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blackcrows Ghost Resorts Japan and ski sauvage

by Max Mackee (Kammui Founder)

2024.02.16

“For blackcrows the ghost resorts series is an exploration of the ski culture, of a heritage, a golden age, those places where there was life, that have closed, but where skiing still remains.” Camille Jaccoux

A few years ago blackcrows co-founder Camille Jaccoux and shaper Julien Regnier were traveling and skiing around the US, looking for new storytelling concepts to represent the company's touring collection. Then a tip came from one of the company's brand ambassadors to go check out an abandoned ski area nearby. The visit to the ruins did more than inspire some new backcountry skis, it led to the exploration of so-called "Ghost Resorts" all over the world, and an accompanying mini-documentary series. Following projects in New Mexico and Alberta, blackcrows just released the series' third entry: Japan.

Deserted infrastructures, cables frozen in the shadow of joy and tons of light Pacific powder. The third part of blackcrows’ series on ghost resorts focusses on Japan as an exploration ground for crows Celeste Pomerantz and Daisuke Fukasawa. The film also tells the history of Japan's rich ski culture, interviewing many legendary characters from Japanese ski history while pointing towards a sustainable future.

Kammui acted as Japan producer for this film and will extend its partnership with blackcrows to offer innovative ski experiences together in the future. Kammui’s partnership with blackcrows kicked off with a launch event for the film in the historic ski town of Nozawa Onsen at new night spot “GuruGuru” followed by Japan’s first “ski sauvage” that weekend with local legend skiers joining blackcrows co-founder, Camille Jacoux and blackcrows riders Daisuke Fukasawa and Alain Fujita.

Camille Jacoux also commented below:
“For us ghost resorts is also way to re-discover some abandoned ski resorts and terrain. To understand what the culture there was, the people, the ecosystem and to ski the terrain in the area through backcountry skiing. And every time it’s a way to discover some people who are based in the area and arel skiing in the region. To discover the rich ski culture of Nozawa Onsen this time was a blast, with such a strong and passionate community, and many new young passionate skiers and beautiful terrain for skiing. Because the Japanese love skiing or snowboarding and love their mountains.The collaboration with Kammui has been such a strong and unique connection to reach local mountain culture and community, to reach the love of Japanese ski culture.”

blackcrows also launched a capsule collection in time for the release of “The Ghost Resorts - Chapter 3 - Japan” with a portion of sales proceeds to be donated to the historic Nozawa Onsen Ski Club to support the local ski community there.

From my perspective it was truly special to connect with so many great local skiers at the blackcrows ski sauvage event, which really reinforced to me personally that Nozawa Onsen is an important focal point for Japanese ski culture, both historically and for the future. A personal highlight for me was visiting Nozawa Onsen Ski Museum which houses one of the most impressive collections of ski related memorabilia in the country, including skis designed by the legendary Japanese artist Taro Okamoto. Thank you to Yuta Ueno (Compass House) and Ryotaro Yao (Nozawa Onsen Lodge, GuruGuru) for helping guide us through the best of Nozawa.

The event was supported by blackcrows Japan distributor Hasco with filming and production by Set Japan and Jimmy Wacher.