There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when you drop two of Australia’s best snowboarders into the deep, dreamscape that is Japan’s northern most island. On a recent shoot for Burton, Josh Vagne and Jye Kearney took full advantage of Hokkaido’s iconic snowfall, chasing tree lines, hits and pillows in the kind of terrain that makes every turn feel like a full-blown feature.
For Josh, this trip marked his first foray into Japan’s world-renowned backcountry — a rite of passage for any snowboarder as they evolve from slopestyle courses into the vast expanse of natural-terrain snowboarding. Jye, on his 12th visit, played the role of mentor and with years of experience navigating Japan’s lesser known zones, kombini secrets and ramen joints, he helped fast-track Josh into the Hokkaido way of life.
Whether it was rediscovering forgotten spots from yesteryear, figuring out landings, or rescuing lost punters from spending a night stuck in the backcountry, Jye’s presence was more than just helpful — it was foundational. Watching the two link up, you could see the passing of knowledge in real time: a blend of respect, progression and friendship – all showered in a healthy dose of sarcasm and piss yourself laughing one-liners.
This gallery captures the essence of the trip — a visual diary of long days in the backcountry, deep landings, and the quiet chaos of winter in Hokkaido. Here’s a look at Josh and Jye doing what they do best, through the lens of powder, stoke and two of the best styles in snowboarding.
Photos: Jesse Lynn Dawson and Kentaro Kenny Matsuda
“WE HEARD ABOUT THIS SPOT FROM A MATE WHO TOLD US TO FOLLOW THE SKULLS AND YOU’LL FIND THE TREE. IT WAS PISSING SNOW AND WE COULDN’T SEE SHIT… HIKING AROUND IN WAIST DEEP SNOW ON FACETIME TO HIM TRYING TO GET OUR BEARINGS FOR AN HOUR, WE ALMOST CALLED IT – BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SKULL POPPED UP RIGHT IN FRONT OF US – SURE ENOUGH, THE MOST PERFECT DIVING BOARD TREE FEATURE WAS RIGHT THERE”
– JYE KEARNEY
“IT WAS MY FIRST PROPER POW TRIP, AND IT WAS DEFINITELY AN EYE OPENER – I WAS THROWN IN THE DEEP END A BIT BUT IT WAS COOL TO HAVE JYE SHOW ME THE ROPES. IT’S SO DIFFERENT TO LAPPING FRONT VALLEY, BUT WHEN THE SNOW LINES UP, IT PAYS OFF AND IT’S SO FUN””
– JOSH VAGNE
