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YUSKE HIROTA

Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
Currently resides: Nagano, Japan
Guides for: Tao of Pow 
Current sponsors: Mont-bell, G3, OGASAKA Snowboards
Bindings: Arc ST Pro

Yuske Hirota was born in Tokyo and grew up riding in Hakuba, Japan. At 19-years-old, he dropped out of the University in Tokyo and traveled to Canada to take a semester long mountaineering course. This was a decision that ultimately changed his life. Since then, he has been to Alaska, Peru, Patagonia, New Zealand, Nepal and Canada on winter climbing and splitboarding expeditions. In 2012, he became the first person from Japan to pass the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides Ski Guiding Course on a splitboard. Yuske now has his own guiding operation, The Tao of Pow.

 

Q & A

How long have you been guiding?

For 19 years. I've been guiding since 2003!

Who has most influenced you as a guide and how?

John Buffery aka Buff. He was the mentor of Craig Kelly. He has been one of the biggest supporters of snowboard guides in Canada - even before snowboarding was recognized as a tool for winter guiding. He used to come to Japan to teach avalanche courses and I used to work for him as an interpreter. A few years later he gave me a chance to work for Baldface Lodge, Nelson, BC. Now I am based in Japan but his lessons have saved me many times in the mountains. He is my lifetime Sensei.

What certifications do you have?

JMGA stage 1 Mountain Guide, ACMG assistant snowboard guide, CAA avalanche operations level 2, Japan Avalanche Network professional member.

 

What are you most excited about for the 22/23 season?

New answer coming soon! 

 

Why ride Spark R&D gear?

Because it is simple and reliable. Two very important things in the backcountry.

 

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