danz

so on my leasiurly 6hr drive to hakuba 2 weekends ago, I got nailed 3 times in 30min by those speed cameras before I figured out what they were for...and I just got notice from the gunma people about it... have any of you powerful gaijin that hang around this board ever try to fight these things?? in the US, you can usually at least get them to reduce the ticket (fine and pts.) and if you are good you can get them to scratch it all together...how about in Nippon?? do I have a shot?? help please... domo, danz

please...you are all very childish... the korean guy illegally changed tracks on the turn...he slipped to the outside and the american had an inside track, and then the korean cut him off, which is illegal...replays show it clearly, it was a good call... danz

A moment of silence please...

yeah ocean11... to bad about cortina... i don't think it would be such a bad place on a COLD powder day...they have glades that they should really be proud of...and if they were smart would use that as a selling point... but it has been just too hot...i was in a t-shirt last week when i went...got a wicked sun-burn too... tooooo hoooot....i'm melting...melting... what a world danz

yo frannyo... i was not so impressed...for the distance you need to travel, you can do better...there just are not that many trails, and its not that challenging a mtn...not to mention that it is VERY poorly designed...go to nozawa or hakuba instdead... danz

well... if you are a believer in el nino, next year will be a bummer... check it... http://www.cnn.com/2002/WEATHER/03/07/el.nino.2002/index.html but la nina always follows, which mean 2 yrs from now should be heaven... and by the way...60 days on snow?? i did that once in my lifetime...sacrificing a good part of my college education for it too... (but i actually figured out a scam to get my school to pay for most of it ) with 60 days on snow, you should not complain about the weather...you are living the life danz ------------------ pray for snow

joetsu-kokusai in yuuzawa.... i think they have more chairlifts with vertical loss than with vertical gain... worst mtn. EVER danz

bueller...bueller.... anyone interested??? (gotta keep this post alive...) danz

hey nofakie... you seem to be in the know for hakuba valley... where does cortina sit in relation to those other areas...is it higher or lower... think the snow would be better there?? thanks... danz

miteyak... are you serious...I live and work here and avoid highways at all costs...if I were to commute to work by highway, about a 25km stretch...it would cost 1500yen/day 1500x5x49 = 367500 yen a year just for highway costs! that is nuts, I don't care where in the world you live... danz

dude... your fiddle player looks a bit confused...I say you drop him... danz

Anyone in Tokyo area want to ride this weekend?? I am trying to get to Hakuba, and wouldn't mind some company (and gas/highway $$$) for either a day trip or 2 days...can't afford to do the trip alone, and i think the drive might be faster than the whole public transportation thing... I have a car and a ski/board rack, some tunes and some beer...anyone welcome... post a reply if interested... cheers, danz

Spring Winter Autumn Summer Skiing usually known as zaos... its the biggest indoor ski-dome in the world...in chiba-ken... very interesting experience... especially on hot summer days... danz

I heard a rumor the other day from my local bar tender that SWASS is shutting down...for good... is this true?? what am i going to do for my summer fix??? danz

well, I use what is called a gummi stone on my skiis...just rub it over the rust, and you get that clean new edge shine again danz

My most humble and deepest appologies SJG! my message is then meant for Mr. Bob Anderson....TAKE NOTE! danz

it looks like SJG has responded to our long threads of ski resort responsibility, out of bounds skiing, etc... very interesting...the article can be found on the main page... but...I still stand by my opinions....I don't think mtn. patrol do enough here...rather a bare minimum, as compared to other resorts outside japan... SJG, its nice to try to defend the patrol at Arai, but placing poles and ropes is no substitute for avalanche control and expert trail maintainance...and this is what lacks in japan... man, this topic has been beaten to death...but i like it dan

very kawaii akibun to you too danz

i get around... its easier for me to talk with chicks... all my senseis in school were chicks, so the first time i heard i guy speak i couldn't make out a word... blessing in disguise zyaa neeeee danz

hey jellbabe... well, it depends how you tally up the cost... if you are just taking lift tickets, japan is comparable to most US skiing...you can pay from $30-$60 for a lift ticket in the us... but if you factor in highway/train fees, parking lot fees, and other misc than japan is definetly more costly (if we are talking just day or 2-day trips)... danz ------------------ pray for snow

well brit-gob... I don't mean to start a quarall or anything, but there are citizens of many a country who believe their homeland is the shangrila of the world... It is easy to criticize and rag on the US while it is under the worlds microscope...but your comment is nothing more than a cheap shot...I can't even count how many foriegners (non-us that is) have spit on anyone that does not offer the highest praise to their country... national pride, patriotism, these are not crimes, especially when we are in a state of war (whether you think it is a justified one or not). brit-gob

well... those big scary japanese policeman and powerful nippon lawyers don't scare me... (i don't think they scare anybody...) so lets keep track of those sinking resorts for our powder benefit danz

they should be! (right ocean11??) danz

ocean11... my plans keep getting squashed for cortina... my goal is to hit it in march... also want to get out to hakkoda in march too... how bout you...have you used the freebee yet? danz

hey nat... your post got me thinking... so if a resort were to close for a season, and you happened to have a snow-cat at your disposal, (or snowshoes if the cat is asking for too much), could you just ski freshies all day...basically have the entire mtn to yourself? so who here owns a snowmobile...or maybe a good 4x4 would do...can't wait for that mtn. to shut down... danz ------------------ pray for snow