The Nines makes its debut in Japan with one of its most visually spectacular setups yet.
Niseko, April 7th, 2026 – The 2026 edition of Swatch Nines Snow is officially underway at Niseko Tokyu Grand HIRAFU! For the next days, a star-studded cast of top international snowboarders will push the limits of imagination on this one-of-a-kind winter sports playground.
At the top of the course, the Mini Yotei feature mirrors the iconic view of Hokkaido’s Mt. Yotei in the background, with one key difference: instead of a crater in the center, there’s a Berg trampoline for outside-the-box trickery.
The Mini Yotei feature is flanked by the Jib Park to the left and the Bridge to the right. Each section offers multiple different approaches and options—creativity is the name of the game here.
Next up is the Tube Wave. Perhaps this year’s most unconventional feature, its centerpiece is a massive 50-meter-long PVC tube that’s flanked by rolling transitions on either side. Up and over, back and forth or slide the whole thing to the end—there’s a lot to unpack here.
Below the top section, the main Nines Jump awaits. Beyond the classic Big Jump takeoff, this year’s jump offers lower takeoffs on the left and the right side, perfect for knuckle taps and skims. In addition, the landing transition wraps around the back of the feature, and the sides of the takeoffs are carved out for side hits. In other words, every single facet of this feature is rideable.
At the bottom of the section lurks Kaishu’s QP, a towering quarterpipe feature from the mind of Kaishu Hirano. With double takeoffs to the left and the right, a daunting up-and-over option in the middle and a snow wallride option on the side, this beast of a feature is a fitting conclusion to the 2026 Nines setup.
This coming Saturday, Swatch Nines and Niseko Tokyu Grand HIRAFU welcome all comers to experience the magic of Nines. Spectating is free with a valid ski pass so don’t miss this chance to witness the debut of Swatch Nines in Japan in person!
Swatch Nines is a friendly antagonist to the world of competitive sports. With unique formats and venues that draw top athletes, filmmakers and photographers, the Nines celebrates human talent and creativity while channelling the original untamed spirit of action sports. Ever evolving to meet the needs of the culture, the Swatch Nines experience now spans four cornerstones of action sports: Snow, Surf, Skate and Bike.
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