Skiers' Snacks

Eating before and during a skiing session is an essential part of staying fueled, moving efficiently, and keeping warm, especially if tackling the Niseko backcountry. Everyone has their own nutrition systems and although we tend to rotate food in and out (especially with the abundance of snacks available in Japan), there are certain cornerstones to our systems. Here is a list of a few backcountry skiers in Niseko and the one item that always has a place in their packs and bellies.

Sam Klomp (@sam.klomp): "My number one snack is definitely an onigiri with seaweed inside. You should carry a minimum of three, preferably four onigiris with you. If that is too much, it means that you are not hiking long enough."

David Little (@d_lit): "Backcountry snacking in Japan is just too easy. It feels almost like medieval times when I tour at home (Canada) and have to plan ahead and make a soggy sandwich the night before. Even being a pescetarian, all the convenience stores carry a plethora of sweet and salty options to satisfy my needs, my favourite by far being Onigiri (or rice triangles). They're small enough to have on an outside jacket or bib pocket for quick, on-the-go access on the uphill or just before the drop in, but yet they pack a ton of energy. I usually carry 3 different flavours with me on any given tour, my favourites lately being Tuna Mayo Soy Sauce, Seaweed, and Salmon. If you're looking for the strongest backcountry snack (in my opinion), look no further than the mighty rice triangle."

Saki Hayashi (@saki _chow): “Delish and full of energy.”

Nolan Yoshiaki Isozaki (@chilledmoose): "An alternative to chocolate covered almonds. Great if you’re touring in groups to mix up the flavors a bit because sharing snacks is as much a part of touring as walking uphill."

Stefan Boers (@stefanboers): "My favorite snack that will never change in my backcountry setup is chocolate boat biscuits! They are delicious! The perfect amount of sugar and chocolate. I don’t even bring them up for myself, but actually, to celebrate the peak we summit together with my friends. All my closest friends know I am carrying a pack around in the backcountry. They are always excited by the time we summit and I am taking my chocolate boats out!"

Yuta Kamimura (@yuuuta.k): "Bourbon Choco Brownies are high in calories, don't freeze, and are super tasty. No one would think it came out of a wrapper if in a pastry store lineup."

Alex Koens (@koens123): "A bit of spice and easy to power through."

Hiro Sato: "I don’t want to bring extra garbage with me on the mountain so I mix everything into one bag. Mixed snacks are fun because of the different tastes and textures. Plus, it’s easy to get energy salt, sugar and protein etc."

Fried chicken is a local favorite for apres ski missions. Read into the best pickings here!