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tmiddled

SnowJapan Member
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Everything posted by tmiddled

  1. Hi All, I just had 8 days boarding in Niseko (well, 6 Niseko, 1 Rusutsu and 1 Moiwa). I was there 25th-2nd Feb. Firstly, I had an awesome time. Initially I was worried Niseko would have a big crowd, but I was able to find tonnes of freshies! However, whilst we were there, the lifts were closed a lot of the time, and I am just wondering if this is typical. I know that the top lifts often close (more often than not a couple of instructors told me), but the Niseko and Annupuri Gondolas were closed for 4 of the 6 days I was there. Apparently Moiwa quad was closed most of the time too
  2. Hi guys, I'll make sure to write a couple of reviews when I get some time, cheers. GN - Thanks for those town names, I'll see if I can have more of a dig around. We don't need anything fancy, just clean, comfortable and warm. We spent around 350 000YEN for 5 people, 10 nights right on the slopes. From what I have researched, car hire will be around 100 000 YEN, and I don't want to spend more on a place further away from the slopes, so taking into account the car hire, we would not spent more than 250 000YEN for a cottage, less if possible.
  3. Hi All, I just got back from my first trip to Hokkaido. We stayed in Annupuri, and mainly boarded Niseko United, but did a couple of day trips to other close by resorts. First of all, thanks all to who helped me plan this trip, I sought much advice from this forum. My trip awesome! My initial worry was that with the crowds at Niseko, I wouldn't be able to get many freshies. However, with fresh snow overnight 6 of the 8 days, and with my annoying persistance of getting first lifts every day, we got tonnes of fresh lines :-) Not to mention our day trips to other ski hills. So, I
  4. I know it won't be crowded compared to Niseko, but will the freshies get tracked out a lot earlier than during a week day, or do they last a while any day?
  5. Thanks, It would be great if my whole trip was midweek. However of the 8 days I have, 3 fall on the weekend But if Moiwa is predominately locals then I'll try and go mid-week. I suppose Niseko is going to be just as crowded any day, so I may as well spend the weekends there, and then do my side trips (I plan for Kiroro & Moiwa) during the week. Cheers
  6. Just wondering if Moiwa is typically a foreigner or a local visited resort? The reason I ask, is I'm trying to figure out which day to visit, and I know the resorts that are popular with locals are a lot busier on weekends. So is there much of a difference between the crowds on a weekday compared to a weekend for Moiwa? Sunday slots in best in terms of my trip, but I will postpone it if the crowds will be a problem! Cheers, Tom
  7. Hi Go Native. Not only do I not know the mountain well, but I don't know it at all. How about a random act of kindness and PM ing me a hot tip or two
  8. Thanks for all the replies guys. I'm not a powder snob by any means......a few lines in front of me won't bother me at all. Hey, even if I'm not finding much fresh stuff it will be a hell of a lot better than I am used to here in Aus. I am just trying to prepare myself for the best possibility of freshies when its been dumping down over night :-) I have learned from surfing that carefully picking your spot to go out (or board in this case) can be the difference between a great day and a fantastic day!!!! I will probably spend most of my mornings making the most of Annupuri and then
  9. Hi All, I am staying at Annapuri for 8 days late January. Can I get over to Hirafu, Niseko Village and Hanzono early enough if I take the first Annapuri Gondola, to make fresh tracks in Strawberry fields, Miharashi, Superstition etc.? It looks like I can traverse across from the top of jumbo pair 4, but can't be sure as I have never been.... Or do I need to get the bus to these before the lifts open if I want to make untracked powder runs? Cheers, Tom
  10. Hi all, I'm considering booking accommodation at Annupuri, and just hoping for some advice from the Niseko experienced. I will be spending 8 days somewhere in Niseko. My main priority is to find as many untracked powder runs (preferably in trees) as possible. It doesn't have to be super deep, or steep. I am quite experienced, but definitely no expert. I am wanting to go off-piste a bit, but nothing too hectic or that requires massive hiking. I don't mind other people being around, just want freshies :-) Don't give a rats about jumps/board parks etc. My main reason for wanting to
  11. Hi all, Just booked my flights to Sapporo and going to Niseko (Grand Hirafu) 23rd Jan - 2nd. I will be going with 2 or 3 mates whose flights are yet to be finalised. I have been looking around and a lot of the places unsurprisingly seemed to be booked out. Anyone have any recommendations on places that may be harder to find online that will still have availability for either 3 or 4 people. We are looking at spending up to $100 USD per night per person (ideally a bit less). We don't mind sharing a bathroom (although would prefer not to), but we definitely don't want to be in dorm
  12. Thanks for all the replies! So looking at going between 23rd Jan -2nd Feb at this stage. I know it is will be busy, but any additional recommendations on resorts closish to Sapporo to meet my requirements would be appreciated :-)
  13. 15 years, with maybe 5 days a year on average. I started when I was maybe 10-15 after skiing since 5. I have ridden a bit of knee deep powder and managed fine (except when it got a bit flatter). I have mainly ridden our 'hills' in Aus with a bit of riding in Chile & France. I have not really come into any terrain that has challenged me too much though, but then again there isn't much here in Aus that can :-) I spend most of my time 'off-piste' (as much as you can in Australia) chasing those few days powder days we get here in Aus, spending most of it off piste but in bounds. Never
  14. I was looking at Niseko after getting some advice from this forum. I suppose that classfies as one of the big Aussy destinations. I want as much untracked powder runs through trees as possible. I'm no expert, no avi skills, no interest in big hikes, but am quite experienced. Don't need massivley deep powder, just as untracked as I can get, whilst staying mostly in bounds, but off piste. I know it is a hard to find and am still open to other suggestions, but Niseko seemed like a good option after great advice from people on this forum ;-) http://www.snowjapanforums.com/index.php/topic/2
  15. Hi all, Just wondering the difference in crowds between January and February? I have been told that it gets less crowded after Chinese New Year (31 Jan), and also considering the end of Aus school holidays the end of January. Does this make much of a difference in crowds, or is Feburary almost as crowded as January? I'm looking to plan a trip and untracked (and thus less crowded) is a high priority. But it looks like Jan may be more convenient for me... Cheers, Tom
  16. Hmmm. Now I am a bit confused. Everyone is saying that it gets tracked out super fast, but my number one priority is to find un-tracked runs :-) So, Niseko is THE place to find fresh lines, but it gets tracked out super fast? Does that mean there is no where left in Japan that has variety and doesn't get all tracked out? Or maybe you just don't want to say so on a forum Are you all mainly talking about the on piste runs? I'm willing to venture out a bit (without hiking for ages), but do even the off-piste runs get tracked out quickly? Cheers, and sorry for all the same repe
  17. OK, thanks again all. The guided tour sounds great on the first day. Can anyone recommend me a good operator who can show me how to make the most on powder days? I don't want to just go on a typical Niseko tour that shows you all groomed runs and stuff like that so I am definitely happy to pay more IF I can find someone that gives me the highest probability of making freshies all day ;-) Thanks again!
  18. Great, thanks for all the replies. It looks like I will base myself in Niseko. My only concern is that, considering it is one of the most popular resorts in Japan (if not the most), that it would get tracked out pretty quickly on powder days. Is my concern silly? Does it snow enough and is it big enough to be able to make fresh lines most of the time? Thanks again!
  19. Hi all, I'm starting to plan a snowboarding trip around late January/Feb 2014 for 10 days or so and am trying to decide where to base myself. I am an experienced snowboarder, but would not say I am ultra-advanced. But I am experienced enough to hold my own in all conditions I have found myself in. I have been boarding around 15 years with 3-5 days per year average. I kitesurf/surf etc so my whole life is and has been based around board sports. However I have never done any serious backcountry or super steep riding. I have only really ridden in Australia, with a few days in Chile
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