HANAZONO resort recently hosted a two-day closed-door ‘Powder Seminar’ right here in Niseko. The seminar, held at the resort over February 22 and 23, aimed to achieve several objectives, including promoting off-piste skiing, addressing local sustainability, reducing the risks and educating on skiing and snowboarding, and raising the curtain on K2’s new Backside ski range.
Three-time Mt Everest climber and Guinness world record holder Gota Muira – who climbed the world’s highest mountain last year with his 75-year-old father – gave an inspirational speech entitled ‘Life in the Extreme Zone’.
A local highlight of the seminar also included an interesting speech on avalanche development from long-time Niseko mountain safety figurehead, Shinya-san. Pro Guiding’s very own legendary mountaineer and author Martin Volken gave a speech on current markets, expectations and safety in adventure skiing and boarding.