NECK

Rusutsu is definitely worth checking out. Had a couple of epic days there

Pretty intense thread going on here

Oh, I can vote again it seems on second inspection of the rules....... Therefore: Hakuba 47 - 11 Hakuba Cortina - 11 (+) Hakuba Goryu - 12 Happo-one - 6 (-) Tsugaike Kogen - 5

Thanks for keeping an eye out for me best skier

That would likely involve B and E. Don't forget the down sleeping bag and wool socks

So I would say around 1000m vert from base area to the top gondola station, maybe less. Then another 300m or so to the top of the best looking section, up and skiers right from the top gondola station. Yes, that whole section looks epic! As to getting to the base area, the road up there would almost definitely not be cleared of snow by the city. I would say a mile or so to hike from the nearest open (snow cleared) road to the base area. Not too bad, but would add time to your eventual ascent. You would have to have very little, or absolutely no backcountry experience to fall victim to

In peak season it would be quite the hike from the very bottom on a splitboard or snowshoes..... Sled mission would be a win

Looks fun

How was Hakuba Highland ozsnowbum? How long has it been abandoned for?

Yeah that place looks amazing! I have actually been to a few different abandonments, including another ski resort, but I have to say that Arai was the most interesting one so far for sure.

The recycle stores around Nagano have loads of boards in winter, but seems like they switch them all out for the summer No joy around here.

Not too keen on the idea Tubby. Never tried it, but had a Forum board with a similar system way back in the day and it sucked! Also, I dont wanna buy est bindings for the fish, as it will be used only on those 15 or 20 tree powder days in the season. I hear the est to normal binding attachment thingys are not great..... All that said, if a cheap 156 Fish with est mount system comes up, I may well take it

Thanks Rucky Inu. Yeah, they come up fairly often on US and Canada auction sites fairly cheap, but get snapped up quick most of the time. The Never Summer powder sticks seem good too, but I am pretty much set on the Fish as my tree/powder board. Want the 156 as it is ideal for me. I am 77 kgs and 5'11" (whatever that is in cms), so can easily get away with the 156 model. The shorter Fishcuit would work, but they all come with the est mount system I think.

Yeah, it looks like the photo Beaverinho posted, but the older ones don't have the mini swallow tail going on. Lemme know if your Book Off has one. Like Black Mountain said, people here don't get rid of them as often as people who live in less snowy parts of the world

I am so desperate to get my hands on a Burton Fish it's not even funny! Not a big fan of Burton boards in general, but the Fish is something I need in my life. Looking to sniff out an older model (2002-2008) ideally, with the regular (for Burton) mount holes. The 156 model would be best and don't wanna spend an arm and a leg to get it. Can anyone here on SJ (in Japan) help make my dreams come true? Pleeeeease

Hakuba 47 - 7 Hakuba Cortina - 9 (+) Hakuba Goryu - 8 Hakuba Iwatake - 5 Hakuba Norikura - 4 Hakuba Sanosaka - 2 (-) Happo-one - 4 Tsugaike Kogen - 6 What are you on about ippy???

Go Native has the right idea . Niseko is basically a powder free-for-all. Hakuba has more to offer, but to get the best out of it you need a lot more experience.

Pretty sure Blimey Cider means Hakuba as a resort area, rather than just Happo as a resort If he meant just Happo resort, then Niseko wins my vote. If he meant Hakuba as a resort area, with all the resorts in close proximity to each other, then Hakuba keeps my vote as it dwarfs Niseko and has loads more to offer.

Yeah mamabear, if I only had a week or two per year to shred then I would choose Niseko. Sure to get the snow and more than enough terrain to keep you entertained for a week or two. I usually manage to get a week there in the season, but didn't manage to get there last season . I missed the place for sure! Hakuba just has more to offer in terms of terrain, pitch, vert and variety. Not as much snowfall as Niseko, but it's a big mountain environment with rideable aspects into June and beyond if you are willing to work hard for your turns. You would be hard pushed to get bored of riding in H

If you only have a week, I would say Niseko. If you have a month/season/lifetime, then I would say hands down Hakuba. Therefore, Hakuba wins my vote

Yeah, but the fact that we do it tandem style does decrease the stigma somewhat though I think I've got a feeling it's gonna be the next big thing! http://vimeo.com/62120390 Now we just need to fashion together something similar for our rollerblades during the off season

I Yeah, but the fact that we do it tandem style does decrease the stigma somewhat though I think

You forget to mention the fun skis you ride every other weekend Shhhhhhhhhhh! Damnit! I forgot to add that those are the weekends that we ride together.........

You forget to mention the fun skis you ride every other weekend

Nuffin to do wiv me Guv'nor! I'm innocent! I was trying to tell him where he was going wrong! I reckon your bushy grilling scared them all from coming back to work