Kaettekuru – Backcountry Snowboarding in Japan. Video

January 10th, 2024

Mountainwatch | Video

This is the latest film from Finnish pro snowboarder Antti Autti and it shows how far he has come since the former X Games and World Champ turned his focus from park and pipe competition to freeriding around 12 years ago. 

Antti was introduced to freeriding in Japan and has travelled there once or twice a year since and he has many friends there and deep connection with Japan’s snowboarding and freeriding culture. He has filmed in Japan each year, but Kaettekuru is something different, documenting Antti’s move from the playful powder and trees the place is renowned for to more challenging terrain and big mountain lines in Central Hokkaido.

Not japan’s typical terrain. Phtoto: Simo Vilhunen

“I wanted to explore more high-country locations in Hokkaido. For me, these areas are places where I get the most out of freeriding because I have to be able to perform at my best and manage risk-taking as responsibly as possible,” Antii said about the project.

“The biggest challenge for us was that we were really getting snowed on all the time, and getting to bigger terrain was tough. But once we got there, it was worth the wait for sure. I think to ride big lines in Hokkaido, the timing should be later in the winter. But luckily we did manage to get a couple of really amazing days out there in the high mountains!”

The is an excellent film about friendship, adventure and trust in the mountains, documenting a trip Antti describes as, “By far one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had in Japan and this is my 26th time here”.

Kaettekuru – A story about a snowboarder’s journey to explore and solve problems in snowy landscapes of Hokkaido, Japan. A place where he was first introduced to freeriding.

Featuring: Antti Autti, Tadahiro Yamaki, Takeshi Kodama

Cinematography: Jaakko Posti

2nd unit video: Simo Vilhunen

Edit: Mikko-Pekka Karlin

Executive producer: Antti Autti

Production managers : Daniel Stiller Cohn, So Miura

Production assistant: Taiki Mikami

Translation: Olli Oilinki, Neil Hartmann

Still photography: Simo Vilhunen