runjumpfly: 03/01/2008

Mayrhofen

Me and Joe headed over to Mayrhofen to meet up with JT, slave, Andy Collin and Ted Foster. After the 8 hour drive to Austria we were disappointed to find it was raining heavily in the resort. It rained and snowed for the next three days solid so all we could do was go up high and find some trees above the snow line. We had a couple of alright days in the trees but the depth wasn’t really there. On the last day the sun appeared through gaps in clouds and we were able to go hit the park. JT had unfortunately broken his wrist a few days earlier at the European open so was taking is pretty easy, we still got some cool shots of him, Joe Murrell and Ted Foster for another cool park section!
Nic

Jt shredding with a broken wrist

Slave enjoying the pow

Ted 7 double true nose

Joe bio 7

JT Tail 7

Thyon with Joe Murrell

After flying back to London from Japan we had a few days to chill before driving back out to Verbier. Joe Murrell had just come back from Northstar so headed over with us. We had three days shooting with Joe in the Thyon park and we got some sick off the jump follow cams! Check out the pics!
Nic

Bio 7 double grab

Switch cork 7 bone

Japan!!!

As the snow was getting worse in Europe we were ecstatic that we were getting the chance to go to Japan with Gav and Jamie Mackay and photographer Camilla Stoddart. Me, Camilla and Nick drove back to London to meet up with Gav to fly to Tokyo then on to Sapporo where Jamie was meeting us.
Our first destination was Niseko where we were staying in the Prince hotel right next to the mountain. The resort was small but had awesome tree skiing and pillow lines. The first day the snow wasn’t so great so we just scouted lines and waited for the inevitable snowfall! It came over the next few days and we got some great shots in the trees. One day we headed to a small face that went straight down into rocks then into the freezing cold ocean! It was such a sick shooting location.
After Niseko we were heading 6 hours across Hokkaido to Furano, snow was falling heavily throughout the whole journey and cars were sliding and crashing all over the place. We were glad to get into Furano alive but more importantly with so much new snow on the ground.
High winds and heavy snowfall meant that the resort was closed on our first day. We decided to take a truck out and look for some avalanche barriers we passed on the way over. We found some sick barrier lines that came straight back onto the road and we could just lap with our van. It was an awesome and very unique day skiing!
The next two days we spent in Tokatchi daki were we did a few small lines but mainly had to keep in the trees because of low vis. The peaks surrounded a small mountain hostel and resturant that we had lunch in after skiing, the Owners were so friendly to us and there were wild foxes running around outside while we ate. It was an amazing experience.
On our last day we went skiing at the local mountain, Furano. Most of the tree skiing there is out of bounds but we were lucky to be accompanied by a ski patroller who showed us some awesome locations. The snow was deeper than it had been all trip and we had the best day skiing untracked trees that went right back to the chairlifts! A perfect last day!
Before flying back to London we got the chance to see Tokyo, we went to the temples and Electric City but it was really the fish Market that was the most incredible experience! The craziness and the size of it all was insane. An amazing trip with an eye opening finish. This trip will without a doubt be my favourite part of the film!