Night View from Mt.Tengu
Discover the thrill of snowboarding and skiing in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan. Just an hour's drive from the city center, you'll find six world-class ski resorts offering deep powder snow and endless opportunities for winter sports enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you're a seasoned snowboarder or a beginner looking for snowboard lessons, our expert guides can help you make the most of your time on the slopes. Before or after a day on the mountain, explore the charming city of Otaru. Famous for its beautiful canals, historic buildings, and delicious seafood, Otaru is a top-rated tourist destination for both domestic and international visitors. POWDER8 specializes in creating customized snowboard and ski tours in Otaru, ensuring you have a memorable winter vacation.
Beginner Snowboard Lessons: Examples and Customer Reviews
Outdoor bath of a hot spring
We helped to find the perfect fitting rental boots and put them on properly. We also asked rental staffs to adjust the length of the board and the bindings.
Finally, since beginners tend to get warm easily due to physical activity, we carefully selected layers of clothing to avoid overheating.
With these preparations, we were all set to hit the slopes in no time.
He can't wait to shred the mountain for his first snowboarding experience!
As recommended, he prepared gears such as jacket, pants, gloves, helmet, goggles, face musk and kee/tailbone pads.
He can't wait to shred the mountain at Kiroro for his first snowboarding experience!
About 30 minutes into the lesson, he practiced going straight down the slope using the skating technique with the instructor's support.
After 40 minutes, he successfully skied down the slope alone, couldn't help but do a fist pump, and the instructor ran over for a congratulatory hug.
After an hour, he was able to change direction on his board and glide straight for longer distances on his own.
Following this, we took two short lift rides in the morning and then progressed to a longer intermediate run in the afternoon.
By the end of the day, he was confidently making turns on his back-side edge.
He could finally ski down the slope independently with a stable body balance.
”I appreciated myself for being able to make a trip to Hokkaido for some snowboarding and skiing lessons. I have dreamed about it and discovered that I could do it despite of my age.
I achieved a goal to slide down a steep slope all by myself. I would like to thank Satoshi sensei and Mika sensei who helped me to achieve my dream. They were extremely patient, supportive and ensure that I was able to acquire the snowboarding skills.
Unfortunately, I fell when I jumped off the chairlift and injured my knee. However, it didn't stop me to continue the afternoon lesson. Or else I wouldn't able to overcome my fear of going downhill with legs bind on the snowboard.
Special thanks to both snowboard instructors for their coaching and encouragement. Will I ever come back for another snowboarding event? Yes definitely, I will engage with Powder8 again. I guess next trip will be something different then.
Thank you again
Ng-san”
For our guest who was experiencing snow for the very first time during her trip to Japan, snowboarding was a completely new adventure. To make the most of our 2.5-hour lesson and considering the busy Christmas season, we requested that she arrive early at the ski resort, rent equipment online beforehand, and purchase lift tickets.
Following a thorough introduction to basic movements like falling and standing, we progressed to skating exercises to help her get a feel for the board. Her remarkable aptitude for learning enabled her to quickly grasp the fundamental skills, allowing her to confidently ride the lift shortly after.
Only 30 minutes passed since our lesson started, her balance on the snowboard is truly impressive, especially considering it was her first time on the slopes.
After just 60 minutes, her slide turns with her toe edge were impressive! Her balance was great for a beginner. It's clear she's picked up snowboarding very quickly.
75 minutes later, effectively utilizing edge transitions and weight shifting to accelerate while directing the nose of her board down the slope.
”My partner and I had an incredible experience with Powder8 and Mika's snowboarding lesson. I can confidently say that both the lesson content and Mika's support far exceeded our expectations.
I had left it too late to book a lesson for my partner for Christmas Day, but luckily I found Powder8, which had one last spot available. We couldn't be happier that we took it!
Mika was an outstanding teacher. My partner, who had never snowboarded or even seen snow before, was able to pick up the techniques incredibly quickly—thanks to Mika's clear, patient, and effective guidance. It was honestly amazing to see how fast she got the hang of it.
What I appreciated most about the lesson was how personalised and supportive it was. Mika took the time to assess my partner's abilities and tailored the session to her needs, making the experience not only enjoyable but also highly effective.
While the rates are higher than some other options, the quality of the lesson absolutely justified the cost. The progress my partner made in just one session was astonishing. I had expected a long day of struggle, thinking we'd only manage to stay on the small slopes, but to my surprise, my partner was soon flying down the runs alongside me!
I highly recommend Powder8 to anyone looking for lessons, from beginners to intermediates. I'm confident you'll see great results and have a fantastic experience.”
Prior to the lesson, he had been snowboarding and could confidently control his heel edge to navigate intermediate terrain and make controlled stops. However, he faced challenges when attempting to switch to his toe edge, frequently falling and sustaining a shoulder injury.
Within 40 minutes, he made remarkable progress in his snowboarding. Our instructor focused on toe edge balance and heel-to-toe transitions, enabling him to carve smooth turns with confidence.
After 2.5 hours of instruction, he was able to consistently perform linked short slides with confidence, covering long distances on the slopes.