Day 5 - Niseko
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Oh what a day!!! The words of every individual on the course was that this was simply the best day’s skiing any of them had ever had. It had dumped over night and was still dumping. In the morning there was so much snow coming down and absolutely no visibility, so they had closed all the linking lifts between Annapuri, Niseko Village and Hirafu. This didn’t stop us accessing all of the mountain though. Warren got his skis over his shoulder and led everyone into a hike. Tom and Rob took the middle and the back of the group so that nobody took a wrong turn in the low visibility.
It was an exciting hike as in the most exposed area at the top of it was very windy and the snow was horizontal. To the majority of the group, it was the most extreme conditions they had actually headed up in. Nike said ‘The hike was like an Arctic expedition. It was brilliant!!’ Once at the top and after a 15 minute walk across the mountain we reached the other side where Warren assured everybody the wind would not have affected because of its aspect. He was very right!
The powder was deep and delightful! We bounced around in it for a while having fun together and then separated into our smaller groups with coaches Warren, Rob and Tom. Again we headed for the trees, beautiful Silver Birch, some of which were not very well spaced out and some that were nicely spread apart. Warren’s group of advanced skiers and ski instructors (Levels 4 and 5 on the Academy Level’s system) headed for the tighter trees. This meant using the technique the coaches had been working on for the last few days, to the best of everyone’s ability. Tom’s group who were advanced intermediate and advanced skiers (Levels 3 and 4 on the Academy Levels system) also went into the tighter trees but took it a little slower. Rob’s group who were advanced intermediate skiers (mostly Level 3 with a couple of Level 4 skiers) went in search of fresh powder on more open trees and powder pockets on the sides of the pistes.
Skilfully everybody bounced around the trees with rhythm, sometimes for the camera as the odd run was filmed to be analysed later by the coaches and also for memories to have forever. We had a couple of hilarious wipe outs. At one point, Matt took off from the top of a tight tree run with great confidence and speed, however he hit a compression without being prepared and his skis stayed in the spot whilst he was ejected up into the air and down again, head first in the snow. I think I laughed the hardest, it was the funniest thing I had seen in ages. However, karma smacked me back in the face and as I casually skied to the bottom of the run where the rest of the group were waiting and watching. Before I knew it, I was upside down in a pile in the snow. I still don’t have a clue what happened!!
At the end of an amazing day, Warren’s work ethic and patience were thrown out the window as he looked down at the most amazing silver birch filled, powder deep heaven and he looked round at the group and said “**!$*’ it!!…Lets just rip it up!” And he took off at full speed, skilfully, powerfully and speedily bouncing round the trees and throwing masses of powder up in the air around him, enjoying every last moment. The group looked on and took this inspiration and turned it into magic. At the end of the run, when everyone looked back at the little space between every tree, nobody could believe what they had just done.
It wasn’t all over though. We reached the bottom of the Hirafu resort and found the paths and roads to be covered in snow. The whole group skied down the main road in search of a Après Ski drink hole. Neil English photographed the group skiing down the road, James managed to ride it Switch (backwards). Rather than Saki (check spelling) the group opted for a Guinness in an Irish Pub (when in Rome!), and then headed up for some night skiing. It was astonishing! The whole of the ski area of Hirafu was lit up with flood lights stronger than those at a football stadium. Even off piste areas in the trees were lit up with the lights created an enchanting almost magical effect. It was almost easier to see the contours and contrast of the snow with the dark sky and the shadows created on the powder snow by the lighting. Ellie said of the evening ‘The night skiing was an amazing experience, powder, powder and more powder! Can skiing get any better than this?! Thank you Warren for bringing us here!!’.
The whole group were skiing at their leisure, not thinking about coaching and technique anymore, but enjoying the moment. It was a playground where we bumped into each other in the trees, frequently saw James fly off something in the air and land in the soft powder. There was nothing but laughter and excitement in the air and the weirdest thing was that the darkness almost seemed to exaggerate every sound and make you use your hearing more. It was thrilling. Jules said ‘ The night skiing; it was the best days skiing ever!! First powder and trees all day then the most amazing night skiing too!’. By 8pm everybody had finished skiing and headed back to the restaurant for some dinner. Everybody was completely wiped out but in a good way. Tomorrow we are transferring to Furano, so skiing starting skiing earlier at 8.30pm and going onto 2.30pm still getting a full day. We’ll then be getting our coach. Can’t wait.