Aslan Steel took the Fortuna ski suit to Japan's Hokkaido in the middle of the region's heaviest snowstorm so far this season. Wind howled at 50 miles per hour, the temperature dropped brutally to –25°C and snow fell in force, blanketing the Hokkaido backcountry. The kind of storm that strips away ego, plans and comfort in equal measure. The kind that asks a single question: are you still in?
We were.
Here's the result, our new film: 'GAMAN.'
Visibility came and went in waves. Whiteouts swallowed the landscape and cleared in brief windows just long enough to scope our line, regroup and push on. The weather dictated our route plan, carefully exploring into unknown zones under the expert guidance of Callum McWilliam from Elite Snowsports and local ski guide Ryo Yamashita. We were sheltered from the winds, exploring with hopes of deep hidden powder stashes in the hard-earned descent. Even there, we felt the power of the storm, forced to dig deep, laugh it off and keep moving.
This is where camaraderie is forged, not in perfect conditions, but in shared hardship. Waiting out the blizzard shoulder to shoulder, hands numb, breath crystallising in the air - the definition of weather beaten. And yet, when the storm briefly blinked, three minutes of sunshine breaking through, we were ready. A quick lift of the drone, a handful of shots, proof that even the harshest days offer rewarding moments to those prepared to meet them.
Then there was the snow. A blanket of the light, but deep champagne powder Hokkaido is known for. And another 50 centimetres falling over night.
This wasn’t about chasing laps, it was earning your turns on another level. Breaking trail through thigh-deep powder, each step demanding strength, grit and patience. The ascents burned. But the descent truly delivered. Fist-bumps and grins securing the deal of days well spent in the mountains with friends.
In conditions this severe, there’s no margin for failure. We were safe in the knowledge that the Shackleton Fortuna Ski Range was field-tested to the extreme in 6 continents over two years of development. Dependable gear when we needed it most. On the climb, the Fortuna layering system delivered finely tuned thermoregulation. Moving hard through deep snow, the balance was exact: warmth where you need it, protecting any exposed areas but breathability when your body demands it, with vents at the thighs and underarms. Engineered to protect, the Fortuna Ski Suit, defended us on wind scoured the ridgelines, sealing in heat without trapping moisture, allowing full focus maintaining pace and the upwards grind.
The transition was effortless and swift - down jacket added, vents closed, helmet on. Where some systems struggle to adapt from high-aerobic ascent to cold, exposed descent, the Fortuna Range delivered. Enough insulation to hold warmth in brutal windchill, agile enough to move freely through deep turns. Snorkelling as powder surged over our heads, with total avoidance of any snow ingress into the suit. Every seam, every panel, every design decision proved itself in real time.
This is what engineered for extremes actually means. Not lab testing but expertise forged from strenuous ski-touring days in challenging Antarctic conditions. When the storm hits hard, the Fortuna Ski Suit functions in the extreme.
The descent was quiet in that way only big storms allow. The silence of deep snow. Confidence. Pure flow state. Hitting pillows, drops and steeps in the knowledge that your kit won’t let you down, means the freedom to focus on choosing your line, your burning thighs and enjoying the ride.
Because adventure isn’t about escaping discomfort. It’s about mastering it.
Into the storm. Into the deep. With the right people. The right mindset. And the right system.
This is the Fortuna Ski Range. Built for those who earn every turn. And have a great time doing it.
