Tex

You are good Karma MB Though it has stopped snowing and the sun has come out

Thx Foxpuppet! Will hit it for sure Just back in for a break. First tracks over to Hanazono. Good run in with 4-5cm on the groomers to start with. Strawberry and Blueberry were ok but not enough snow to be filling it in in there. Light to moderate snow non stop through out the day so far. Lower run on Hirafu are pretty ugly and hard packed but found some decent stuff up off King Lift #4 that no one seemed to what any action in Gave that a hiding and moved on. Visibility was not too bad. Awesome fun, should lay down some reasonable snow for us to go explore some more tomorrow.

Light snow in Harafu ATM. No wind to speak of in the village.

8.30 - 11.30 then 14.00 18.00 7hrs today (1 coffee break). The lifts seems hideously slow here in Niseko.

Not so sure we will see it MB. Average condtiions predicted during our stay (until monday). It's all good, nice skiing, but was really here for the light fluffy stuff. Never mind will just change the game plan a bit and hit the parks and pick the nice groomers, any snow is good snow really...

No real change with variable visibility, in the cloud or out. No new snow to speak of with icey small flakes making it a guess with turns on a hard packed base...

Arrived late last night about midnight with no dramas at all with the flights and transfers all the way up. By the time we made Rusutsu Resort is was dropping big flakes, however no such luck at Niseko just yet Presently very light cloud over head and on the ground, can barely see Mt Yotei and very light occaisional flurries. A bit of wind at this level so could be windy up top. We are staying at the Landmark View and so far very impressed with the accomodation.

Originally Posted By: MikePow As of 23 January 2010, 9.16m at village level so far this season (taken from Niseko Now). Lots of great snow accumulating by the sounds of things, but be careful out there. Couple of people taken for a ride out of gate 5 yesterday. From what I've heard, partial burial for one person. Bruises, a few teeth knocked out, and a knackered knee from the three that got caught in the slide. Not good..

Thanks MB. Anybody else got the goss on this one?

Yah ditto, get the longer one 4.5cm is hardly a big difference anyway, just get the length you can handle and 161.5 you should handle fine...

Where do you get into the Hirafu Club if we are collecting our passes at the accommodation? Cheers,

I hear ya Jynxx, and I have just bought a pair of 09 Burton Custom bindings for my Burton Custom Board (so I would match ). I have used the flows and rate them highly for ease of entry, but I had never used a toe cap so got the customs instead this time round. Cheap too at $140AUD. However I find that the Flow and even the Fastecs appeal to me because the ARE simple and functional - What breaks on them? I have already got a problem with the cheapo Burton ladder straps that get shredded pretty easy a click or two before good tension.

Originally Posted By: brynski So does anyone feel like being a tour guide for two newbies to the grand hirafu scene, when we arrive next week ? Would be good to have someone to show us the good lines etc Take a number Brynski

Just heard American offered them 2 billion as long as they stay part of the Oneworld group.... That is while entering into bankruptcy proceedings. From what I can make of it it will mean short term things will continue, who knows what the future wil bring. Airmiles????

Originally Posted By: JA Originally Posted By: Tex This is an ELITE organisation JA, so far any way, we, well.. me... don't take just anyone you know. You want to join? OK your in!! You may add the following to your signature "M.A.S.S. (Men Against Secret Stashes) President Member #2" Now where are all your secret stashes Now, If I told you that, they'd not be secret anymore, would they! Not sure that I want to be a member of a worldwide organisation that has but 2 members Look JA, I hate to do this but it has been nothing but dissent, negativity and

This is an ELITE organisation JA, so far any way, we, well.. me... don't take just anyone you know. You want to join? OK your in!! You may add the following to your signature "M.A.S.S. (Men Against Secret Stashes) President Member #2" Now where are all your secret stashes

Originally Posted By: Mamabear I think he is still nursing his dislocated shoulder! Tex - you don't need Secret Stashes....there is enough for everyone. Half the fun is in finding them. HERETIC!! BURN THE WITCH!! You have obviously been corrupted by the dark side, alternatively you have no secrets to reveal

Originally Posted By: thursday Originally Posted By: Tex Originally Posted By: Mamabear The tree's either side of Kokutei were offering up some fluffy freshies and skiers left of Furiko was bringing it also. Had a brilliant day! We the members (member) of M.A.S.S bow down before you there's nothing secret about those. Damn, the search for the holy grail continues... I take that back MB you are not worthy, rather, worthless to the magnificent order of the M.A.S.S... Well so far anyway, care to to be recruited as a M.A.S.S undercover operative, we need good

Originally Posted By: Mamabear The tree's either side of Kokutei were offering up some fluffy freshies and skiers left of Furiko was bringing it also. Had a brilliant day! We the members (member) of M.A.S.S bow down before you

Originally Posted By: thursday it's a bit silly isn't it? Not wanting to share your stashes? Then don't mention them. Yeh weird... "I was in knee deep powder all day, it was great, un-tracked pow, just awesome; so dry it was like bouncing on a trampoline, freshies... all day." "Yeh where was that." "Can't tell ya"

Don't know never been but they advertise around about here quite a bit, filling vacancies. I would not have any concerns....

I don't see anyone here offering valid points that discount the others arguments. Each position is valid, you are only stating two different premises from which each side of the pros and cons emanate. Adverstisers will use whatever ever product increases business and if this has the effect of annoying people then the simple equation of money in/money out will be used. It is here to stay we can't get past it. I agree with those who don't like it and it does not suit what I would like to see happening but the ground swell of how successful it is why we we still (and will until the ne

Originally Posted By: Go Native I've already explained we can easily monitor how many people reply to newsletters and e-blasts. We can also monitor how many of the replies turn into actual sales. For marketing that basically costs us nothing the returns are better than pretty much all other forms of marketing we have. I've not denied possible downsides I've just pointed out that they, as far as we can tell, are nowhere near outweighed by the benefits. Just because there's something that you find annoying doesn't mean it's not effective. I find television advertising very annoying and it's pro

AHH a healthy debate "SPAM is unsolicited bulk e-mail sent to indiscriminate (and numerous) recipients..." It MIGHT include unsolicited commercial e-mails, but if you have provided an e-mail address it probably doesn't rate as indiscriminate. I find it annoying to the extent that I have to delete it or register the domain as junk etc and my mouse index finger can get a cramp if I have not warmed up and stretched correctly. I would prefer not to get it, but sifting through to unsub (while probably the prudent thing to do in the long run) is something I never do because in

Advice I received is that short term OK to keep on track to fulfill flight bookings for the next couple of months as they try and re-finance and sort out the problems - even if they enter into Bankruptcy. Long term could be a real problem if they can not get it sorted fast,... of course you have to wonder how long they would want to let this news float around for with out hedging a positive solution as it will effect new bookings with all the uncertainty = ALL BAD. Can the Japanese government afford to let them go belly up??