In the past couple of weeks snow has brought unimagined fame to one young sportswoman from Bath. But while Amy Williams was bringing home a gold medal for her Olympic success, a former Southdown and Culverhay pupil whose parents still live in the city was hoping for success in another snow venture.

Steve Dowle owns and runs a tiny company called WSG Media based at Regency House, 2 Wood Street, Queen Square, Bath, which produces a book and website called the World Snowboard Guide.

Now Steve and his company have just published a book about skiing in Japan, which, he says, is the first in a new series.

Says Steve: "I'm based in Switzerland most of the time but pop back when I can. Our snowboardcross Olympian Zoe Gillings has done some writing for us, and as a Bathonian it makes me incredibly proud of what Amy has achieved in Canada. With the Where to Ski & Snowboard people in Norton St Phillip, Footprint books in Bath, all the success with the university, and not to mention Bristol's Jenny Jones, this area is quite a hub for winter sports."

Snow-search Japan is now available in stores across the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand, as well as online.

The book is the first in a series which explores countries in more depth than ever before. It also heralds a change in direction for WSG Media, from previously covering just snowboarding to including skiing as well.

The book has been designed for travellers who are visiting Japan for snow sports but want to experience many of the cultural delights Japan offers while there.

Among other topics, travel, food, language and working in Japan are all covered in detail, plus more than 70 resorts have been comprehensively reviewed and broken down into easy-to-read sections and rated according to your style of skiing/riding.

"One of the key issues to skiing and riding in Japan is how the off-piste regulations differ between resorts," says co-ordinating author Keith Stubbs.

"Some resorts support visitors going off the marked trails and others are strongly against it, but it's not always clear what the rules are. For example, one resort has some impressive off-piste photos all over its brochures, but will take your lift-pass if they catch you there".

Priced at £14.95, Snow-search Japan is available locally or direct from www.wsg- media.com.