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28th February 2008 |
Working in Shiga Kogen
Interview with Eunice Ng |
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We spoke with Eunice Ng about her experiences working in
Shiga Kogen (Nagano) this winter.
Please tell us a bit about yourself
I currently study at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. I
am originally from Hong Kong but have lived in NZ since I was 8. I’m
currently 23 years old...
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20th February 2008 |
Interview:
Andrew Lea (creator of SnowJapan) |
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Last month I sat down with Mr Andrew Lea, otherwise known on
the Forums as SJ#1, and
the creator of SnowJapan and still the man in charge of the site. Over
the years we have had many people ask us about SnowJapan and I took this
opportunity to ask him a few questions about the site, how it got started,
it's history and future.
SJForums (David), February 2008 |
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13th July 2007 |
Snowboarding Instructing in Japan
By Ben Gibson |
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My first season was at Karuizawa Prince, a few years ago.
I was a part-time instructor, and managed to get the job though a friend who
knew the head of the school. My Japanese was not stellar, and my
qualifications consisted solely of my Level 1 Canadian instructors license (CASI).
However, they thought it was novel to have a foreign instructor, which
perhaps was my only saving grace as I sorely lacked practical experience. In
the end, I was presented as any other snowboard instructor. There were one
time I was asked to use English (my clients were from Hong Kong) but for the
most part I taught in Japanese.
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27th April 2007 |
Gala Experience |
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Lawrence Ly has just spent this last winter season working at the GALA Yuzawa snow resort
in Yuzawa town, Niigata Prefecture. We spoke to him to find out more
about his experience working at a Japanese ski resort. |
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25th January 2007 |
Interview with Mike Harris, Canyons |
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I first started skiing at the age of 10, at Cardona ski
area in Central Otago. I was hooked instantly, but because of the costs,
distance, and rugby obligations it was hard to get in much time in each
season. When I hit university the government had just initiated a student
loan scheme program, that myself and hundreds of other students put to good
use by quickly snapping up seasons passes for Treble Cone and new ski gear. |
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22nd December 2006 |
Interview with Jimmy Petterson
by Patrick Thorne |
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Not many people can say they have skied in 48 different countries around the
globe. We recently spoke with someone who can, Jimmy Petterson,
discussing his ski experiences around the world, the time he came to Japan and also
his impressive "Skiing Around The World" book. |
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10th November 2006 |
Green Snow
by Patrick Thorne |
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Global warming is an increase in the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere
caused by the so-called "greenhouse" effect. Most scientists believe the
warming is caused by human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels,
such as oil, coal and natural gas. Earth's average temperature rose at least 1 degree in the 20th century,
according to the World Meteorological Organization. But the rise has
accelerated since 1976. Last year tied with 1998 for the warmest on record, and
nine of the 10 warmest years have occurred in the past decade.
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30th September 2006 |
Interview with "Fattwins"
(Nick Kowal) |
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With almost 10,000 posts on the
Snow Japan Forums
at the time of writing, readers may well know about Fattwins. Nick (for
that is his real name!) had been living in Kyoto and making endless trips to the Hakuba valley in search of lines and new adventures. Until recently that
is. He is now living and working in Hakuba and looking forward to his first
season living there. We had a chat with Fattwins to find out more...
SJ: Tell us a bit about yourself
I was raised in Mississauga Ontario. My dad loved hockey, so started to skate
at the age of three. I think most of my ski balance, comes from being on skates
at such an early age. My parents both love and play sports so it was perfect
for me.
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| 23rd
July 2006 |
Photo Feature
The Monkeys of Jigokudani |
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Jigokudani Yaenkoen. You might not have heard that name but you have
probably heard about a place in Nagano where you can see "snow monkeys"
(Japanese Macaque) taking an onsen.
I had often heard about Jidokudani and even driven past the entrance on the way
up to Shiga Kogen more than a few times, but until recently I had never
actually stopped to check it out. (I suppose I was always in too much of a
rush to get to the snow at Shiga Kogen). I now wish I had found out about
it earlier.... |
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| 14th
June 2006 |
Interview with "Toque"
(Matt Lucas) |
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| 9th
May 2006 |
Boarding Fuji
by Glen Falting |
| FEATURE > |
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| 28th
April 2006 |
The Fukui Fellowship - mixing it
up with the Mixture Crew
by Sam Baldwin |
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A Japanese ski and snowboard posse speak of Global Warming, Tree Spirits,
and the world’s longest rail. I grab four bottles of Yebisu beer from the fridge and give the landlord a
customary nod. I’m at Bar Yumeya in Ono, Fukui, a cosy hangout for local lovers
of snow. Yasu, the owner, is somewhat of a legend in these parts, having
conquered several Himalayan summits in India, Pakistan, China and Nepal. An ice
pick, snowshoes, and many pictures of sabre-toothed peaks decorate the walls;
souvenirs from past expeditions.
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| 12th
January 2006 |
Winter work in Hakuba
Interview with Liz (bettyx) |
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We spoke with Forum reader 'bettyx' about her experiences of working the winter
season in Hakuba. Can you tell us a bit about yourself
In 2004, I graduated with a Masters’ degree from the University of
Melbourne, after an undergraduate degree majoring in Japanese and English. When
I was 18, I spent about three months traveling around Japan, and after seeing
temples, shrines, volcanoes, monkeys and every type of onsen, I decided to head
to Niseko Annupuri to learn how to ski again. Previously I’d skied as a kid at
Falls Creek in Australia, an experience which did not prepare me for the
endless powder, nor the milk ramen I discovered in the cafeteria.
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