AWESOME, many people would think, four weeks exploring and hiking in remote regions of Japan, 4 weeks of fresh awesome knee deep powder, four weeks of awesome exotic feasts and unsurpassed Japanese hospitality, accompanied by four awesome beauties/betties equally representing NZ and OZ… but there was a catch, they had to work for this prime hook-up, this meal ticket, this gravy train.

The brief for myself was to photograph these maidens who were to perform to the best of their ability and beyond on their boards in the amazing terrain in Nagano. How little was I prepared for the onslaught of high pitched whining, drawn out whinging, never ceasing toilet breaks, snack stops and threatening retail adventures in every small resort we visited and the faint murmurs of bitchin as we were coming off the hill…

Yeah, awesome. My next scheduled reconnaissance to Japan and I’m lining up the boys. The boys know how to hike a hill without a grumble, can flop it out anywhere, anytime, aint fixated on buying cute knickknacks, hello kitty key chains and healthy snacks every 30 minutes, wasting what little precious time we have to build a kicker, work bloody hard, and to endure all pain and injury that may arise for that double page or spono spread.

You know I love them ladies and they smell better than the groms, not to mention that their blond flowing locks turn heads and insure small offerings and ‘special’ treatment from the Japanese men, but them betties don’t know how to work for the cover shot without the minimal vocal offerings and their distinctive feminine tendencies. But jeez was it awesome…

Note: Was written by Meighan for Johnny, he told the tale and she transcribed and translated as he’s “too bloody swamped in Sydney mate” (yeah right) and she’s much more awesomer at writing… (It’s a girl thing).

Abby Frontside boardslides her way to the mall to buy some knick knacks.

Emily tries to avoid building a kicker with a magical disappearing act under a curtain of powder.