About FUYUHokkaido ski school

A bilingual ski school in Hokkaido, running private lessons at Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro and Teine. This page is about how we teach.

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FUYU founder Brian Yuan

Founder

Brian Yuan | APSI Level 4 snowboard instructor

“If every FUYU coach is someone I would trust with my own child, then this ski school has done its job.”
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FUYU's Philosophy

How we teach,
and why

Turning our experience into a system you can learn from.

Every decision in how we run FUYU comes down to one question: does this take care of the details of your lesson?

We built a teaching cycle designed to be constantly checked and improved: Technical Directors share their own experience and teaching concepts, which we put straight into the classroom; all 34 coaches (8 of them Technical Directors) train internally four days a week, plus after-hours discussions on teaching logic, learning methods and communication; and student feedback goes straight back into the next round of training.

The “details” a coach handles aren't just technique. They include service, communication, support, and encouragement. Beyond the satisfaction of skiing well, there's something else: having someone right there with you, helping you learn every movement.

Directors
Coaches
Students
Feedback

Every cycle

↻ gets sharper

A 4-stage cycle,
getting a little sharper with every round.

Coaching Team

FUYU Technical Directors and coaches

34 bilingual coaches, 8 of them Technical Directors. Tap a card to see their teaching style and certification level.

Coach certification levels (34 coaches)
  • Lv42
  • Lv312
  • Lv216
  • Lv14
How are certification levels graded? Levels run from Lv1 to Lv4. Lv4 is the highest qualification. FUYU coaches train continuously to the Lv4 standard.

Swipe to see each coach

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Coach training

8 senior Technical Directors, and internal training four days a week.

What is a Technical Director?
8 of our 34 coaches are Technical Directors (4 snowboard, 4 ski), responsible for internal training and teaching standards. They run internal training every week so that teaching approach and riding technique stay at one standard.
FUYU coaches gathering on the mountain before internal training

Teaching training

Analysing your movement and prescribing the right drill, with coaches feeling the awkwardness students feel.

Terrain, safety and support

Knowing where to practise, judging safety, and reading your expressions so you feel at ease.

Riding training

Correct demonstrations, so you can see at a glance what to do.

Professional conduct

Patience, communication and character, so the lesson becomes part of the trip's memories.

Technical Director credentials

APSI (Australia) Snowboard Level 4, APSI (Australia) Ski Level 4, CASI Level 1 and 2 examiner, NZ (New Zealand) Snowboard Level 3.

Coach's notes after each lessonAfter every lesson, your coach writes down what you learned and what to practise next
A real note from after a lesson, with the student's name removed.These past three days were full of fun and learning for everyone! You enthusiastically picked up new skills such as stopping and turning. Your positive attitude and eagerness to try new things made every session a pleasure. Great job! The next step is progressing toward wedge-parallel turns and taking on red slopes, while continuing to explore more of the mountain.Notes are written in the language of your lesson. Back home, you know where you improved and what to practise next.

“Thank you, coach! So patient, and you pointed out so many of our problems and blind spots!”

How we match you

We match your coach to your level and goals, not at random.

What language do the coaches teach in?

FUYU coaches teach mainly in Chinese or English. If you'd like Cantonese or Japanese, let us know when you book.

Are FUYU's instructors licensed to teach at the resorts?

FUYU teaches legally at Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro and Teine. Every coach holds a valid work visa and teaches in uniform with an armband.

Requesting a coach

Can I request a specific coach?

Yes, you can request a Level 3 coach; otherwise we match one to your level and goals.

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Yes, you can request a Level 3 coach. Otherwise FUYU matches you with a coach suited to your level and goals.Coach's viewNo need to worry if you don't request a specific coach. Matching is based on your level and goals, and an accurate match matters more than any one name.

At Teine, to request a Level 3 or above coach, please contact us.

FUYU House

Niseko's training centre
for working coaches

In their spare time, FUYU's Technical Directors gather coaches in Niseko to share experience and expertise. Coaches need someone to analyse their technique and guide their next step. That's the only way practice tells you what to actually pay attention to, and even how to teach the same thing to a student.

FUYU House is a training program built for working ski coaches, with a new topic and teaching technique each week. It's something FUYU has wanted to do all along: give real, useful support to coaches who want to keep getting better, meet them where they already are, and build a system that keeps that growth going.

FUYU House

Keep exploring

Our lessonsSix levels, and how each is taughtThe resortsNiseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, TeinePricesLesson prices at all four resortsKids' lessonsFrom age 3, one-to-one under 7