A new Feature by Ben Gibson (Oyuki kigan) "Snowboarding Instructing in Japan", has been put online.

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/features-snowboard-instructing-in-japan.html

"My first season was at Karuizawa Prince, a few years ago. I was a part-time instructor, and managed to get the job though a friend who knew the head of the school. My Japanese was not stellar, and my qualifications consisted solely of my Level 1 Canadian instructors license (CASI). However, they thought it was novel to have a foreign instructor, which perhaps was my only saving grace as I sorely lacked practical experience. In the end, I was presented as any other snowboard instructor. There were one time I was asked to use English (my clients were from Hong Kong) but for the most part I taught in Japanese."

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/features-snowboard-instructing-in-japan.html

Please note that the views expressed in any Features on SnowJapan are not necessarily those of SnowJapan.

Discuss it here...

Thanks for sharing Ben, interesting. (I know why you might have wanted to move on from Karuizawa!)

The name Mt Jeans always makes me chuckle. Where did they get that from then?

I know what you mean about the smoking!

Nice article Oyuki

Nicely written too!

good article

pity yachiho is a bit small, but it sounds like a fun hill. it would be pretty cool being greeted by lifties in animals suits. actually, it would be pretty fun wearing animal costumes and lapping pow all day.
was it transcendence that had the bunny suit section?

Thanks for sharing that, good to read.

Yes, that may be my favorite snowboard movie of all time.

Good to read Oyuki, thanks

Nice article.

It's all lies though - I've seen Oyuki push kids over for doing turns of the incorrect radius, getting them to ride with one foot not stapped in "cos one-foot jumps are big this season", and actually not talking to one kid cos his goggles were not down on nose enough. cold.

plus he steals their lunch money to buy his smokes.

Dude, i'm a snowboarder.

THOSE AREN'T CIGARETTES!

Yeah, that's right, you heard it, he gives drugs to kids too.

When he's not stealing their hamburgers in the canteen.

yeah but you enjoy walking around with yer pants around yer ankles eh AK?

Nice contri, Oyuki

Cool.
don't think I missed it but how much do they pay?

Enjoyed reading that, cheers dude.
Where's next?

Oyuki,
Nice article - if i'm around next season, i'll have to head over to your mountain for a lesson - I need to work on my switch riding and a bit more park. I usually do lessons in the US cause my Japanese sucks.

It was interesting. Good luck with the teaching

I'd like to take a year off from my work here and do something like that. Doesn't have to be well paid just as an experience. I wonder if my work would let me go back after?

Great to read that Oyuki cheers