Meet the team
KNOWLEDGABLE. HELPFUL. STOKED.
Our mission is to say yes. Our knowledge of the unique snow conditions we live and ride in allows us to ensure our customers get the perfect equipment with the best possible service.
We offer gear that’s perfect for everyone from beginner to expert riders, backcountry explorers, those who prefer the groomed runs and even those who don’t intend on hitting the lifts at all. Each and every staff member at Rhythm are friendly experts who want to share their knowledge and love for the snow and all that Japan’s winter months have to offer with their customers.
GUEST SERVICES
You’ve just arrived in either Niseko, Furano or Hakuba, now all you need to do is find your accommodation, figure out how to get a lift-pass and find out the inside scoop on the best terrain to go riding in. Don’t stress, we can help you out with that! If you’ve ever been into a Rhythm store, you’ve undoubtedly been greeted by the friendly faces of our guest services team upon arrival. These friendly, knowledge experts work behind the front counter and provide their support and local expertise to all of our customers. Our guest services team are trained to be able to keep chill under pressure so don’t be afraid to approach them even when it’s busy. Often Rhythm is the first place travellers visit when they first arrive, so we like to help them feel comfortable, which is why our team also consists of a crew of drivers who pick up and drop off customers to and from their accommodation, who will also be happy to answer any questions customers have as they cruise around town.
SKI TEAM
If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life — so it comes as no surprise that our ski department is made up of humans who love skiing so much that they’ve made it their job. Every season, all new hires are given intensive training at the start of the season so that they have the local knowledge to go along with their passion and experience in skiing. This means they can give each customer valuable and honest advice on what equipment will best suit their needs. With one of the world’s best powder destinations in their backyard, our team gets to know the mountains around them very quickly and are more than happy to share some insider information with visitors to the store. Whether you want to try out the latest powder skis, or you’re a beginner looking for the perfect entry-level skis to learn on, our ski team can make sure you’re carving on the right setup throughout your holiday.
SNOWBOARD TEAM
If you’re visiting Japan and looking to hire a snowboard, you can rest easy knowing that you have one big thing in common with our snowboard team – you both dream about powder days. Our snowboard team is comprised of experienced riders who have travelled from all over the world to work and ride in some of the best resorts worldwide. Every year our newbie snowboarders are put through an intensive workshop where they learn our retail and rental gear back to front. We also encourage them to get out on the mountain as much as possible so they can product test and get to know the environment around them, making them ready to answer any questions customers may have when they visit the store.
WORKSHOP TEAM
If you’re finding your weapon of choice isn’t riding as well as it usually would, we recommend coming in to see our friendly experts at the Rhythm Tunes workshop.
Rhythm Tunes offers a full range of tuning, mounting and repair services, completed by highly trained technicians who work with the latest Wintersteiger machinery to offer top-notch stone base grinding, ceramic disk edge finishing, hot waxing and general repair services for skis, snowboards and bikes. Our Rhythm Tunes Workshop works around the clock to make sure Rhythm’s fleet of rental skis and snowboards are in the best possible shape, allowing you to carve like a pro when you’re out on the slopes in Niseko, Hakuba or Furano.
RETAIL TEAM
It’s hard to keep up with ski and snowboard trends, one second fitted outerwear is all the rage, the next baggy is back in, so our retail staff are constantly updating their knowledge and keeping up with the latest trends. Which is made a whole lot easier by the retail options that they are constantly surrounded by. Rhythm stocks it all – from beanies, goggles and helmets to outerwear, backcountry gear, après boots, luggage and more. Making our retail tech heads walking databases of the latest trends and advancements in snow wear, helping you to make informed decisions when you’re looking for some retail therapy on the hill.
Rhythm & Beans TEAM
We know that when you’re getting out riding, a lot of you want to make the most of your trip and get on the slopes for first chairs, which is why our flagship stores in Niseko and Hakuba both come complete with their own coffee shops. Serving naturally smooth Allpress Espresso Coffee, our trained baristas are passionate coffee lovers who enjoy nothing more than providing your morning with the daily dose of caffeine that so many of us need. If you’re reading this thinking ‘first chairs…that’s not my style,’ both Rhythm & Beans cafes also come equipped with a bar to provide you with a well needed knockoff after a day on the slopes.
ADMIN
As the saying goes, behind every great ski shop is an even greater admin team! Our office crew is made up of a group of highly skilled individuals who work across people operations, retail buying, management, marketing, graphic design, accounts, warehousing, customer support and much, much more. Most of our office team are based in Niseko year ‘round, so they know the place back to front – especially the best places around the village to catch some powder or grab a world-class feed.
RIDES TEAM
If you’re looking for expert lessons and guiding in Niseko, our Rides team has you covered. Our team has been hand selected from over 18 countries around the globe and are specialists in their field, having spent years learning and mastering their craft. Not only is our team safety-minded and qualified, they can teach in over 18 languages and know the best spots around the mountain depending on snowfall and weather conditions, giving them the extra edge to create epic experiences for customers.
LIFE WITH US
In peak winter, Rhythm’s staff roster consists of around 200 people, all of whom ski or snowboard and love living in the mountains. This common interest translates into a happy bunch of humans who work as a team and can provide an expert level of service.
WHY YOU WILL LOVE WORKING FOR RHYTHM JAPAN
It’s not just the skiing and snowboarding that makes Niseko, Hakuba and Furano unique and exciting places to live, there’s also loads of activities for our staff to do off the mountain. As said best by Rhythm Japan’s CEO, Matt Hampton, “A visit to the local onsen (hot spring) is great after work. After that, you can enjoy some of the amazing food the area has to offer, especially the ramen! Then, I always like a cold Sapporo at one of the local bars in Hirafu like Barunba.”
- Awesome team environment
- Morning, evening & split shifts, allowing for more time on the hill
- Awesome staff deals on the latest rental & retail gear
- Ability to experience Japan, and all it has to offer
Rhythm’s staff are all housed in and around the Hirafu Village in Niseko, Happo One in Hakuba, and central Furano. This means they are close to work, local bars and restaurants and, most importantly, the ski lifts…“The best thing about living and working in Japan is the snow, the food and the overall vibe of the place. At the end of the day, though, everyone is here to get that deep deep snow…”
Throughout the season Rhythm hosts staff dinners and parties along with an end of season retreat to say thank you for a job well done. Our staff work hard, but they get to play hard too! For more information about working at Rhythm please email hr@rhythmjapan.com
