From carving mountains to riding waves, and finally dropping in at True Players, Pat’s story epitomizes the thrilling Hakuba adventures awaiting those daring enough to embrace them.
The following is an account of a perfect Hakuba day—one where the stars aligned, the snow was deep, and the waves were pumping. This is the story of The Hakuba Trifecta, where three friends traveled sideways on snow, waves, and wood in one remarkable journey.

7:00 AM
With red eyes from a long night behind the counter at Holy Smokes, the speakeasy bar he owns in Echoland, Pat’s alarm cuts the morning silence. The mountains are calling, and he must go.

7:30 AM
A journey through the elements requires proper fueling. Pat heads to Calico, his own restaurant, orders three double espressos and three breakfast burritos for the road. He’s soon met by his partners in this journey, Jack and Jake, and they head to the lifts with breakfast in hand.

8:00 AM
The men waste no time. They catch the first lift at Happo-One. The fresh snow from the last few days has settled, leaving nothing but sunshine and deep untracked powder. To this day, nothing excites him more than a bluebird powder day.

8:30 AM
Equipped with his avalanche pack and beacon, they hike 20 minutes from the top lift to drop into challenging backcountry terrain, reserved only for the most experienced riders with detailed knowledge of the area, snow conditions, and forecast.

8:45 AM
Strapped and loaded, Pat takes in one last view of the snow-covered ridgeline. Adrenaline pumping, he drops in and carves his way down the wide, open face with deep powder all the way.

9:15 AM
Reaching the designated meeting point, Pat looks up, finds his line, and smiles. The guys arrive soon after, and they trek across the river and back to the car they had parked for phase two of the journey.

9:30 AM
They hit the road, heading one and a half hours to the Japan Sea. The destination is just south of the coastal village of Joetsu, where winter barrels are possible and frigid temperatures are guaranteed.

11:30 AM
The east coast waves can be elusive, but after days of storms, Pat and the boys believe they have luck on their side. As it so often happens with perfect, once-in-a-lifetime days, the waves were firing. Equipped with winter wetsuits and a strong sense of purpose, they waste no time and brave the icy waves.

1:30 PM
With salty hair and purple lips, Pat bids the beach farewell, and they begin the journey back to Hakuba. But first, they stop for spicy chicken and hot coffee from the nearby Lawson “Konbini”—food for the soul.

3:30 PM
Back in Hakuba, Pat heads straight to True Players, the local indoor skate park, to finish off The Trifecta with a couple of hours of skating.

5:30 PM
With the challenge complete, it’s time for an onsen bath followed by a beer at Holy Smokes to celebrate a memory that will last a lifetime. Cheers to The Hakuba Trifecta.