Horizon Lines: Japan
Forrest Shearer, Kael Martin and Griffith Seabert team up with Hokkaido's renowned snowsurfers.
“To the Japanese, snowboarding is about style and grace. Going back to the roots, and finding the soul of snowboarding – which begins with the turn.”
This is the premise of episode two of Horizon Lines, a series dedicated to the pursuit of “the perfect turn, the biggest adventure”.
The episode follows Forrest Shearer, Kael Martin and Griffith Seabert, who have set out to travel the Car Danchi path through Hokkaido, drawing inspiration from the instigators of the snowsurf movement – Taro Tamai, Osamu Okada and Kazushi Yamauchi.
We immersed ourselves in a culture and way of life, which we ultimately deemed “Hokkaido Style.” This encompassed a well-rounded approach to each day. Everyone we visited would take time to stretch and do yoga before going to the mountain. We were welcomed to their home resort or area, and they were eager to take us to their favorite zones. There was no localism or attitude; it was all-inclusive and about making sure everyone was enjoying themselves. Afterwards, we would eat amazing food and recount our favorite moments of the day. Tan tan, sushi, udon, and curry soup and would warm us after long days in the mountains. As if it were a necessity, we would always end up at the local onsen–the Japanese hot springs prevalent in every area we visited. Visits to the hot springs would provide necessary relaxation, decompression, and meditation. Each day felt healthy, happy, and complete. Our time spent on this schedule provided a glimpse into a very rich and full lifestyle free of concern or anxiety.