onji
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Posts posted by onji
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No worries David.
I'm just writing this up as it's the first bit of time I've had this week to writeup a review. I've probably got 1 or 2 useable photos, the rest mainly consist of alcohol and hedonism around the resort..... (had my 30th)
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Date: 3-4th of Dec 2011
Lifts Open: Isola #1 Quad
Pistes Open: Steamboat A, Steamboat B
Snow: about 7cm of fresh snow on day 1, about 5-10 fresh, heavy, wet pow on day 2
Since this was the beginning of the season for Rusutsu there weren't that many people and they only opened up 2 pistes, although there was enough snow about to ride a significant portion of the mountain.
On day 1 it was f**king windy and icy at the summit of Mt Isola, but once you descended into the treeline it was pretty pleasant well groomed runs with powder stashes either side. Some minor tree runs *might* have been possible but I wasn't game considering the snow depth. The quality of snow on Steamboat B was a bit icier. At about mid day some fresh started falling, by 14:00 it was dumping and continued through the night.
On day 2 there was very little wind, and the snow above the treeline was very nice. There was a whiteout all day and visibility was about 50m at the start of the day (severe hangover didn't help either). There was a lot of fresh powder, but unfortunately most of it had been groomed, and the guy operating the snowcat of Steamboat A must've been hungover too, there was a trench about 20cm in diameter running down the top half of the run which surprised me a couple of times in the low visibility. You could duck the rope and ride through the Rusutsu No1 piste and cut some fresh powder. After about 14:00 the whiteout really turned it on and reduced visibility to about the distance between 2 ski lifts.
All in all a good trip out considering the relative lack of snowfall in Hokkaido over Nov/Dec, pity the whiteout, and hangover, on Sunday killed it a little.
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My first day was the 11th of Nov
We've been getting a bit of snow in Sapporo over the last 24 hours with more predicted tomorrow, so hopefully day 2 will be Wednesday
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JMA reckon's we'll get snow in Sapporo city Mon, Tue and Wed. Still pretty warm out today, although it was great to get out on some fake snow at Onze today
Asahidake's had snow for about a month now, but I can't wait 'til it gets closer to town.
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Surfarthur,
Totally man, I've gotta season pass, PM me when you come up to Hokkaido!
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Like a few folks have said, grab that booklet sized directory of Niseko, it's got tons of stuff in it.
1. Kamumura
2. The Barn
3. Forgot the name (but it's a little pizza joint that looks kind of like an Izakaya in the south of Hirafu. It was the most southern establishment in Hirafu village when I was there in Jan 2010)
Kamimura's is haute cuisine with strong French and Japanese influences. The chef was trained by Tetsuya, from the restaurant of the same name in Sydney. In my opinion his is the most stimulating food in Niseko. Make sure to book ahead, and drop around 10,000 - 20,000 JPY per head.
The Barn is another French influenced establishment and feels more like a brasserie. Nice food, nice wine. It's not cheap, but it's not as expensive as Kamimura's either.
That pizza joint in the south of the village was a great find. I had a great time and it was the first, and still only, time I've had a pizza in Japan that tasted like a real pizza. The chef travels to Italy once a year for CPD. It's also the only time I've had good olives in Japan. This place, IMO, is better than Niseko Pizza. I really enjoyed this place.
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Hey Hardpacked,
Give us a PM when you get here.
I'll be riding every day for the last 2 weeks of Dec and first 2 of Jan. I'm predicting mostly Teine & Rusutsu with some back country trips. Hopefully I'll get to visit Niseko once or twice over that period.
PS Anyone else that wants to meet up for a few lines/beers over winter, give us a yell
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I'll be in Rusutsu, with some Sapporo crew, on Dec 03-04. Should be a big party that weekend.
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There's still a bit going on a Niseko when I went last Sat. Ace Quad 2, and Ace Pair 3 were still open. The park up near Ace Pair 3 is still pretty good.
Fingers crossed I can find somewhere to go this weekend.
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Raw meat is awesome: beef, chicken, horse, etc.
But I do think I'd draw the line at raw mince for 100JPY a plate at a chain shop.
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I used to cook sometimes for up to about 10-12 people when I was back in Perth and we'd have a footy gig, or Sat/Sun afternoon thing. But nothing like 25-100 heads, crikey!
We just moved up to Sapporo and the kitchen is even smaller than our one in Ibaraki..... Even my old kitchen in my Northbridge apartment seems huge compared to my current setup. But having snow outside more than makes up for it
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I was going to try and squeeze a BC trip during Golden Week, but I'm new to my area and I'm afraid I'll do something stupid if I wander off into a new mountain by myself.
Maybe it's time to get the surf on
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Afternoon all. I just finished unpacking my apartment in Sapporo (Kita18) and I'm looking to stock my kitchen. Do any of the locals here know where to get import foods? I'm particularly looking for Chinese and European food....
PS I love this city... Can't wait 'til October!
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I just moved in to Sapporo, beautiful city by the way, and was rudely surprised to find out having to pay for yellow bin bags for burnable & unburnable - recycling is free
I'm going to give the city council the benefit of the doubt and assume that this is the tax for disposing of trash, and that we do not pay for rubbish removal in rates or city taxes. Initially I thought it seemed like a bit of a piss take, but I guess it's fair to charge more for people who have tons of crap to burn/landfill.
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Nice quiver Jynxx
Edit:
Originally Posted By: panhead_peteLooks like you need a better system mate, the bottom board has developed a big split in the tail. -
Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaveryeah I can understand that.....kids in my class all wear name badges that are written in English/Romanised Japanese, not spelt by me however, but the teacher. So I call out what the badge says in english, example "Taizo", the kids snicker and the teacher says..."No his name is TaiJO"....then why didn't you write that you twit?! Some of the romanised spelling of japanese names in particular can be weird. What's worse is that it isn't standardised so from person to person the spelling is different, it reminds me of when you read excerpts of english text from a few hundred years ago. Spelling was all different from one page to another
I've totally been there man. One of my kids wrote 'Atutosi' on his name badge, so when I ask Atutosi to answer a question, everyone corrects me 'it's Atsutoshi!'
Another kid's name is Marina. When I pronounce Marina, the kids all hear Maina (which is the name of another student in the same class), so I've had to really roll that R Italian style so they can understand me. -
Originally Posted By: Mamabear
We also spread the wax to the edges and over them - it stops them going rusty by keeping the air away - no oxidation can occur.
Time for the next season? Just scrape and go. :-)
So you actually drip wax over the metal wrap on the edges, as well as the underside. Iron it out, then save the scrape for when you next take it out?
I can totally understand about the heat in Perth, where I'm from, drying out your board over summer. I've heard your having another scorcher this season.
Thanks Black Mountain, I wasn't sure if I needed something to absorb the moisture to prevent mold/etc in a humid Japanese summer. -
This is the first season I've owned a snowboard and would like to know if anything has to be done to keep it in good condition over the off season.
Do you folks just pack your skis/boards/boots/bindings/etc away in the closet over summer and let it sit, or would it be prudent to leave it in proximity to those moisture absorbing things you can buy at the Hyakuen (Sorry, I don't know the name but I can't read the Kanji)?
PS I've also been recommended to wax my board (Sintered base if that makes a difference) at the end of season to protect it over summer.... From what? Ze germans?
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You options will be a bit limited since you will be going late season. I would recommend Hakuba, Shiga Kogen or maybe Nozawa Onsen as their seasons run a bit later.
I live in Ibaraki so most of the places above aren't far out of Kanto, so maybe someone else here knows about skiing around the Kansai region
If you're skiing or snowboarding for the first time, and you're planning on a lesson, make sure they have English instructors or that your Japanese ability is up to scratch.
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Well well, I've been eyeing up that Never Summer SL to pickup for next season. But now it's coming out in split crikey!
I've never heard of zuzupopo, is that a Korean retailer?
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Originally Posted By: Valve BounceAre skiers and board riders excluded from fenced areas because of safety concerns in such areas? or are such areas fenced just for the heck of it?
From what I understand the ropes are there to keep skiiers/snowboarders from going into dangerous areas. Sometimes it's just to warn you if you're going into a black or double black run, but it often keeps folks out of avalanche prone areas.
But getting back on topic, it's completely irresponsible and selfish behaviour on behalf of Scurfield (both father and son).
Ski patrollers are out there to keep people safe, and some knob fires them + part of management because his son is a douchebag. -
Originally Posted By: snowdudeNo fear here at all! I love speed, fast skiing, fast driving, fast cycling, fast, fast, fast! LOL
Let's not forget fast women (sorry if I've anyone of the fairer sex in the forum) -
Sweet I'm getting a bit excited about this, hopefully I can convince the GF. Lift passes are about 4000-5000?
Where you going this weekend (11th and 12th)?
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
Rusutsu, both days