danz

1) Agree with Mogski...but know this... if you speak 1 word of japanese (anything will do, domo, arigatoo) you will be bombarded with what seems like an endless stream of japanese...they assume you can speak after that one word...so be patient... 2) Agreed...carry cash...plastic does not exist in japan...pain in the ass 3) JR station...tourist/info center will have everything you need...probably

The shinkansen blasted out of the dark tunnel. From darkness into pure white... powdery bliss...snow abound... So it really dumped in zao this weekend... Can't complain about 2-days of powder on my first trip of the season..excellent coverage all around.... but..... to be honest, I was not at all impressed with Zao... I have never been to such a poorly thought out mountain as far as lift placement...it is nearly impossible to get from one lift to another without some serious skating (my snowboarder friend had a hell of time...)... getting from the "left" side of the moun

back when I was in the US, I never listned to music while skiing... I enjoyed the peacefullness of my surroundings, the sounds of metal and snow the puff of powder.... but ever since i started skiing in japan, those beautiful sounds i used to enjoy are swamped out by monoral J-pop...so i think i need to bring my own tunes from now on... what do you guys use for auditory supplements on the mtn?? just curious danz ------------------ pray for snow

hey richa... i actually have to work mon-fri... so i will be there sat. sun.... looks like tons of snow fell this week!! I AM !@#$@%!%@ PSYCHED!! danz ------------------ pray for snow

i hope you like j-pop.... 'cause you are going to hear a lot of it on the mountains... danz ------------------ pray for snow

whiteface is HUGE... they even try to host a downhill race every year.... and weren't the winter olympics held there once?? Hunter Mtn. NY ROCKS! (as long as you can avoid the starter jacket posse...) danz ------------------ pray for snow

hey jinja... i'm headed to zao this weekend and would definetly want to check out that onsen... how do i get there?? i've never been to zao so i don't know the first thing about it.... thanks danz ------------------ pray for snow

yes they did... Hunter Mtn. in New York state... great hill and really close to the city (less than 2 hrs...) I will probably be skiing Hunter (japan) early jan. i'll post a report... danz

I'm heading to zao this weekend... stay tuned for a full report... danz ------------------ pray for snow

Sierra Design... good pants...i've had close to 200 days in them, and the only real damage is around the boot cuffs...nothing a little duct tape can't fix.... "if you can't duct it, f%$*!k it!" (don't want to be censored....) danz ------------------ pray for snow

would love to go but.... I will be dancing with the tree monsters at Zao! (145cm expected by the end of this week! WORD!) danz ------------------ pray for snow

hey Mr. Bob... the 9spro's are a great ski, but my pair has seen better days (3rd season...) and they have a bad habbit of delaminating... but 8000 yen for a pair is a steal! (if they aren't already wasted...) and about the ESS bindings...i know... mine are barely keeping together...but i need a little more dinero before i can upgrade my package... danz ------------------ pray for snow

word up! ------------------ pray for snow

i actually might head to tokyo tomorrow night... anybody going to be around? danz

badmigrane... you are a twisted man... hilarious danz ------------------ pray for snow

yo martin... its a possibility... but we gotta party all night, cause i'm not going home... danz ------------------ pray for snow

mmmm....beeeer.... Sierra Nevad Pale Ale... don't forget Guieness either... but you can't get a good ale in japan...all japanese beer tastes the same to me... danz ------------------ pray for snow

lama... chamonix ride it if you dare... and for a relaxed, but gorgeous day, to the Valley Blanche tour (but maybe that is just for skiers, don't know...) danz ------------------ pray for snow

for the skiers... skis: Rossi 9spro Binding: ESS Boots: Head World Cup jacket: TNF pants: Sierra Designs gloves: el cheapo brand goggles: smith danz ------------------ pray for snow

in reply to barok... Amen! Halleluljah! and Praise the Snow Lords! danz ------------------ pray for snow

I got this 15500 yen weekend deal for zao on 12/15-16 shinkansen, hotel + lift tixs is there snow?? or will this be a waste?? danz ------------------ pray for snow

hey mogski... believe me, i went through alot of time and trouble to find a "good fitting boot"... but the sad truth is, you don't really know until you are on the mountain...and there is no such thing as demoing high performance boots...the Head boot was the only boot that didn't hurt in the store... and i like stiff boots...total power transfer! well...i'm still researching...want to find a solution before my first day out... 12/15 is the goal... danz ------------------ pray for snow

yo mogski... yah, i'm talkin about custom liners, not just footbeds...conformable makes liners too..this guy does polyurethene molded liners.... that is what i was hoping to get some advice on... i'm using last years Head World Cup boots great boots, but terrible pinch right on my ankle bones... danz ------------------ pray for snow

so does SJG favor snowboarders??? what's up with that article...how 'bout a little love for the skiers on this board?? anyway, i would like to see a boarder straight line a mogul run, and we will see who has the knees... (flames start here...if you don't know what i'm talkin' about, read the ski-bot article by the Chairman of the Board...) danz

hey mogski... i'm very interested... i went to this boot guy in ochyanomizu last weekend...he knew his shit, but the custum liner/footbed costs 54,000yen!! I need to know if its worth it... i've had custom footbeds made before, but i still got some crazy pain in my boots... what to do... danz ------------------ pray for snow