Words, Photos and Video Stills by Geoff McDonald.
Article originally found on MeatheadFilms.com
The idea had been floating around the Meathead Films offices for several years now.
How about bringing back travel segments to our movies to places outside the East?
What better spot than Japan?
Hokkaido…The North Island…The Far East.
What did we find 10,000 miles away?
Well, to be honest, terrain, trees, and snow very similar right here in New England.
It was…
Geoff carrying 200lbs.
of gear (we weighed it).
No wheels on any luggage.
HUGE mistake
Marion lost in translation
forced our way into the taxi cab.
did not take “no room for skis” for an answer!
So here’s the skinny on what went down in short form:
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Dan and Geoff drive to Boston on Feb. 16, arrive 1:00am
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layover in Chicago, 13 hour flight to Tokyo, meet up with LJ and Sean
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2 hour flight to Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island
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45 minute train ride with all our gear to Sapporo
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Tatsuya Tayagaki, from Bravoski Magazine, miraculously shows up and we’re saved!
He’s our local guide and translator for the trip.
Plus he’s a sick skier to film with
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Grab rental van in morning and head out for first day of skiing
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Seen here slaying a pillow line
large pillow.
if only we had the time we could have built jumps up to all of these!
I couldn’t read the Japanese text.
I spent $6 on the biggest tub.
Marion finds his family’s crepe chain restaurant all the way in Japan!
Anyway…
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Snow got better and better everyday and we sessioned one region for the first 6 days of the trip
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Made use of our rainy day building a tree jib in the mash potato snow
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Snow in the forecast we charged down to Niseko area with renewed energy!
Gawked at the out-of-bounds terrain at Niseko which looks incredible but is strictly off limits
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Sessioned some roadside attractions
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Hopefully the images will bring some fresh flavor to the movie and open a new chapter for Meathead Films.
Thanks to Taka and Wataru for taking all the pics.
Thanks to the ski resorts for the tickets and to the Niseko Hilton for the incredible place to stay!
Yotei from the top of Annapuri.
Huge river gap with style
