talisker

I think that we have to be careful here.... Firstly, Japan is way behind N. America in powder demand, that is, until recently, Japanese people didn't ride powder - groomed runs were the go. Not only do ski patrollers have to cope with dealing with a new kind of problem, they aso have to deal with a problem that is growing at a far faster rate than the patrollers can learn. Rather than sayng " they need to do this" shouldn't we, as locals, be saying , " How can we help them improve this?". It 's just a thought but for years this website has been a slag fest. There are bags of lo

have just completed two knee surgeries back to back....torn medial meniscus and torn acl. Two weeks after surgery and I am walking around with a brace. No swellng but lots of scar tissue. Goldf in a couple of weeks I hope. I would be careful about predictions of making it for this season. Most conservative estimates say that the new ligament will be fully healed after about 6 months but not necessarily strong enough. Your repaired leg dhould be at least as strong as your unaffected leg. Don't even consider it otherwise...

But Ocean, didn't you say he spelled "hoar" wrong? Or was that a clever joke.....

Ocean...perhaps Nathan feels no obligation to write an article for the layman and is gearing this towards a more educated audience? Surely, with more and more experienced skiers reading and writing articles, there will be articles such as these that are aimed towards advanced back country skiers/boarders. Maybe it is just a bit over your head........

Magic game....come on Scotland!

ender mate. NOt a prayer. even the peopple who live here can't find places for winter. If you don't mind nearby Kutchan 0 15 mins by car, you might find something, but you would have to beup here now looking. Just get a big car and sleep in the carpark.

well i must apologise - i thought you meant the Tolkien kind, however, it was just to get a rise out of someone. You see, I made a little bet with myself and I won - you were the first to get risey!

Ocean, with the vast expanse of the English language before you, you manage "troll". Well done!

oh ocean for a moment even I was fooled. How mature. Leopard - spots - etc. Yukis passion - answer the question!

I think the fact that so many of you made a point of answering this thread goes to show that all of you do care despite the bleating about not caring.......

I am pretty sure that an upgrade will be available. The problem with the all mountain pass is the weather. If you get a week pass but for four of the days you can't get across due to poor conditions you may be kicking yourself. There is some good terrain, but mostly patrol are nazis - that's why most people prefer Hirafu. ONe of the best things about hirafu though is summer...

it is truew they are offering a week long pass but i am pretty sure they will be offering an upgrade service so that you can just go to the ticket booth pay a little extra and get that day all mountain....three weeks all mountain - have you been there before!!!!!!

sbf no sure who told you that about the all mountain pass but it is not correct. who told you that?

mogski...you know where to go....

I think snowboarding is easier- that simple.

excellent article in the guardian the other day - saying Beckham isn't that good! Imagine!

Over and out - no, not a Man U fan by any chance, scuttling away when the going gets tough....

ok two fully fit teams. Man U are not as good. I don't think anyone will dispute that. Veron not fit? He was passing to members of a team ot even on the same page. The only Man U midfielder with a half decent touch and unlike Beckham, at least he can use both feet. Thats balanced....

Wait a minute - Man u win 4-3 at home, but can't be outclassed is that what you are saying? Man U managed to win becuse of some blood and thunder and just a little adrenalin I should imagine, but if anyone honestly think that Real Madrid ever hit top gear they are very much mistaken - a hat trick from Ronaldo, Figo rested half way through the game, Raul not even playing. Real looked like they had more time and more skill. If Becks is Man Us best player and most people are doubtful he would even start at Madrid, i think that says it all. Sure Real lost but they won over two ties which was their

Mr Matthews...were you watching the same game? Of all the supposed English talent on show the other night, Mcmanaman was the only one who showed any half decent first touch, probably because he is at Real. Most of the english Man u players spent half the time scurrying after the ball when it bobbled off their shins. They may be the best in the premiership but they were outclassed. Mcmanaman may be sitting on the bench collecting a fat wage but it seems to have made him a better footballer. Beckham should go - maybe at Real he will learn how to use his left foot.....

snobee- Osorakan is the best quality snow. Kokusai offers a bit more variety than Mizuho Mizuho is right on the expressway so it gets a lot more people. Also, when I skied at Kokusai, a lot of friends bought individual tickets but only gave them up when they were asked - usually skied free all day! Kokusai was my backyard so I always went there - Mizuho was too far away. Kokusai sucks but it was where I leazrned my trade sigh....

well its crap. the runs are short and patrol are nazis. the best runs are closed( trees) and if it snows all of Hiroshima ken go skiing on a run it takes about a minute to get down - I love the place!

best thing to do guys is look for a ground operator. Niseko has a couple as does Hakuba I believe - ( ski japan holidays i think)! If you can find a place that offers advice about how to get there that takes out a lot of the hassle. If you want to ski a lot of different resorts that is cool too but the problem is you don't really get to know the resort. Personally, I like to spend a bit of time somewhere and get to know the terrain. ( one day trips sounds like a lot of asking where the good shit is every day.) Most resorts take about a season to get to know. Whatever happens ma

dislocated shoulder 5 years ago - hasn't been the same since. Pops out if i try spins - oh well just have to drop things instead!

frannyo are you serious - I would be curious to see here you got that info. I thought it was the other way!