If you have any questions about doing an AST 1 Course, the Niseko Gates or general backcountry touring, please leave them in the comments and I will do my best to help!
Great video, the more people influenced to be super safe and not take the mountain for granted, the better. You could have saved a life with this video!
Yes, and the video is actually performing better than I expected. It must be resonating with some people quite well. I think I will make a follow up video about what I specifically take outside the gates when skiing in Niseko.
I think it's just so easy to be accidentally negligent of safety through a lack of understanding, knowledge and experience. I was definitely a culprit of it. I'm glad I took the course which allowed me to understand this. I still have so much to learn, but at least I am now aware of this.
@@robdigi17 the train is pretty easy and inexpensive. You just have to then organise getting to your accommodation from Kutchan station. Also if it snows a lot the train can be delayed. The bus is probably the most fail-safe method but is more expensive than train. You have to book in advance but it will take you regardless of the weather.
I was hiking up to G1 or G2 -cant remember which one is at the top on the way to hirafu-. It was really icy and i slipped and slid down all the way back down. Holding onto my board for dear life. Was pretty terrifying.
G3 is the gate at the top of the "Pizza Box" lift in Hirafu that has the hike to the summit. Sounds extremely scary what happened to you. It has almost happened to me many times, especially when it's windy. I think poles would maybe be helpful for you for the hike. But you obviously need a bag to carry your snowboard and snowboard poles so you can fit them in the bag.
@@BlaizeKelly yeah for sure! It was around the top of annapurri not hirafu😅 idk why i got confused but yeah sun shining, ice underfoot and holding onto my board got dear life
Hey mate, great stuff! Thanks for sharing this important video! Just wanted to ask, what is roughly the timeframe to organise the course, do it and be done with it? Finding availability and booking, wait times, how long it takes and finishing everything up? Cheers!
Hi mate, thanks for watching and glad to hear you liked the video. The course itself is only 2 full days. One is mainly doing classroom theory and the other is a field day to put all the knowledge into practice. After that, you receive your certificate. As far as the timeframe to organise the course, it really depends on when you are looking to do it and how much availability there is. Here in Niseko (and I can imagine anywhere else in the world), the early season courses tend to book out fast as most people want to do the training as early in the season as possible. The companies I have listed in the description usually run courses throughout the season here in Niseko, with the March courses filling out the slowest. I'd recommend taking a look at each of their websites to see availability and pricing. I hope this helps!
@ Legend! Thanks mate, appreciate it. We’re going late Jan and can’t wait, first time in Hokkaido! But we’re easy, resort riding only, just starting to get my head around that stuff… probably one for next year.
@@brunofgallo Yep I'd say for in resort it's not entirely needed. However, I do think it's great information to know regardless because you just never know when you'll need it. If you're eager to learn, it sounds like something you'll eventually gravitate towards if you keep coming back. Hope you enjoy your trip and may see you around.
@@jorgevillalongamoragues5093 I'm actually not entirely sure who rents them out. I should find out so I can help people with a bit of certainty. I think your best bet would be either Rising Sun, Summit Ski School or maybe Rhythm.
@@BlaizeKelly these places do - Niseko Sports at Hanazono, Whiteroom Tours at Hirafu, Rising Sun Guides, Niseko Basecamp, Alpine Backcountry Rental, Niseko Powder Guide.
@@dianaa8125 pretty sure they do or have done backcountry education programs as well no? I thought I saw something recently. Not AST but still teaching useful information. Not sure if you work there or not...
@@frankocean8480 I'd rather not be specific about it, but it's about the same as living in Australia right now. Just snow clearing and heating are expenses you don't see in Aus.
If you have any questions about doing an AST 1 Course, the Niseko Gates or general backcountry touring, please leave them in the comments and I will do my best to help!
Great video, the more people influenced to be super safe and not take the mountain for granted, the better. You could have saved a life with this video!
Yes, and the video is actually performing better than I expected. It must be resonating with some people quite well.
I think I will make a follow up video about what I specifically take outside the gates when skiing in Niseko.
Really want to do the AST1 course. thanks for the reccy. Im def gonna check them out. Prob next yr when Im in niseko for a few months
You'll be super happy you did it. So much information that is good for in and out of the resort!
Great video mate, got my ast-1 lined up in two weeks for the same reasons!
Amazing Pete, I'm glad to hear it!
You'll find it so helpful and the information you learn is so important. I honestly wish I did mine sooner.
Safety over everything else! LETS GO ON SOME TOURS LADSSS
Keen as to get out in the BC already!
Well said! Yes safety is our No.1 priority
I think it's just so easy to be accidentally negligent of safety through a lack of understanding, knowledge and experience. I was definitely a culprit of it. I'm glad I took the course which allowed me to understand this.
I still have so much to learn, but at least I am now aware of this.
Very cool idea for a vid. Very excited
@@elizavatsky3262 Thank you!
Hopefully it encourages people to get the proper education and training so they can be as safe as possible.
Well done broza :)
Thank you man!
HI Blaize. Love the videos. Just wondering what you think is the best way to get to Niseko from CTS airport? I was thinking train...
@@robdigi17 the train is pretty easy and inexpensive. You just have to then organise getting to your accommodation from Kutchan station. Also if it snows a lot the train can be delayed.
The bus is probably the most fail-safe method but is more expensive than train. You have to book in advance but it will take you regardless of the weather.
@@BlaizeKelly Thnaks for the quick response. Hope to run into you out there some day.
I was hiking up to G1 or G2 -cant remember which one is at the top on the way to hirafu-. It was really icy and i slipped and slid down all the way back down. Holding onto my board for dear life. Was pretty terrifying.
G3 is the gate at the top of the "Pizza Box" lift in Hirafu that has the hike to the summit.
Sounds extremely scary what happened to you. It has almost happened to me many times, especially when it's windy. I think poles would maybe be helpful for you for the hike. But you obviously need a bag to carry your snowboard and snowboard poles so you can fit them in the bag.
@@BlaizeKelly yeah for sure! It was around the top of annapurri not hirafu😅 idk why i got confused but yeah sun shining, ice underfoot and holding onto my board got dear life
You were technically doing a “Compression Test” on a column.
CT= compression test
ECT= extended column test
Yeah, we did both. I only filmed the CT.
By the sounds of it though, I must have messed up what I called it in the video.
Hey mate, great stuff! Thanks for sharing this important video! Just wanted to ask, what is roughly the timeframe to organise the course, do it and be done with it? Finding availability and booking, wait times, how long it takes and finishing everything up? Cheers!
Hi mate, thanks for watching and glad to hear you liked the video.
The course itself is only 2 full days. One is mainly doing classroom theory and the other is a field day to put all the knowledge into practice. After that, you receive your certificate.
As far as the timeframe to organise the course, it really depends on when you are looking to do it and how much availability there is. Here in Niseko (and I can imagine anywhere else in the world), the early season courses tend to book out fast as most people want to do the training as early in the season as possible.
The companies I have listed in the description usually run courses throughout the season here in Niseko, with the March courses filling out the slowest. I'd recommend taking a look at each of their websites to see availability and pricing.
I hope this helps!
@ Legend! Thanks mate, appreciate it. We’re going late Jan and can’t wait, first time in Hokkaido! But we’re easy, resort riding only, just starting to get my head around that stuff… probably one for next year.
@@brunofgallo Yep I'd say for in resort it's not entirely needed. However, I do think it's great information to know regardless because you just never know when you'll need it.
If you're eager to learn, it sounds like something you'll eventually gravitate towards if you keep coming back.
Hope you enjoy your trip and may see you around.
Hey hey Blaize!!! We are traveling to Niseko in 2 days and I was wondering if you knew any place where we could rent an avvy kit?
@@jorgevillalongamoragues5093 I'm actually not entirely sure who rents them out. I should find out so I can help people with a bit of certainty.
I think your best bet would be either Rising Sun, Summit Ski School or maybe Rhythm.
@@BlaizeKelly these places do - Niseko Sports at Hanazono, Whiteroom Tours at Hirafu, Rising Sun Guides, Niseko Basecamp, Alpine Backcountry Rental, Niseko Powder Guide.
you can rent beacon probe shovel and backpack from rhythm
@@dianaa8125 pretty sure they do or have done backcountry education programs as well no? I thought I saw something recently. Not AST but still teaching useful information.
Not sure if you work there or not...
Well done mate. How long was the course?
It's a two-day course, 8-9 hours each day.
how much do you pay for rent up there?
@@frankocean8480 I'd rather not be specific about it, but it's about the same as living in Australia right now.
Just snow clearing and heating are expenses you don't see in Aus.