When you are up in the North Island of Japan, there is no telling what the weather might bring. We landed at our final destination smack dab in the middle of nowhere. We met up with Pat Moore, Zach Leach and Heikki Sorsa in the airport and our crew was complete.
From around the world the crew had gathered on the tiny island nation of Japan for a trip that only Red Bull could pull off. We are chasing the world's best snow all over Japan until we have had our fill. Chuck Olbery from Hokkaido Powder Guides met us with our transportation and we were off. The sky was dark and the snow was puking. We had about 2 hours until we reached our lodge, which was nestled at the end of a road halfway up a volcano.
There is just something about road tripping with your friends that is the best thing in the world. What should have been a 2 hour mission ended up turning into a 3 hour tour! We stopped for candy, we stopped for snacks, we stopped for everything!
Finally we arrived at the lodge where we would spend the next five days. It was night when we pulled in and we were beat from the day of travel. A little rice bowl and off to bed, because in the morning everything would go off.
It snowed all night and through the next day. Billowing powder snow, the kind that Japan is world famous for, and it was ours for the taking. Not another person around and the entire mountain as our playground. The guys got to work fast.
For the next three days we did little more than live the dream. Holed up in the lodge with nothing but powder, Shaun's guitar ripping classic rock licks and the good times just kept on coming. We hiked everywhere. Sweated it out in new terrain. Tested out new jumps, new boundaries and new food. Japan was letting it all slow down and focus itself on what really mattered-riding!
We are right now on a rickety purple bus on our way to Niseko for some secret stashes that Heikki has picked out. More coming from life on the road!
There were so many epic turns and times; you are just going to have to wait for the story to drop in SNOWBOARDER Magazine. Until then, check out all the photos from our time going Big In Japan! Click here for pics!
Holy sheeit, that sounds like hella funnn. :D
well i thought i left a comment on here yesterday but apparentyly i didnt? but just wanted to say your a sick snowboarder and i give huge props to you. definetly stoked to watch those sick runs! take it easy and keep up the good work.
Shaun looks like you can do alot of shredding up there. Have fun dude.
Wow you are so lucky to go to Japan and rip up the powder. Im gonna do that someday.... Keep having fun!!
Wow! That looks amazing! Looks like you all had fun.
It's like snow paradise...And about the picture with Shaun and kids... Always when he poses he has open mouth hehe, funny.
I'm just sitting and thinking if you ever have read this comments. I hope that you have, if you haven't we're stupid saps writing all this comments here....so you haven't read this coment I'm totall sap haha... Just give a sign to your fans that you read sometimes this ,what's written by them... That's all, thanks.
good pics man!!! yeahh!! yo have to come to spain... heheh good luck!
hey men ! you've to come to Spain ok?? hahaahh you're the best
that is so cool;) i live down in el paso nothing much happens hir:/ i hope to you meet one day=}