Required skill level for the Frontier Explorer and Hokkaido Storm Chaser

What skill level do you need to be at in order to join the trip? 
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This is an important question as no one wants to be in over their head, holding up a group or conversely spend their day standing around waiting for others to make it down the mountain. We fully understand this and want to make sure we communicate clearly about the expectations regarding this trip. In general our guided trips are geared towards the strong intermediate-advanced level rider/skier. It all begins with you making an honest assessment of your ski abilities. 
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​Experience Level

On Piste vs. Off Piste Guiding​

To get a sense of what sort of experience levels our Hokkaido Storm Chaser and Frontier Explorer trips cater to, please read through our descriptions below. This chart is our way of assisting individuals in properly evaluating their skill level, as well as a portrayal of the types of skiers/riders our guided trips attract. 

Similar to any group oriented ski trip comprised of individuals unacquainted with each other, there is always the uncertainty of who will be joining your group. Some groups may comprise of a mixture of high-intermediates, advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders. Others may all be advanced riders or all advanced skiers, etc. On our Hokkaido Storm Chaser and Frontier Explorer, each trip will be run with at least 2 ski guides and a 1 x 4 guide to guest ratio. In the event that there are a mixture of ability levels, your guides may decide to split off into 2 separate groups, in order to maximize the fun for everyone involved. 
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For the lower skill level guests: Looking at the chart here, you should be at least a level 7 in order to join either our Storm Chaser or Frontier Explorer trips. However, even at a 7 its possible that some terrain may be over your skill level--in this event the guide will direct you back to on-piste areas. 

For the higher skill level guests: For anyone who would consider themselves an "expert level rider" keep in mind that the whole group may not be at your same skill level. Many times, if expert level riders come on JST trips, we have them stick with the guide for the first half of the day and get to know the secret pow-zones, then seperate from the group for the second half of the day. For that first half of the day though, waiting around a bit is likely. The only real way for an expert to eliminate waiting is by booking a private trip with JST and recruiting friends of a similar ability level to you.   

Japan Ski Tours reserves the right to direct guests to on-piste terrain if your guide determines that your skill level is insufficient to safely navigate off piste terrain and natural hazards on any group trip. Japan Ski Tours guides will NOT provide on-piste guiding (on groomers and in-bounds runs) for the weaker skier / rider but rather focus on skiing more challenging off-piste terrain with those that are capable. Refunds will not be offered in the event of this occurrence. 

• Your guide is not a ski instructor and will not be providing instruction on how to improve form, etc aside from perhaps a few anecdotal tips here and there. 
• Neither the Hokkaido Storm Chaser nor the Frontier Explorer include a "mountain host". The JST guides are there to provide guiding on lift-accessed, off-piste terrain, not to guide on groomers. 
• If you're planning on going into the side country (which is  the same as backcountry terrain, just accessed by a lift), you'll need to know how to use an Avalanche Safety Set before you show up, since it takes about 2 days to get fully antiquated with it. While your guide isn't an avalanche instructor, he'll be glad to provide refreshers and pointers on how to use the devices. 

In general, we expect guests to be fairly proficient in off piste terrain - you don't necessarily have to have the best form or style but need to be capable of making your way down.

For snowboarders: critical skills are the ability to hold a strong edge allowing for good high traverses without losing too much elevation (particularly important to make the most of the back bowls) and the ability to read terrain effectively - you have to be just a bit smarter than the average skier to avoid the deep pow and flat spots. Also many runs will end with winding, bumpy trails through the forest that you will need to be able to navigate.

For skiers: the biggest challenge typically comes with skiing through deep snow and through trees. Much of the best skiable terrain occurs below treeline so its important that you are able to consistently turn where the terrain dictates. Managing this in deep snow is of particular importance. A great tool to help improve your ability is a good set of fat skis and we highly recommend upgrading with a rental ski for your trip with us if conditions are deep and you aren't skiing a fat ski.-

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