Davo

There is a thread here somewhere discussing the NZ season and resorts. Try looking at this site nzsnowboarder.nzl.com/ it has detailed info. For an outsiders perspective have a look at the latest issue of Onboard or last months(I think) Transworld snowboarding-both have articles on NZ and how it stacks up against European/Nth American resorts.

I went to Murayama park last year and was struck by the sublime beauty of the petals floating as if they were pink snowflakes in the wind. My mood was heightened more still with the dulcet tones of people cranking out tunes on portable karaoke players and the pitter patter sound of university saki neckers chundering into the carp pond. I think hanami is classic-the bloosoms represent the transience of life and people celebrate by cutting loose and getting pissed. Why not?

Almost every day I had was on sweet powder even days after a dump. Was a bit inconsistent this year but I timed my trips just right it seems and even snuck in 2 awesome bonus days last Sun/Mon. It's never enough but I'm satisfied with what I got.

Japan is definately getting cheaper through deflation reflected in pricing by many retailers who are trying hard to survive. The thing about Japan is that it can be expensive because one shop will charge a lot more than another selling pretty much the same thing. I've seen a deal in Hakuba for board & bindings hire for \1500 yet most places will charge twice that if not more. Rent in the cities will never be a good deal unless you get lucky. Look around keep your eyes open and scam instead of be scammed -living here need not be that expensive.

And didn't they do well! It's always interesting to know all about the 17th place getter-share their tears and all that. All countries will inevitably focus on their own participants but the coverage of actual place getters and events not including Japanese athletes seems particulaly bad. Back to the original thread-love and hate depending on the day.

The chalk pouch is last years news-the really happening and wacky kid wouldn't be seen dead without his/her fox tail hanging off the ass. The more endangered the animal the better. Hot pick for next season are platform boots for the ladies and board mounted GPS for fellas who seriously need some direction in life.

Good advice from the people above-one point to remember and bear in mind is that NZ experiences pretty shocking seasons from time to time. However I went back for summer vacation last year and had a great time at Mt Hutt, Porter Hights and Cheeseman-all within an hour and a half from Christchurch. Have to say I found the lift lines a bit of a hassle one day at Mt Hutt as there had been a big dump and every fiend within a hundred kms had taken a sick day to help track it out. Most resorts just lack the infastructure to deal with crowds at times.Temple basin is often highly rated by boarders and

Yeah that's me-who are you mysterious nofakie? You're spot on with the location, I was happy that I actually saw them before I'd even been for a run. Just the suprise of running into a bear there could be the variable that sees you screwing up and hitting a tree-something I've managed to do a few times without Fozzies help anyway. Somehow I doubt that they would be too happy about it either. Someone else I know ran into one between 2&3 as well. So the resorts are running bear reserves eh? Guess that puts the World Wildlife Fund out of a job. The gelando DJ is actually spinning a carefully

el diablo has a point with his constant posts about our furry friends-I don't think they're grizzlys but there's definitly bears up in these mountains. I saw one last weekend under the Happone gondala as I was going up, close to where I had been riding. The next day 2 were in plain view from the quad at 47 chilling on one of the lower ridge runs that we're not allowed to go on. Has anyone else seen any out and about?I thought they were supposed to be asleep at this time of year-not to keen on running into one at high speed. Are they working for ski patrol? What's the deal all you zoologists ou

Don't know about Oz but the Burton bindings I bought in NZ in August are the same price if not cheaper here in Japan. I also asked a guy at the shop what my board was worth there and he gave me an estimate that was also about the same, though I did get it on sale. There are plenty of good deals to be had here, you've just got to shop around.

There is without a doubt a fair amount of crime in Japan and it kind of amuses me that people get upset when confronted with this reality. Japan may indeed seem to be a safe country to varying degrees when compared with others but those who assume it's all peachy here are ignorant of the facts. The Japan=safe equation has long been trotted out by the gullible and naive, and the fact that to a large degree it is lulls people into a false sense of security. Lock up your board and you will be far less likely to experience the pain of losing it. I can't see why people want to perpetuate such myths

Just had a day at Dynaland and thought it was pretty decent-first time I've ever been riding at the crack of dawn as they open the lifts at 5am on Sundays. Pretty crowded and recent conditions meant you had to stick to the nicely groomed trails till after lunch when things softened up. Should be a great place on a weekday or after a dump-good snowboard park as well. Takasu snow park next door is ok as well but Dynaland is the better of the 2. Books? Dunno, try Kinnokuniya.

Has anyone ever had a go at it? I see this Korean tourist promo on CNN all the time-some serious mogul footage that would put a chewed out Happo run to shame. But there must be more to it than that.

cans of hot coffee to warm your hands up-and a life size Colonel Saunders model covered in Xmas decorations greeting you as you board the gondala at Tsugaike

Boarder-it's easier to get decent at it-big up to all the mad powder skiiers, you've got to be good to do that. Doesn't matter what you ride, good people and tossers will be found on any form of transport

I would recommend Hakuba-was there last year at the same time it was crowded-not such a problem if you can get off the trials. Shigakogen I've been to once and not offpiste or on a board-seemed good but could be full on over New Years. If you try to go where others don't you'll have a wicked day anytime here in Japan-just might have to wait longer for the lift. Ride at lunch and the late afternoon for less crowds on piste I guess. Good luck and enjoy.

Osaka-far from the snow-roll on Xmas

One big powder Monday at Goryu last season I got to hear The Clash & AC/DC during a coffee break at the top of the gondala. Back in Black is a sweet tune when you're knee deep but soon it's back to oooh...oooh...I love you baby, so why did you dump my sorry arse/shag all those other people...oooo...ooo...ooofff etc etc. Unfortunately bad taste in music is a universal but I'd rather listen to Jpop than Mariah Careys Xmas which has been on constant rotation at one of my work places recently. No wonder she had a mental breakdown.

Snowd Inn was good last year-there will probably be a club event going off somewhere as well, so you guys can keep going all night. I'll be eating mochi and getting pissed with my in laws this year at home-otherwise I can't think of a better way to start the New Year than getting into some freshies with that huuuge hangover you're bound to be sporting.

Mac's Dark Ale-no chemicals Magnum Dry-Looks like Asahi SDry, plenty chemicals...headache...but cheaaaaap. Save up for the snow,

Yeah and we got breakfast as well-the price may have been a bit of a special but I don't think it would be much more than that. Best thing to do is go to TIS and scoop all the brochures. Busses also go to other resorts in the area like Dynaland so I'm sure they all offer similar deals.

I have 3 "ladies" classes full of them every Wednesday-fishnet stockings are the fashion this year and as luck would have it the mini skirt and thigh boot NEVER go out of fashion in Japan.

The further you go out of Osaka-the better it gets basically. There are fields closeby in Shiga or Hyogo but you're better off doing an overnight train to Nagano(Hakuba goes off) for the real shit. It'll cost you \11000 return. For a day trip try Gifu-I went to Takasa snow park which was half decent. You catch an overnight bus from Sin Osaka Station that gets you there early after an 11pm departure-you'll get a full day and get dropped back in Umeda by 9:00 that night. Tickets are from TIS in JR Umeda station and cost about \10,000 for the package-enjoy!