ltd1982

This thread is just too good for words. Great photos and snow reports - you're really making that 7D shine!

Hurray! New Server!

http://youtu.be/apNKEhdokKM I don't know if they say this over there, but they definitely do around here (yes, I'm a skier )

If you're down in the Nagano area after Feb 12th, I'll send you a message when we arrive (the 14th) and see where you are - I'd like to do a day or two down there outside of the time I'll spend on Hokkaido. I heard back from BD the other day and am stoked that they're going to try and get me on some guided tours around Hokkaido!

lolz, i wondered how long it would take before that question was asked. Hajimemashite Kiyo-Chan!

That video was sweet, the opening line was ultra steezy!

I'm not sure about a shop in Japan that can do the forming (although you could do it with an oven or heat gun if necessary), but I'd highly recommend Intuition Liners. If you send them an email they could probably even tell you who sells their product there. They came in my new boots this fall, and I had them heat molded before skiing in them - it's the first time I've ever had boots that haven't hurt in some way, never mind being comfortable from day 1. check them here - www.intuitionliners.com

Sweet, thanks for all the responses today, guys! That sounds awesome if you're going to be around. I don't have any firm plans yet, but I'm going to be up on Hokkaido for 4 or 5 days, probably from the 20th till the 25th of February. The plan so far was Niseko, Rusutsu and maybe Furano, but I'm super easy. Hey Mitch, Thanks for the response! Yeah, I've got a decent amount of backcountry experience. I've been touring in the backcountry of BC for 5 years, and skiing for about 20. I've taken the Level 1 Avvy course here in North Van a couple of times, and I'm going to

:lol:

I can't compete with the camo cherry blossoms (awesome), but this is pretty much what I'm wearing this year - my friends have started calling me Blueberry :S

Ltd....Maybe think of starting this in a new thread then fellow west coasters like myself can welcome you properly instead of tip toeing in and out of Yamabushi's posts. Taking the above excellent advice, here we are in a new thread Panhead_Pete has already put me on to Black Diamond tours, but I'd still be keen on hooking up with whoever else over there is into some skiing shenanigans! Cheers, Billy.

My current steeze-mobile - Mazda B4000 / Ford Ranger 4x4 with 4" lift. It makes for pretty convenient muddy mountain bike and wet ski adventure transportation. Also, big thanks to SJ-David for helping me get this picture to post!

Thanks, I've been really enjoying the cheese-y updates from your trip Looking forward to a lot more of them! I've emailed the BD guys, so hopefully they and I can sort something out together for my time there

Thanks for the response, Pete! I'll see if I can hook up with the Black Diamond guys. What I meant by hitting the hills solo was hitting the resorts. I'd never tour alone, even over here where I know the terrain pretty well - and definitely never half way across the world. I've taken the Level 1 avy course a couple of times, most recently last year. I find it's like watching a (good) movie more than once; there's always something you see/learn the next time through that you missed the first time.

Awesome report! However, this is not going to help me anxiously wait until I get over there in Feb...

I use the Mammut Pulse, and have a G3 shovel and probe. I've also had a Voile shovel, and used a couple of Black Diamonds. The Voile was cheap, but pretty heavy and didn't pack well in any of my bags. The G3 and BD's were both of similar weight and ease of use. I mostly went with the G3 stuff because they're located down the street from where I work and the guys that work there are pretty awesome. There were about a dozen people I work with that recently went out and got the Mammut Elements, and I was able to do some "playing" with them a couple of weeks ago - they are definitely a ref

So, I just joined this forum, as I've finally booked my flights to Japan for the last two weeks of February, and plan on spending 4-5 days skiing on Hokkaido and another 2 or more on Honshu (depending on how angry my wife gets with me for not spending more time with her family for the two weeks we're there ). I'm bringing over my alpine-touring setup since it's better than my alpine setup in powder, but was also wondering if there are any SJ'ers in the Hokkaido area that are up for taking a foreigner on a back-country / slack-country ski tour? I live in Vancouver, Canada, and am so