i was flipping through a sports channel today and came across something very weird? weird because it started off with a beautiful video of a guy snowboarding and then this very familiar name pops up. TARO TAMAI! omg, Taro-san!!!! but wait? this is on American TV? so of course, i keep watching. 
then another familiar name pops up. OSAMU OKADA! omg, Osamu-san! i know these guys! i snowboarded with them and even went on an Indonesia boat trip with them before! these are some of the coolest guys on the planet. 
then the title of the movie “SNOWSURF-A GENTEM FAMILY STORY.” OK, now i knew what was happening. it’s a movie about the Japanese surfer boys that moved to Niseko and pioneered surfing the mountains. i haven’t seen it before so i wasn’t going to miss this! 
then i saw the Dove Wetsuits and seen all the familiar faces. i was so happy! these boys started surfing in the snow when everybody was trying to skateboard in the snow. now, surfing in the snow is a multibillion dollar industry.
yeah, Hokkaido has some perfect waves. where else in the world can you surf the morning round, then drive up to the mountains and snowboard, then surf another evening round? dream country. 
the cool thing is there are English subtitles. so now i could understand and connect a lot more with these guys. and i agree that these guys know the back country better than anybody. i went a few times with them and it’s pretty wild back there. rocks, cliffs, trees, holes, and avalanches. but they knew everything so i always felt safe! 
this is surfing the mountains. perfect form, nice carve, and huge spray. i love it! now i feel like going to Niseko again! and if you ever go to Niseko, look up The Powder Company for a guide. they are the most experienced in Niseko and know that area better than anyone else. you do not want to get lost in the snow. i almost died 20 years ago walking home late at night drunk from a bar in Niseko. if my friends girlfriend didn’t find me half buried in a pile of powder snow on the side of the road, i would have turned into a popsicle by morning. i’m pretty sure people there are still talking about it. haha.
anyway, check out this trailer of Snowsurf. and if you can watch it, please listen carefully to the words. when they talk about boards, equipment, and connecting to the snow, it’s the exact same concept as surfing. hope to surf the mountains with you boys soon!
