YOUR ABILITY?
Iwanai CAT skiing is designed for advanced skiers and snowboarders with previous experience in deep powder and varied terrain. It is not suitable for beginners or those new to powder skiing.
Our guides will do their best to accommodate different abilities and keep the group together, but deep snow, steep terrain, and traverses can be challenging. If a participant consistently struggles to keep up with the group, we may ask them to return to the lodge for their safety and the enjoyment of the group.
Conditions change throughout the day, so fresh tracks cannot always be guaranteed. Our guides will always work to find the best available snow and terrain.
ATTENTION SNOWBOARDERS
Some of our best terrain requires traversing from the drop point to a skiing zone and then back to a CAT pickup point. These traverses are generally easy for experienced skiers but can be challenging for some snowboarders.
Our CAT experience is recommended for advanced riders only. If you are unsure about your ability to handle traverses and deep snow, we recommend booking a Private CAT or choosing a different experience.
Prefer to focus on former course runs? We recommend booking a Private CAT, where the terrain can be tailored more closely to your group.
TERRAIN
A nearly forgotten ski resort transformed into a CAT skiing powder paradise. Explore old-growth forests, steep glades, and challenging fall-line terrain, with minimal traversing and enough terrain to ski for days without repeating the same line.
Our mountain offers a consistent pitch across much of the terrain, meaning fewer flat sections and more time actually skiing. Advanced riders can explore almost every part of the mountain, with our guides selecting the best terrain based on conditions and ability.
Hokkaido may not have the most extreme terrain in the world, but what it lacks in cliffs and technical lines, it makes up for tenfold in deep, consistent powder.
SEASONAL CONDITIONS
Experience the world-renowned Japanese powder you've always dreamed of. Hokkaido, famous for its exceptional powder skiing, lives up to its reputation. When Siberian weather systems collide with the Niseko range, light, dry powder blankets our slopes. From December to March, immerse yourself in the unmatched beauty of Hokkaido’s powder and see why it’s envied by skiers worldwide.
While Hokkaido consistently delivers snow, in rare cases with no fresh snowfall for a few days, we still have untouched zones, though your ability will influence access to these areas.
Terrain and Snow Conditions:
Early Season (Dec 20 – Jan 10): Expect deep, consistent powder, though terrain is limited to course runs and glades. One snow CAT typically operates.
Mid-January to February End: Deep powder days continue, with access to the upper drop point and secondary CAT road, expanding terrain with each storm.
March Onwards: Don’t underestimate March—this is when some of the best powder days happen. Longer days, fully opened terrain, and bluebird conditions await, but snow can be more varied, requiring advanced skills.
