Best Ski Camps for Adults—Take Your Skiing to The Next Level Feel that itch for ski improvement? I get it—one of the things I love about skiing is the relentless pursuit of the perfect turn, the desire to overcome your fears, conquer your limitations, and take your skiing to that next level. Enter SnowBrain’s list of the best ski camps for adults. If you are after an immersive coaching experience, we […] Brains Mike Humphrey | November 28, 2024 1 Comment
Japan’s Ski Season Gets a Boost as Snowfall Finally Kicks In As resorts prepare for winter, Japan’s ski season brought a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Yeti Snow Resort, located in Shizuoka Prefecture, maintained its record as Japan’s earliest opening resort, getting the season started on October 25. The resort has long been a favorite for skiers and snowboarders eager to get on the slopes before winter sets in across the country. But […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | November 10, 2024 0 Comments
Snowfall on Mount Fuji, Japan, Latest in the Past 130 Years Mount Fuji, Japan’s most iconic mountain, is renowned for its snow-capped peak. This year, however, the snow is late, and it’s breaking records. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), there has been no snowfall yet on Mount Fuji this year, making it the latest appearance of snow in over 130 years. Since 1894, meteorological officials have recorded the first […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | October 27, 2024 0 Comments
Japanese 2024-25 Ski Season Opens in Style at Snow Park Yeti Snow Park Yeti, Japan, has done it again: the Japanese ski resort was the first to ring in the 2024-25 ski season on October 25. As cooler temperatures start to sweep across Japan, the opening of Snow Park Yeti marks the beginning of the Japanese ski season. The resort’s impressive 26-year record of being the first to open is hard-earned. […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | October 25, 2024 0 Comments
Hakuba, Japan, Just Got Better: Iwatake’s New Gondola is Here Get ready for an unforgettable winter in Japan. After nearly two years of construction, Iwatake’s new gondola will open on December 20, 2024, and it’s a game changer. Related: Why Hakuba Valley, Japan Is The Real Deal For An International Snow Holiday Destination Hakuba Japan Home to 10 resorts with over 200+ runs and some of the best backcountry in […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | October 17, 2024 0 Comments
A Clash of Cultures — Mount Fuji Photo Spot in Japan in the Crosshairs The post-COVID travel boom is hitting Japan with a vengeance, and Japan is having trouble coping. Travelers are flocking to destinations in Japan to capture iconic photos for social media, causing problems. Last week, Fujikawacho officials announced they will build an 8-foot-barrier to prevent snap-happy tourists from taking pictures of Mt. Fuji. A mesh net 8 feet high and 65 feet […] Mike Humphrey | May 3, 2024 0 Comments
American Man Dies in Avalanche in Myoko, Japan On Wednesday, February 28, an American man was killed in an avalanche in Myoko City in the Niigata prefecture of Japan. Japanese police were notified around 1:00 p.m. that a group of four men were lost in the backcountry, and at least one person had been caught in an avalanche. A rescue team was dispatched and located the party approximately […] Avalanche Mike Humphrey | March 1, 2024 0 Comments
Beware the Salt-Craving Moose Licking Your Car I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a moose, but they are not small. I still remember my first moose encounter. I was tree planting in Northern Ontario many years ago when a bull moose decided my plot was his mating grounds. At 10 feet tall, he towered over me. I took shelter atop a pile of slash (cut trees and […] Brains Mike Humphrey | February 9, 2024 0 Comments
World Snow Day 2024 — Introducing the Next Generation to Snow Sports There are two types of people in this world—those who love winter and everyone else. If you’re reading this, chances are you fall into the first category. You eagerly await the season’s first snowfall and dream of exploring a winter wonderland. For people like my wife, however, who fall into the second category, winter means cold hands and feet and […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | January 21, 2024 0 Comments
With the Yen at Multi-Decade Lows, Now is the Time to Book a Ski Trip to Japan Monetary policy and weakening currencies aren’t usually how I decide where to take my next ski trip. But, this year, the weak yen keeps coming up. At ¥141 to $1, the cost of a trip to Japan is at an all-time low. The cost savings are significant! Japan is a bucket list destination. Social media would have you believe there […] Mike Humphrey | January 8, 2024 0 Comments
These Smart Gloves Adjust Temperature Based on How Cold Your Hands Are Are cold hands and skiing a thing of the past? Gordini hopes so. Its new Forge Heated Gloves may be the answer to frozen fingers on the slopes. Companies are throwing batteries into everything these days. Every new piece of gear is getting a digital upgrade, from heated socks and vests to goggles with fans. If you’re a chronic hand […] Mike Humphrey | January 5, 2024 0 Comments
Hakuba Valley, Japan, Opens for the 2023/24 Ski Season Japan and specifically the Hakuba Valley have had significant snowfalls within the past week, with some resorts reporting over 20 inches (50cm) of snow in a 24-hour period. With the falling snow, resorts have been working hard to open. Since Thursday, November 30, four of Hakuba Valley’s 10 resorts have announced the start of operations and officially opened the Hakuba […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | December 3, 2023 0 Comments
Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort in Nagano, Japan, Opening This Weekend The Yokoteyama ski area, part of the interconnected Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort near Nagano, Japan, has announced its official opening day. Yokoteyama will have a ‘pre-open’ for this weekend on November 18 and 19, 2023, then will shut for a couple of days before officially re-opening for the season on November 23, 2023. Shiga Kogen is in Yamanouchi in […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | November 17, 2023 0 Comments
Karuizawa Nagano, Japan, Report: Manmade Snow and Smiles Report from Wednesday, November 5, 2023 Last week, my feed started blowing up about ski resorts opening in Japan. While I couldn’t make it to Fujiyama Snow Sports Yeti (the four-hour drive is a little too far for me, no matter how ski-crazed I may be), when I heard that Karuizawa Nagano was open, I decided it was time to […] Conditions Report Mike Humphrey | November 14, 2023 0 Comments
Canada’s 2023/2024 Ski Season Kicks Off in Banff Banff’s highly anticipated ski season has officially started. On Friday, November 3rd, Mount Norquay and Lake Louise Ski Resort officially opened for the 2023/2024 winter. The combination of cold temperatures, early snow, and help from the snowguns have built enough of a base for Banff’s ski resorts to start turning the lifts. With 13″ (35cm) of snow in the last […] Mike Humphrey | November 3, 2023 0 Comments
Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti First to Open in Japan For 25th Consecutive Year On October 20, 2023, Japan kicked off its winter season. Continuing its 25-year-long streak, Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti was the first ski resort to open in Japan. The resort’s early start is no accident. The management team prides itself on its snowmaking ability. Each year, to retain its crown, the resort blows just enough snow to make a single […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | October 30, 2023 0 Comments
Hometown Mountain Shoutout: Devil’s Elbow, ON — a 54-Year Legacy I didn’t grow up in a ski town, as I was born and raised in Southern Ontario, the heart of hockey mania. While all the other kids were getting into lacrosse and hockey, my parents decided that I should learn to ski. Their resort of choice was Devil’s Elbow, ON. With a whopping 289ft (88m) of vertical and 10 […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | October 27, 2023 0 Comments
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