Meet Yu Sasaki
If you’ve spent time in Revelstoke, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Yu Sasaki—whether you knew it or not. The first time I saw Yu, it was my first day skiing at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. We had just skied down Uno on Gracias Ridge when I noticed a crowd gathering. Curious, I skied over to see if they needed help, only to find everyone staring at the ridge’s legendary cliff drop, High Dive. From my vantage point, I couldn’t see anyone at the top, so I was about to leave when suddenly a figure appeared, launching into a perfect backflip, landing bolts, and skiing away as if it were nothing. "Who the heck was that?" I asked the cheering crowd. The answer came with a knowing smile: “Oh, that’s just Yu.”
Yu Sasaki was born in Sapporo, on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. He fell in love with skiing early, and his fearless approach to freeride quickly caught the attention of the Freeride World Tour. He competed for three years, earning recognition for his fluid style and technical mastery. In fact, he won the Peak Performance Radical Moment Award at FWT20 Kicking Horse, Golden BC. Reflecting on that moment, Yu laughed and admitted, “I actually fell at the top of my run because I was so focused on the cliff.” Despite the small setback, he nailed the massive cliff drop and captured the world’s attention with his fearlessness. Check out the clip here.
When he was 19 years old, Yu moved to Whistler to pursue the steep chutes, pillow lines, and monster cliffs British Columbia is famous for. Like many, he eventually grew weary of Whistler’s fast-paced lifestyle and set his sights on Revelstoke, a place that offered both world-class skiing and a welcoming community. in Revelstoke. He’s raising a family with two charming daughters, running two food trucks, and continuing to push boundaries as a professional skier. His journey is a testament to the Revelstoke spirit—balancing adventure, family, and community. “Revelstoke has given me so much,” he says. “It’s a place where I can grow as an athlete and as a person.”
Although quiet and soft-spoken, Yu’s warmth and approachability make him a local favorite. He’s one of the friendliest people I’ve had the chance to ski with, and he’s always eager to share his passion. Off the slopes, Sasaki’s entrepreneurial spirit shines. In 2020, he launched two food trucks: Twilight Bite and Far East Bistro. Twilight Bite serves late-night comfort food with creative twists, while Far East Bistro offers Japanese-inspired dishes like ramen and donburi, bringing a taste of Hokkaido to Revelstoke.
“Food is another way to connect with people,” Sasaki shares. “Through these trucks, I can share my culture and create something unique for this community.” Both trucks have become staples in Revelstoke and the BC music festival circuit in the summers. Yu says his favorite festival to bring the trucks to is Shambhala. "Because of the music? You like heavy bass music?" I asked. “Yes, I like the music,” he replies, “but the people and the community are what make it special.”
When I asked Yu about his ‘secret’—how he manages to balance business, family, and professional skiing—he grinned and laughed. “A Japanese wife,” he replied with a twinkle in his eye. But there’s more to it than that. Growing up in Japan, family has always been important to him, and Revelstoke, with its strong community, offers the perfect environment for him to raise his daughters while continuing to pursue his passions. With that foundation, it’s no wonder he can juggle it all—skiing, running two food trucks, and raising two daughters—while keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground, or rather the snow, as he skis away effortlessly from High Dive.