Year 12 Trip to Japan

During Activity Week, Year 12 students embarked on a ski trip to Hakuba, Japan. This was one of the most memorable experiences so far. Despite some people having no prior ski experience at all, we all acquired a level of confidence in skiing or snowboarding by the end of the trip. The first day was hectic and tiring, meeting at the airport at 5:30am before departing for Tokyo. On landing it was then a 5-hour bus ride into Hakuba. The moment we first saw snow as we drove into rural Japan, we could foresee a snowball fight happening as soon as we arrived at the ski resort. Mr. Allante was caught in the crossfire as we made efficient use of the time we were allowed to play.

Skiing and snowboarding were the focal point of this trip. With our instructors, we learnt key techniques such as the "pizza" (snowplow) and parallel turning to navigate the slopes. I was surprised at how difficult and heavy it first felt to walk in ski boots. Despite it being a bumpy beginning with many falls and collisions, especially among the beginners, we persevered and conquered increasingly difficult trails, including some red runs. More experienced skiers showed off their skills and mentored the beginners. As we grew more confident we had snowball fights while moving! Talk about multitasking. This is all thanks to the instructors for being patient and supportive of us.

Skiing was not the only experience we enjoyed. We also took in the spectacular snowy scenery, struggled to make okonomiyaki, ventured into town, went snowshoeing at night, and more.

Overall, this trip was extremely rewarding and enjoyable for us. Personally, I was pleased with how much I progressed with skiing in just five days. It was all about giving it a go. As a group, we gained a deeper understanding of the Japanese culture and traditions. We established new friendships while fostering deeper connections with others. The company of Mr. Allante and Miss Craig was special, with both former and current heads of year being part of the experience, in our final year of high school. We are very grateful to all the staff involved in making this trip as fun and safe as possible for everyone.

By: Liam Pang