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ADVANCE YOUR SNOWBOARD SKILLS AT OUR FAVOURITE FREERIDE RESORT IN JAPAN

For intermediate snowboarders who want to level up. Through a combination of coaching and guiding you’ll learn the skills to confidently ride the trees, gullies and bowls at the legendary Rusutsu ski resort in Hokkaido. You’ll spend 5 full days with our qualified coach and guide who will get your riding dialed so you can confidently ride off-piste, in the trees, in deep powder and variable conditions. You’ll be able to navigate the whole mountain, even on the deepest days.

This tour is based at Rusutsu, however if conditions are right, we have the option to explore the nearby ‘powder-magnets’ including in the Niseko United resorts or travel further afield to Kiroro. Our flexible itinerary, small group of 6 and private transport ensures that you’ll be scoring the best conditions daily.

Rusutsu resort is one of our favourite places to ride in Hokkaido for a number of reasons. Rusutsu scores huge quantities of the light, dry powder that Hokkaido is renowned for – 14 metres annually. It has some of the best fall line tree riding in Japan that is accessed straight off the lifts with minimal traversing; it’s perfectly manicured groomers are ideal for any level of rider; it gets minimal crowds in comparison to the nearby resorts and to top it all off it has a kooky amusement park complete with rollercoaster’s and carousel, weird but cool.

Dates

9 January - 15 January, 2020

Duration

6 nights & 5 days on-mountain

Price

AUD $____per person

Tour Type

Progression. For intermediate and above snowboarders looking to up-skill.

Why Travel With Mint

In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. We are a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conduct business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements.

Freeride Coaching

Take your freeride skills to the next level with our expert coaching

Photo & Video

Our media team will be hand to capture all the action

5 Star Accommodation

Throughout the tour you’ll stay on-mountain in a 5 star, luxury hotel with access to the region’s best powder

Rusutsu Progression Week

Here's some basic details about the tour. For more detailed information, including a tour itinerary, please get in touch.

ABOUT RUSUTSU

Situated on the northern island of Hokkaido, just a stones throw from the Sea of Japan and only two hours from Sapporo, is the ski area of Rusutsu. It’s a 5-star ski-in/ski-out resort that is home to some of the best powder on Earth. If this place isn’t on your powder radar, then it should be.
Rusutsu is synonymous with not only having great snow but also some of the easiest tree riding in Hokkaido with fewer traverses and creeks to avoid like other nearby resorts making Rusutsu perfect for those wanting to progress their snowboarding skills.

SNOW & CONDITIONS

From late January to late February is the ideal time of year to ski and snowboard in Rusutsu. What you can expect is light dry, deep snow, perfect for riding powder. Temps will be cold, with temperatures ranging from -10 to -25 degrees Celsius. Days will be short, with an average of 6 hours of sunlight per day. Don't forget Rusutsu averages 45 feet (14 meters) of snowfall!

THE TERRAIN

Rusutsu offers up some of the best snowboarding found anywhere in the world. There are three separate mountains with terrain suiting most levels of ability from big open pistes through to open bowls and the best fall-line riding in Hokkaido. With four gondolas, 14 lifts, two terrain parks and 1,378 acres (42 km) of terrain, you definitely won't get bored exploring Rusutsu while progressing your freeride skills.

LUXURY 5 STAR ACCOMMODATION

Throughout the tour you’ll stay on-mountain at The Rusutsu Resort Hotel. This is a 5 star, luxury hotel with ski-in, ski-out access to the region’s best powder. On-site are hot spring pools, indoor wave pool, gym, entertainment zone and shops. You’ll stay in a twin share room that is equipped with 2 single beds that will have you feeling zen in no time. Each room has great heating, private ensuite bathroom, TV, and free WiFi. Every morning you’ve got a buffet breakfast to enjoy and each night dining options from traditional Japanese cuisine or western options in the buffet restaurant.

PRE-TOUR SUPPORT

After you sign up for a tour, you will receive pre-trip emails with specific information about your tour, the arrival and departure day process, information about the destination, packing suggestions, and other relevant information to help you prepare for your trip. In addition to this, you have access to our customer care team who are just a phone-call away. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements.

SMALL GROUPS

We offer one of the smallest client to guide ratio’s in the industry which ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. Our small groups allow greater manoeuvrability and ease of access to the best areas a destination can offer. When we are on mountain, our guest to guide ratio is 6 people per guide. This also makes for a more personal experience between our guests and guides.

Meet your expert team

Mint Guides

Professional, dedicated and very, very experienced. Not only do our expert guides know how to find the best snow and terrain, they also know how to pass on the benefits of that knowledge in a clear and comprehensive way to get the best out of you too.

Meet your expert team

Greg Homann

Greg has been part of the Mint family forever. With 13 years guiding and coaching experience in the Niseko area, it's fair to say he knows a few of the secret spots. Overall, he's been instructing snowboarding for over 25 years - working at Coronet Peak, Remarkables, Steamboat, Beaver Creek, Vail, Thredbo and Niseko. Greg is a Fully Certified Snowboard Instructor since 2001 and member of the New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance and an NZSIA Life Member. Greg also holds a New Zealand Certificate in Avalanche Risk Management, Level 5.

Additional Details

Tour Inclusions

Your tour includes:

  • 7 nights twin share accommodation with ensuite, The Rusutsu Resort Hotel
  • Buffet breakfast daily
  • Buffet dinner daily
  • Return airport transfers, New Chitose Airport to Rusutsu accommodation
  • 6 days of professional snowboard coaching at Rusutsu
  • Freeride tips and guiding
  • Media team on hand capturing all the action
  • Images/video provided at end of tour
  • Mint guides on hand throughout the tour
Rates and Dates

This is a 6 night tour starting on the 16th of January and finishing on the 22nd of January, 2020. The price per person is AUD $2550. Guests stay in a twin share room (2 beds per room). If you are travelling solo, we will match you with another solo traveller to room with. Single rooms supplements may be available and are subject to availability at time of booking. If you would like a quote in your local currency, please contact us. To secure a spot on tour we take an AUD $700 deposit per person, and the final balance is due 90 days prior to the tour departure.

FAQ

Why travel with Mint?
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. Mint is a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conducts business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we can take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre-or post tour arrangements.

What happens on arrival and departure day?
Once you’ve signed up for the tour we will send you through a comprehensive guide with details about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information.

What if i’m travelling solo?
About 99% of our guests are travelling solo. The accommodation for this tour is twin share i.e. 2 beds per room. If you are travelling solo, you will be paired with another guest to room with. If you’d prefer your own room please request a single room at time of booking.

Do you ever cancel a tour?
No! Once you’ve signed up for this tour, you’re going! We won’t ever cancel this trip due to low numbers, so you can go ahead and book your flights early and rest easy knowing you’re going.

How many people are on tour?
Each tour is different, but we know that by offering one of the smallest client to guide ratio in the industry allows you to ski or snowboard at your preferred pace, and ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. When we are on mountain, we have a maximum of 6 people per guide. This ensures you get the most out of your time with us, and keeping the groups small means less time waiting and more time riding powder!

Is this the right tour for me?
We ensure that everyone who joins these trips are a good fit for the difficulty level. This helps ensure that you’re booked on the right tour, as are the other people joining you.

What happens if I need to cancel?
Got cold feet? Couldn’t find a good flight or get the time off work? Cancel up to 7 days after your initial booking and get 100% of your deposit back, no questions asked.

Who are the guides?
All of our tours are guided by friendly, knowledgeable and expertly trained guides who are passionate about the mountains. Most of our guides work for us season after season, so our returning guests will see many familiar faces.

Can you book flights?
Yes. Let us take the hassle out of selecting the right flights for the tour. We can book you the best flight options for the tour, with no booking fees.

Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. All guests on tour need to be covered be comprehensive travel insurance. Once you have booked on the tour, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance. We offer all of our tour guests discounted snow specific travel insurance.

What happens once i’ve booked?
Once you’ve booked your spot on tour, we will send you through further information

Enquiries

If you would like some more information or a quote for the tour you can contact us by:

1) Enquiry Form: Use the form below to send your enquiry and one of our tour specialists will be in touch asap!

**********insert form******************

2) Over the phone: Call us on (03) 8563 9437 (within Australia) or +61 (03) 8563 9437 (international) between 9:30 am and 5:00pm AEST Monday to Friday and speak to one of our tour specialists.

Book a Spot

You can book your spot one of two ways:

1) Online: Click on the ‘Book Now’ button at the top of this page. Once we receive your booking form, we’ll provide you with a quote, availability and further details about the tour.

2) Over the phone: Call us on (03) 8563 9437 (within Australia) or +61 (03) 8563 9437 (international) between 9:30 am and 5pm AEST Monday to Friday, and follow the prompts to speak to one of our tour specialists.

Enquire

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