Instructor: Alan
Certifications: APSI SB Level 3, NZSIA SKI Level 2

How It All Began—The Moment I Fell in Love with Skiing

Looking back 20 years, my first encounter with skiing was during a trip to Japan. Driven by curiosity, I visited the indoor ski dome LaLaport Skidome SSAWS (now IKEA since 2006). I rented a snowboard, watched others ride, and—maybe thanks to my ice hockey background—managed to pick up the basics by imitating what I saw. That single try sparked my lifelong passion for skiing!

After returning to Hong Kong, my interest in skiing only deepened. Every weekend, I’d spend three days and two nights traveling to Shenzhen’s Window of the World, the closest real-snow ski resort to Hong Kong, where I trained and refined my technique with fellow skiers. Through practice and sharing tips, my skills gradually improved.

From Ski Buddy to Business Owner—The Chase4Snow Journey

Friends around me caught the ski bug from my enthusiasm and soon wanted to learn too. Teaching marked a new chapter—I realized I loved teaching just as much as skiing! Back in 2010, becoming a certified instructor meant heading to Canada for exams. I spent two weeks in Whistler with friends to earn my Snowboard Level 1, then continued practicing and teaching in Shenzhen, on indoor ski machines, and during short trips to Japan.

Taking advantage of a work break, I spent a full winter season in Echigo-Yuzawa, Japan, and the summer at Perisher, Australia’s largest ski resort, teaching at their ski school. This experience helped me understand how large ski schools operate. After years of teaching, I decided to set up a base in Niseko, Hokkaido. With the help of former bosses and coach friends, I founded Chase4Snow Ski School six years ago.

Alan recalls that the first year of running a ski school was the toughest: from setting up a Japanese company to managing both coaching and admin—he did it all. Driven by a love for teaching, he always made time to coach. In recent years, the school’s operations have become more stable, and the coaching team is super supportive. He’s truly happy to continue working at his dream job in Niseko.

The Best of Japanese Ski Resorts—Comfort & Experience

Having skied across both hemispheres, Alan still recommends Japan for the best ski experience. This time, I met up with Alan at a New Zealand ski resort, where it was easy to appreciate the convenience, comfort, and excellent accommodation of Japanese ski resorts—not to mention the delicious food and relaxing hot springs off the slopes. Snow conditions in Japan are much more reliable compared to other countries. Of course, Alan’s top picks are Niseko and Rusutsu—where Chase4Snow is based—world-famous for their powder snow and perfect for truly enjoying all the fun skiing has to offer.

The original goal of founding Chase4Snow Ski School was simple: to give anyone who’s curious about skiing a chance to try it in Hokkaido, Japan, and discover the joy of skiing. Alan says he hopes every student can enjoy their lessons in their own way and truly have fun on the snow. Let’s ride together!