Jimmer
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Posts posted by Jimmer
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The bit that annoys me most is gate 4, where lazier/less skilled boarders traverse progressively lower and lower, resulting in crossing a bunch of traverse lines at the start of the run. Less of a problem, but still a problem, is people who start at the top of super ridge and just traverse their way down to the base of super. I understand a bit there, as it's a short run if you ski it fall-line, and it is off camber, but really people should traverse to the section they want along the top, then ski it fall-line. It's a problem more in Hirafu because it's flat, where I am now (Chile), if boarders can't traverse properly in some sections, they tumble over a selection of cliffs, that seems to be incentive enough for everyone to behave properly.
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70-80mm underfoot is ideal if all you want to do is ski on piste. As an intermediate any fatter will make it harder for you to learn to use your edges properly, yes you will find it easier to ski powder (and yes you will probably find powder on piste in Japan), but all you'll probably be doing is pushing your tails out, with a flat ski, which isn't great technique and is hard work too.
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it's easier to just slide on your heels down a steep slope
Haha, I'm talking more about the part on Aspen/Green in Hirafu after windy corner, than overterraining students down anything that anyone would care about getting scraped off. Hirafu's so flat that a bigger problem is boarders traversing the hell out of the place.
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I really don't think there's much difference between the two in terms of difficulty. Yes the first day or two of boarding might be difficult if you are not athletic, but if you're not athletic, you're not going to be very good at skiing either. I instruct both, and people tend to get a bit further on boards earlier, but that's because it's easier to just slide on your heels down a steep slope than make a wedge if you are nervous about turning.
Personally I prefer skiing because it's what I am better at, and snowboards just aren't as good for accessing back/slackcountry as skis, you can't traverse as well, you can't deal with flats as well, and you can't really skin easily either, though split boards are apparently getting better. Boarding powder is definitely easier than skiing powder though, even with fat skis.
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I worked my first season in Niseko on the UK working holiday visa. i am pretty certain there was no limit to the hours you could work, if there was, it is definitely not enforced. Don't tell the embassy that you are going to work the season in Niseko/wherever, definitely don't tell them if you have a job arranged in advance, they don't like people working at one place for extended periods of time, instead make an itinerary saying you will teach english or something all over the place, once you are here it's fine. This sounds a bit sketchy I know, but these instructions were given to me by the embassy when I called them explaining what I wanted to do.
Niseko is an awesome place to live, no, it's not a particularly authentic Japanese experience, but it is awesome fun and the skiing is fantastic. I've been here 4 seasons for a reason.
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Well, the weather was crap today! I don't even want powder anymore, I just want sunshine and no wind so I can ski the park until it's time to go to the beach.
Don't envy you if you were out teaching today Jimmer.
But it looks like you're going to have to wait to top up the tan. Snow and cold temps forecast for next week
Yeah, taught a full day today, as I have done for the last week, nice kids though, so it's been fine. As for snow, booooo
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Well, the weather was crap today! I don't even want powder anymore, I just want sunshine and no wind so I can ski the park until it's time to go to the beach.
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Did one of the companies in town use that photo!? Anyone fancy messaging me and letting me know who? I saw a lot of people share it on Facebook, and thought that it wasn't around here. I saw a very similar photo claimed as St Anton earlier in the season as well.
As for how March has been, no, I don't think it's been as good as previous years, but most people I have been teaching have been pretty happy, admittedly though only a few of them would really have been able to appreciate deep snow if it had been here. There were a few dire days the other week though, grey and icey with piles of sugary snow all over the place, as bad as I have ever seen it here.
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They have fenced off the bit of road leading to the creek that the guy walked down now, looking at it it's kind of easy to see how if you were really drunk it would look like the way to Izumikyo. Not sure what else can be really done, drunk people will do stupid things, I walked home from Bills to Izumikyo in a T-shirt on New years because some tourist had taken my jacket, not really much I could do, but it was still not the best idea.
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Be in Hirafu for the season again, getting in on the 2nd of Dec, bring it on
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Or just get super baggy clothing, I think 'd have to put on about 30kgs to be too big for my pants!
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Whilst I agree that Japan isn't really the best for either parks or partying, you can have a lot of fun doing both there. Niseko's parks really aren't that bad, no they don't compare to the US, but the Hano park has a fast lift, decent halfpipe and fair sized jumps, rails are lacking though. As for partying, Hirafu has a scene comparable to most ski towns, if you are Aussie, and don't mind other drunken Aussies, you will probably love it.
I've spent the summer skiing in a resort (hotel really) without a park, and with only 3 bars, so I am looking forward to getting back to Hirafu and hitting some rails (and the bars) almost as much as I am looking forward to the powder!
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So I had a bit of a search, but most threads seemed to be about changing dollars to yen, not yen to pounds.
I'll be heading home in April with a stack of yen I've saved (I get paid in cash and have no bank account here), in the past I have just changed it at home, but I have a feeling this isn't the best way.
Where can I find the best rates? Would a Post office transfer be a good idea?
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Did my post get deleted for linking to a skischool?
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Gumboots, not as nice as GNs though!
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Going to go for a few laps now, finally!!
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You can ski in Niseko, Family run is now open!
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Snowing in the village now, so fingers crossed for stuff getting open asap!
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Cheers, maybe I will just take some as hand luggage, does look a little like semtex though...
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So I am thinking about making a christmas cake at home this year, and then bringing it out and icing whilst I am in Niseko. This is because my houses in Niseko never have an oven, and I love christmas cake! Just wondering if marzipan is available in Japan (in Kutchan would be ideal), as keeping the weight down is a factor.
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Ice is good for teaching you how to ski well, once you can already ski a bit. For actual beginners, it's scary, painful, and fast.
It's hard to argue against freshly groomed powder really, just perfect. Slush works fine too though.
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Yeah they were really nice, no worries, sure NBS will find me someone else to ski with!
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Originally Posted By: MikePowMaybe, maybe not. Who did you teach last winter?
A few, can't remember names, a pair of kids over at Rusutsu were really fun.
Which is more difficult - skiing or snowboarding?
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
My point is that because Niseko is pretty flat and relatively safe, people that don't really have the skills to board/ski powder (i.e. traversing without losing too much height) still attempt to, and mess it all up, and yes the problem is considerably worse there than in other resorts. At least people making big turns on skis are moving down the fall line. I'm not advocating Austrian style turn 'nesting', just saying a lot of people in Niseko especially could do with some more awareness and skills. Anyhow, this has gotten off topic, it's snowing here so I'm off to traverse some pow