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Sweetgrass Productions Trailer from Hokkaido, Japan

February 3rd, 2009

Here’s an edit that the Sweetgrass Crew put together from the time they have been in Japan so far.

The snow was so good while I was there.

As I said before, it was either greybird or snowing the entire time I was in Japan, but you get the idea from the above photo by photographer Anthony Bonello.

Anthony was staying at our apartment for a few weeks before heading to Kashmir in 2 days with Stephen Brawn. Check out his blog to read some insight about the Japanese experience we had in Kutchan:

http://anthonybonello.squarespace.com/

I’ve been back for 3 days and the jetlag is rough. The backcountry in Utah has been good to go, so I’ve been hiking around during the day so I can sleep at night. Friday, cardiac ridge was good to go, Saturday, I hit up Scottie’s bowl from white pine at Snowbird and found some creamy snow in Wolverine Cirque yesterday. Pics of that soon.

Next week, I’m heading up to the Sawtooths to hike around and stay in some yurts and film a bit for Kavu and the Elements tour.

Last day in Japan

January 28th, 2009

I’m kind of sad to be leaving! When I left Salt Lake City 18 days ago, I didn’t really know anyone on the trip or what to expect from it. Now we’ve become a little family here at our apartment in Kutchan.

From left to right, starting with the sake bottle:

Charlie Cannon, Nick Waggoner, Forrest Coots, Anthony Bonello, Stephen Brawn, Me, Ben Sturgulewski, Matt Phillippi, and Ian Hock (not pictured Yuki, our translator and team manager, and Mike Brown, the photographer).

I’m surprised at how well we’ve got along given the close living conditions and the amount of time we spend together each day. My Kutchan roommates have become like brothers (in a really large family)–always teasing and picking on me, but still watching out for me, and me for them.

Nick Waggoner cooking up a big curry dinner for Forrest and my last night here.

Japan has been a giant daydream of powder pillows and magical light. The Hokkaido way of life is ocean and mountain driven, laid back and intense at the same time. We get up at 4:45 to rally out the door and chase bluebird powder, yet relax with leisurely meals, sake, and onsen (Japanese hot springs).

I’ve tried my hardest to make sense of the rhythm of the clouds here, spending countless hours studying them, waiting for the light to come through. I’m still confused. They seem to spin around at random, and you never know when the 10 minute window of yellow, blue or pink light will pop, and then disappear.

The elusive Mount Youtei, an inactive volcano, popping out to say goodbye to me today.

Anyway, I have a long flight tomorrow. First, a 2.5 hour shuttle from Niseko to Sapporo, then a 2.5 hour flight to Osaka, then a 10 hour flight to SFO and finally, after customs and another layover, I’ll be home after one last 1.5 hour push. All toll, I’ll spend about 19 hours flying. The cool part is that I leave Japan at 3:40 in the afternoon and I get back the same day at 3:55. That’s right, I’m traveling through time.

Wish me luck! More photos from the trip soon!

Also, please keep reading about Sweetgrass’s filming in Hokkaido this season:

http://sweetgrassproductions.wordpress.com/

Posted in Film & Photography, Skiing, Travel, Uncategorized

Reflections on Obama from Japan

January 24th, 2009

Yah for Obama! I’m no longer ashamed to be an American in a foreign country.

Over the past few days, I’ve been making an effort to get out of the house and see and experience the culture of Kutchan and Niseko Japan. I have been trying to meet and interact with the locals here, whether they are restaurant owners, skiers, snowboarders, diners and drinkers, practicing my Japanese as much as possible.

The people I’ve talked to are educated about American politics and excited about our new leader.

This photo was taken at a local bar, the Loaf Lounge, in Kutchan, Hokkaido, Japan:

I applaud Obama’s executive order to close Guantanamo Bay and show the world that the United States can respect human rights and uphold the basis of our constitution, the writ of habeas corpus.

I further applaud his pledge to uphold the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade and to reverse the ruling on U.S. Abortion Aid. Why does it seem like certain groups care so much about life from conception to birth but then ignore human rights after that?

Here’s what Obama had to say about it (from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/us/politics/24obama.html)

“For too long,” he said, “international family planning assistance has been used as a political wedge issue, the subject of a back-and-forth debate that has served only to divide us. I have no desire to continue this stale and fruitless debate.”

I have been watching international television and I feel a new hope for our country from abroad. I left during a dark era of United States history, and will return back to a brighter present and future.

Posted in Politics, Travel

Niseko Nihon ha daisuke desu!

January 23rd, 2009

This means I love Niseko Japan.

I’ve been living in a fantasy world for the past 11 days with fresh powder, amazing food, no cell phone and obligations besides skiing.

I have 5 more days left. I love it here. I was so anxious coming into this trip. I hardly knew anyone here and I knew the sleeping situation was going to be difficult. Now, I know I can handle almost anything.

Today it rained. I have been so sore and exhausted from all the hiking. Everyone slept in this morning. Yuki, our translator, and I decided to go out for lunch and shopping in the rain.

I should be more excited in this photo because for the first time of the trip, I got to sit shotgun.

The culture here in Kutchan is all about skiing! Here’s a big fence made out of old atomics.

Lunch was so good. Delicious cod, salmon and scallop with fish eggs on top.

After lunch, I bought some sweets and souvenirs, including these new shoes for myself.

Here I am in my closet with my new shoes.

And the other pair…

Tonight we went out to eat at this amazing Yakitori place. I ate raw whale meat and pork stomach. Afterwards, we met some Kutchan locals for drinks and fun. It was so nice to be out of the house all day on my day off experiencing Japanese culture and practicing the language as much as possible.

Tomorrow I may take another day off to kick it around town with some of the new friends I’ve made, especially if it’s still raining.

Posted in Film & Photography, Skiing, Travel, Uncategorized

Photos from Niseko, Japan

January 22nd, 2009

We picked up another rental van yesterday so I finally have space to breath during our car rides to the mountain and back.

I finally made friends with a girl so I don’t have to hang out with 11 dudes all the time! Yui is my new friend and tomorrow we will go Onsen tomorrow