brynski

haha both! I still enjoy the odd campy skip..

Heading over to Niseko for the season early December. Scored employment at Larry Adler ski rentals, across from the vale. Anybody else on here heading in the same direction for the season ? So stoked!

I've been trying to mix it up as much as possible exercise wise. The gym is great, and I spend my far share of time there, but i'd always prefer to be outside. Stuff like bouldering and walking/ jogging up steep descents (eg the summit of a mountain that's steep but not steep enough for ropes) are great because not only are they exercising the slow twitch muscle fibers in your legs, but they also incorporate core exercise, explosive movements and plenty of cv. Running up sand dunes, skipping and anything requiring a bit of agility all do the same thing. think outside the box and you'll be lau

Just reading the niseko now report, and it says that the official depth at 1000m is 260cm, which is actually 10cm more than the average ? Samwillis, don't think you have much to worry about as they are calling it a below average winter, and yet the last two nights have had at least 40cm worth of snowfall

Haha just thought I'd try! I'm sure I will meet some of you anyway. And if the economy continues to climb it may be an option JA!

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 on the hill, and maybe a hint or two to the best Apres Ski

I didn't know that, but I'm going to utilize it when I arrive next week!

Ah yes the good old barter system...if only it was effective in Australia, I've tried a couple of times! And JA, same thing happened to my mum when she came to visit me whilst I was living in Canada, though not to that extreme. When she arrived the aussie dollar dropped to like 70 Cents Canadian, then just after she left it jumped up to like 95cents! Would of saved her a lot of money.

Ok thanks for the breakdown JA. In the future I will probably go with Amex, as Travelex also charges a credit card fee (not sure about Amex?) just to save myself a couple of bucks, but with travelex you can pick it up from the airport within two days time so I went with them just because of my time constraints. Hey, it sure as hell beats the exchange rate a year ago either way!

Thanks for all the info. I'll be sure to let you guys know my findings about the atms and credit card usage. And JA, I checked out the company you suggested, however I'm not going to be at my home address long enough to receive it via mail. Are their rates pretty good ? I ended up going with Travelex, as I can just order it online and pick it up at Coolangatta international the day I leave.

I love this site, thanks again ! Probably should of ordered money from the bank by now as I'm leaving Tuesday week, but oh well I'll go suss it out tomorrow. Hey mamabear, just so I don't grave dig the old lift tickets thread, I forgot to ask, how much was the pass you bought for grand hirafu, and for how long ?

Hey just got a tip off from the manager of the hostel I'm staying that I should stock up on Yen at the airport because cash is a hard commodity to find in Niseko ? If there's any truth to this, why is this so ? Will I be able to use my Aussie Visa card most places?

Yeh I was also looking at the 50 Hr pass black mountain..seems like another good option. The only downfall I guess would be that It would prove costly to run out of hours before my two weeks there is up and have to buy another pass..Last season I had a penchant for staying on the hill alllllllll day. Have you been skiing/boarding alot on this pass blackmountain ?

Oh and thanks mamabear, great idea with the 12 point passes...

a few yen? I believe it works out to be a bit over 400 dollars aud for grand hirafu and over 800 dollars for the united ? a fair difference for a traveler on a budget, like myself. And I'm not sure what your last comment meant...do you work at a bar? cheers.

Haha ok, yes what you guys are saying totally aligns with what people have been telling me about the Japanese..forgive me though I've traveled to alot of places where one needs to be wary of this sort of stuff. I'll try to keep my n00b questions to myself, thanks for the help! See ya's on the slopes..

Thanks guys!

Ok thanks for that Tex. Just to be clear, your not talking about Shizenkan lodge @ Backpacker ? Similar place it seems but they call themselves 'niseko backpacker' not hirafu and arn't quite as cheap. I may seem paranoid but I just like a bit of peace of mind.

Hmmm sorry perhaps I should of phrased it a little differently. Basically does it exist ? Just don't want to to book, make it all the way to niseko to find out I've been scammed...the internet is tricky like that. And I did post the link stupidly forgetting it's against the rules, if anyone feels up to it, Google hirafu backpackers and there's a small website.

Just wondering if anyone has stayed at the Hirafu Backpackers? Seems like a great deal, just thought I should check it out before I send them all my money. Any warnings or recommendations? Cheers.

Hey guys, heading niseko way mid january for the first time (hopefully the first of many) and just have a couple of questions. Apologies if they are re-posts but I did a trawl of the old threads and couldn't find any answers. Firstly, I'm going to buy a grand hirafu two week pass instead of a niseko united pass just to cut down on costs, just wondering if I will still have access to a back country gate, and more importantly, be able to hike the peak? and second, I'm taking my 18 year old brother with me,who might I add looks alot older than my 22 years and is about 6'5, and my questi