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About Rupert Orchard

Rupert has spent much of the last decade working and travelling in ski resorts in Japan, China and Korea. He spent six full-time seasons as a professional ski instructor before founding skiasia.com. Contact Rupert at rupert.orchard@skiasia.com.
Latest Posts | By Rupert Orchard
Japan’s best family ski resort has something for everyone
6 years ago

Japan’s best family ski resort has something for everyone

By  •  Reviews

We’re not sure what to expect as we arrive at RISONARE Tomamu, the hotel we’re booked into for the next three days, but we’re certainly not expecting a flute performance. …
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Is Shiga Kogen Japan’s forgotten resort?
6 years ago

Is Shiga Kogen Japan’s forgotten resort?

By  •  Reviews

Shiga Kogen is unofficially Japan’s second largest ski resort, with more than 607 hectares of skiable terrain serviced by 52 lifts. The resort is not a single ski area, but …
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Why a single dose of Madapow will leave you hooked
6 years ago

Why a single dose of Madapow will leave you hooked

By  •  Reviews

For two and a half days we skied groomers, bumps and chopped up powder – leftovers from a large snowfall before we arrived at the resort. Madarao Kogen is a …
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Hakuba confirmed as first stop on the 2019 Freeride World Tour
6 years ago

Hakuba confirmed as first stop on the 2019 Freeride World Tour

By  •  News

Hakuba has been confirmed as the first stop on the 2019 Freeride World Tour, a series that will include events in Kicking Horse (Canada), Fieberbrunn (Austria), Vallnord-Arcalís (Andorra) and Verbier (Switzerland). …
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New “powder area” to open in Hakuba’s Happo-One resort
6 years ago

New “powder area” to open in Hakuba’s Happo-One resort

By  •  News

News that Hakuba’s Happo-one resort will be opening a new “powder area” for the 2018/19 season is being met with excitement by fans of the resort.

The area known as …
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Winter arrives in Hokkaido … in August
6 years ago

Winter arrives in Hokkaido … in August

By  •  News

Photos are beginning to circle the internet showing snow on the Kurodake ropeway. This is nothing unusual about snow in Kurodake; the mountain typically gets 15 metres of snow a …
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Furano operator lands new backcountry area for 2018/19
6 years ago

Furano operator lands new backcountry area for 2018/19

By  •  News

Alpine Backcountry Guides, one of the longest running international ski tour operators in Japan, has purchased a block of land that will give it exclusive access to a range near …
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Niseko joins The Mountain Collective in 2018/19 as a full member
6 years ago

Niseko joins The Mountain Collective in 2018/19 as a full member

By  •  News

2018/19 Mountain Collective passholders will be able to enjoy two free days of skiing at any of the four Niseko United resorts as well as to 50% off lift passes for …
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China’s plan to transform Shaolin Monks into Winter Olympic superstars
6 years ago

China’s plan to transform Shaolin Monks into Winter Olympic superstars

By  •  News

China’s next Winter Olympic gold medallist could very well be a Shaolin Monk. In a bid to improve on a disappointing 9-medal tally in PyeongChang, Chinese sports chiefs have been …
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Japan’s largest ski resort joins the Epic Pass
7 years ago

Japan’s largest ski resort joins the Epic Pass

By  •  News

Hakuba Valley has become the latest addition to the Epic Pass for 2018/19, bringing the Epic tally to 55 mountains resorts spanning eight countries. Holders of the Epic Pass, the …
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