s a hop, skip and a jump ahead on the snowboarding scene. Racking up the numbers, this Japanese gift sits on its own pedestal, seeing 15m of dry, feathery snow each season. Making the most of this world-class snow is the Hanazono: 3 multi-level terrain parks sit within its boundaries, where some of the most hard-core freestyling unfolds. The main park pulls in intermediates and churns them out as pros at a city-like speed, challenging daring boarders to massive lines, all to the buzzing backdrop of high-octane drum and bass. But, parks aren’t the only thing that wraps boarders around Niseko’s little finger. Freeride: one word that makes expert snow boarders weak at the knees, and this place is like no other. Take that 50ft of fluff, squeeze out the moisture, enthusiastically spray it over every nook and cranny, and you have Niseko’s backcountry. The Strawberry Fields is the crème de la crème here; tear through the trees, kick up blinding sprays of pow and land your best tricks on the natural pillows and banks that line the route. Correct country aside, this smashing snowboarding itinerary feels a lot like a real life Super Mario Bros session…
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