[A new ski video from old footage]

 Quote:

Originally posted by thursday:
Plucky,
some of that stuff looked really out of control and some of your crew were not wearing helmets doing that.
Nice music though.

I never knew helmets were a prerequisite, but it may explain a lot about my friends and I. Just remember, that is a video of highlights, or lowlights if you will, from that ski season. It's just meant to be fun and is not indicative of how we skied most of the time.

Glad you liked the music. The first song is from 311 and the last two are from Boy Sets Fire. Both great bands.

[The Official Hawaiian Thread]

 Quote:

Originally posted by SirJibAlot:
I hear you - I can't deal with cold water.

My favorite spots on Oahu:

Chun's Reef, N.Shore (hate the super strong current)
King's - Haleiwa (home of the freak set)
Kuni's - Waikiki (only breaks when there is a big S. Swell)
Wall's/Graveyard's - Waikiki (love the backwash)
Public's - Waikiki (scarry during low-tide - almost impaled myself there)
Ala Moana Bowl - (always popular, but tough to get in the lineup as a haole)
Barber's Point - (only on a super windy day to get that washing machine effect!)

I'm no Hawaiian, but lived there for a bit. If those are your spots, you no surfer brah I give you Chuns as I loved that place. Da rest? Hmph! Dat pic of dah palm tree at sunset - I lived there. Da nort shore fo realz. U try backyards? Yep bra, dat my backyard fo 2 years. It slice U up fo realz. Velzy just get u beat da f' up!

Even looking at a Zippy's gives me da squirts. Horribahl, fo realz brah. Ku'uaina had some good fries. L & L - now dats som good breakfast! Hilo by da prison, Undah da bridge in Hono or west coast in Kona, they good.

I never claimed to be fluent in jibberish

[TR: Hachimantai]

Great post! I basically considered Hachimanti my home resort while living in Japan. Freaking loved it there compared to most of the tightwad rule-constricted places in Japan. Check out my video post. I'm sure you'll see some stuff you recognize Besides Hakkoda, if there was a place I was intimate with in Japan, it was Hachimanti Forest. Such a difference from the corporate J-pop ridden BS over the peak at Appi. Too bad you never got to make the 2 hour climb to the top of the peak off the top chair (to skiers left). Fantastic stuff up there.

 

Being from Oregon and having done a lot of backcountry touring, Hachimanti had the best vibe of any place I visited - that includes Hakkoda. Thanks for the memories

[Your season - over or still more to come?]

 Quote:

Originally posted by Kintaro:
game on! Tohoku saw so little snow this year that I must hit Gassan. It's not the ideal ski-jo but it at least has snow. My last time out in mid February I was hitting grass patches at Zao. Terrible snow year on the East side but I'm not throwing in the towel just yet.

Was it really that bad this year Kintaro? From the snow reports I checked, it looked like a good season. Admittedly, I haven't checked this site much lately to get first-hand reports. Sorry to hear it sucked. If it's any consolation, this ski season in Europe has been one of the worst on record. I so wished I was in the PNW of the US this season!

Can you say man-made snow? Check this pic out - this is just so you can get down to the gondola:



I did get to ski some pow the last couple of weeks, but man, it's been bad. The following is from the lower slopes of Garmisch, the worst ski area I've ever been to - but beautiful.



Hope you're doing well Kintaro. How's the Guam thing working out? Best of luck man.

[A new ski video from old footage]

 Quote:

Originally posted by muikabochi:
Nice. Which resorts areas where you at Plucky?

Sorry for the late response. Been a bit busy.

Most of the footage is from Hachimanti Forest with some Appi, Amihari and Shimokura in there. My cabin in Alaska got broken in to last year and most of my tapes and video equipment were stolen. I lost a lot of good footage that I hadn't gotten around to downloading yet. I'm just happy I had what I did on my hard drive. Lesson learned - film and download right away!

Hey, we finally got some fluff in the Alps! Scored two good weekends of powder skiing in late March! I've got a few trips left to do, but it's mostly going to be on-piste stuff at Ischgl and St Anton and trips to the glacier areas (Hintertux, Soelden, Stubai).

I really miss the consistent good snow of Japan. This season in the Alps has been bitterly disappointing. Still made the most of it and had fun though.

DB - you still around? Drop me a line some time. I plan on doing some biking and rafting in the Saalbach area this summer.

[A new ski video from old footage]

Thought some of you might enjoy this. I received requests from some old friends to put my vids up on YouTube. Instead of putting the old stuff up, I made a shortened video from my 03-04 season in Aomori and Iwate. New music, probably some of the same footage some of you have seen, but cut a bit different.

 

 

I've skied exclusively in Austria this season. Due to the lackluster snow conditions, it has been a huge let down. At least it's been sunny and super warm every time I've been there! I haven't had to pull out my cold-weather gear once. The snow has, well, sucked. I miss Japan in this respect. It looks like it's been pretty darn good out that way.

[Helmet Cam deal!!!!!!]

 Quote:

Originally posted by Fattwins:
dont get that oregon thing its garbage. look on tgr they cant get the thing to sit right.

I wish you spoke English.

What's wrong with the Oregon thing? Yes, I'm being statilistic.....

DB - what are you wanting to film? I actually have a lot of experience with this. We were filming things in Japan and only spent around 500 usd. If it's cheaper to buy at US prices, let me know. Seriously, I'd love to help out. I've got a US address over here in Deutschland......

[watch out Aussies here come the Brits]

 Quote:

Originally posted by db le pu:
torihada - My experience has been that Brits love a bit of fun, boozing, clowning around and good sunshine in a ski holiday. I'm not sure many need to fly to Japan just for that.

Plucky - (Its Saturday night... you're drinking aren't you )

... and it sounds like your nationality-competitive edge is edging back into your stuff. I'm a little the same, so I wont cast stones.

As for loud groups of Australian guys: they love being something special where they are, getting attention and strutting around. Its an Aussie thing and I see it often, some guys are even practiced at it: they tilt the head back, sneer the mouth a bit and talk brashly whilst making a chewing motion, usually with some bit of 'special' gear on display or near someone who is widely regarded as being a true local. They always want to be the local, been there before, been there longer than you, done that, know more than the next guy about the terrain or the dude at the bar or Johnny in ski patrol. And when they cant muster up any local thing to differentiate themselves with they fall back to "at home, we do blah blah".

I know it because I have done it myself personally and see people doing it today. Its a total Aussie surfer thing. (The ego struggles that must take place up at Niseko each season... gotta be getting out of control. The leading Aussie players are now the ones clicked into Hakuba crew and scene. I'm betting they are now feel more 'core' Japan than the Niseko tourists).

Take all of that as light-hearted poking at Aussie (male surfer, snowboarder) habits away from their home. You'll find loads of excellent Australians, although you wont notice nor meet them as easy because they are getting around quietly doing their thing, not talking out of turn, seen but not heard.... you wouldn't ever know they were Australian. Same goes for lots of Poms in the Alps. There are some very good English and Scottish alpine ski mountaineers.

But don't even react to it. If you chime in with your time on the North Shore or wherever... then you are just feeding into and feeding from the same thing that prompted you to speak up in the first place. Ne?

When I hear them carrying on, for a millisecond I rise to the moment, getting competative... and then ask myself why I got edgy about it. The answer is about what's in me, not what they are. So I work on myself rather than work them.

That's cool DB. I do the same. In public situations I tend to be pretty quiet. I get vocal, not over my country of birth, but over stupidity. I've seen freinds beaten over something as simple as a parking space because they were American. (tokyo and now Prague).

I'm actually quite reserved in person and more of an observer. If I acted on my thoughts, I'd be locked up for a long time

That's why these forums are good. It gives people a place to vent but most importantely share experiences. I'm a cynic by nature and it all comes out in what I write.

The nationalisitic thing - I could care less. I do get a bit defensive at times because not one person on here knows what it's like to live where I'm from. Not one of you. To be grouped in as an American idiot actually does hurt. America is so damn big - I can't stand most of the fatass retards from that other side of the country. I'm an Oregonian first, American second. I really do see it that way.

I don't care what Ocean11 has done for this site. He's straight up and complete arschloch. I agree with most things he says - we're on the same team. The guy just hates me because I was born in America. Oh well.

My quick albeit distracted response

[watch out Aussies here come the Brits]

 Quote:

Originally posted by Ocean11:
Have a nice hangover Plucky.

It wasn't so bad. Got a nice mt bike ride in today. Made it to the Czech and had to use the 'ol passport.

Thanks for caring though. Ich liebe dich Ocean

What in the heck is a paddock Mantas??? Not being all nationalistic and all, but I love American colllege football. Best sport - bar none.

[watch out Aussies here come the Brits]

I was watching Bayern vs. Stutagart and yes, I've had a few

 

That was a damn good match!!!

 

Okay, now we're going to wathch Ohio State vs Michigan. Teach some Germans what football really is

[watch out Aussies here come the Brits]

 Quote:

Originally posted by ibk6020:
IF it's Terrain you want plucky and the good white stuff check out The Arlberg extreme west Austria,

I'll check it out. I've just been given supreme power in the ski club for such a thing

I'm serious.

AND I don't hate Brits, just Ocean11

[watch out Aussies here come the Brits]

My best friend here in Germany is a Brit/German.

 

In my experience, the damn Brits have taken over the 'ugly' label from the Americans. Christ, thanks to Bush's policies, the fatass midwestern Americans can't afford to travel anymore.

 

Like I said, I met some very nice Brits on my last ski trip and look foward to meeting many more.

 

Here's the crazy thing - at Kitzsteinhorn, Austria, 95% of the people were skiers. There was a group of 20 Aussies that were loud and all of them were smoking. I judge not, but damn. Guys were talking about surfing the gold coast. I so wanted to chime in about my time living at Sunset Beach, Hawaii. I refrained and just took the tram while they discussed crappy Austrian food.....

 

Man, I agree - live it and have fun! A certain bloke I know is sitting right behind me now. He's from New York. He 'thinks' he knows bout it

all here. He doesn't know shit.

 

skiing makes me smile

[watch out Aussies here come the Brits]

 Quote:

Originally posted by torihada:
Interesting article in today's Guardian. Snowjapan also gets a mention over the page (in the paper edition).
Guardian article about Niseko

I wonder if Brits will start making the trek? I know someone who's forking out nearly a £1000 for a week in the Alps this New Year. Also prices in article are for March & April.

--------------------------------------------------
I also like:

Quote from the article:

 Quote:

For most people, cloudy, snowy conditions (and it's always snowing in Japan) can often ruin a holiday. But here, riding at night under floodlights so powerful they illuminate the off-piste means the visibility is perfect. If it's really cloudy they turn them on in the day too.

I love night riding, especially if there's no wind and it's snowing heavily. Bliss.

I wonder if Brits realize that there are tons of places in the US and Canada where you can do this to. And the terrain is way, way better. The snow - maybe not - depends where you are at. I'll take terrain over snow any day. But I LOVED the skiing in Japan.

I met some really nice Brits from London in Austria last week. It totally blew my perception about them all being egotistical, loud a*holes. Visits to Prague and Amsterdam shaped my perception. The 20 year old slut with bad teeth who said she'd blow me for a beer at Oktoberfest also kinda turned me off. Damn Brits The fight between the Brits and Russian futball team also made me laugh. I'm a fit 220 pounds now. I wanted nothing to do with that ruckus

I just think the Brits hate America and have no idea what it offers up. Same with the Australians. Okay, I've only been to one resort in Europe, BUT, it didn't hold a candle to Meadows or Bachelor or Baker or Telluride or Heavenly or Squaw or even Mt frickin' Ashland.

[TGR movies, big turn off]

 Quote:

Originally posted by Fossil:
Plucky
Its so nice to hear a balanced argument from an american gun owner. No Im not being funny, Im a gun owner a hunter here in Oz who hates the "gun culture" too.
They are tools not expressions of our manhood and we dont have a "right" to own and bear arms it is a privilege that if we abuse should be withdrawn.
Furthermore if guns where portrayed as tools just like spanners and hammers perhaps fewer youth would aspire to shooting someone.
So I do agree that the irresponsible portrayal of gun use/abuse is detrimental.
That goes triple for Hollywood.

Totally agree with you man. I've lived in places where guns are actually necessary. It's either for wildlife protection or for gathering food. I am all for tougher regulations on guns in the states. Too many trigger-hapy, tinfoil wearing dummsheists that have easy access to weapons. It's not right. If you 'need' a gun, prove it. It's not a recreational toy. Did I mention I HATE the NRA?

"I was always taught to leave as little trace as possible when you're in the mountains"

Amen. I live like this in the city too. Unfortunately, only .5% of the other people subscribe to my beliefs. I don't think I like city living that much......

I wouldn't pay money to watch a flim promoted with such antics. I disliked it immensley.

Okay, here's a story. I was on a field trip with a bunch of new grad students. I was one of the teaching assistants. We were traveling around Oregon seeing the geological sites. We did a stop on the Deschutes River around the Mt Bachelor area. The fire danger was in the extreme category. We were required to cook in designated areas. Some jackass on the trip got drunk and started a small campfire so he could roast marshmallows. Two days later I pick up a paper in French Glenn, Oregon and read that a 500 acre fire was threatening the community of Sun River. 'Our' boy started that. It cost my department 150k. I hate idiots who have no concept of what their disregard might do to others. hate them.

People today just have no regard for others or their actions. I actively call that stuff out and make people feel ashamed and stupid. I realize I have my own problems, but I don't drape them on society in general. Last night I got a traffic ticket for flipping off some dipshit who hit my car. Left turn signal was on, pulling in to my garage, the guy T-boned me. Crumpled his car all up but I only sustained a scratch to the Jeep (love my steel jeep). I flipped him off and a meter maid saw it. I got the ticket. If it weren't for the law about berating traffic officials in Germany, I would have thrown the lady through the jewlery store window. I was so upset but had to take it. God damn commie socialists

[TGR movies, big turn off]

 Quote:

Originally posted by Fossil:
Sounds like normal young bloke type behaviour to me. Im mean to say which one of us hasnt blown up his best friend with a poorly designed zinc dust and sulphur bomb?.......I know i have. How many of us hasnt thrown a 20 litre jerrycan of petrol and a handfull of .22 magnum rounds on the campfire at a bucks party? I know I have and who amongst us hasnt set fire to a public building as a child and had the police visit their home I know I have.

Fortunately all involved survived these and other mind bogglingly stupid pranks, eventually grew a brain and learned the meaning of the words intensive care, "analgesia PR please nurse" and responsibility, .

LMAO!!!

Honestly, the worst thing I ever did was throw two cans of Nally's chilly in to a camp fire. One of my mates had to go get stitches the next day.

It wasn't on film, however.

The above is a benign story.....I have hundreds. I'd love to share stories some day in some big mass of SnowJapense peeps....

[TGR movies, big turn off]

DB defense - THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED TO HAVE A 9MM PISTOL IN THE 'BACKCOUNTRY' AROUND MT BACHELOR, OREGON. In case you missed it, one of the socks said that's where they were.

 

I'm from the area, I should know.

 

Shooting a pressurized Coleman propane canister whilst in the campfire is just plain idiotic. I've done it, I know. I was 16 at the time however, and we were using a 30/30 and were at least 75 meters away behind a dirt bank. We ended up setting half of our camp on fire - the tent and two sleeping bags went up in flames thanks to embers and shrapnel being blown out by the blast.

 

Again, I was 16. What my friends and I had no impression on the unbelievably impressionable youth of today.

 

I sold my guns when I moved to Germany, but I used to own 3 of them in Alaska. 1 for bears (.44 Winchester Snub), one for squirrels (.22 LB pistol - squirrels eat wiring and steal insulation) and one for meth heads (9MM Glock). I hate the NRA with a passion. I don't hunt. Canada's gun laws surprise me. I believe in owning but being educated and proficient. NO MORE GUN SHOW EXCEPTIONS IN THE US! F*cking Charlton Heston....... and Toque is right - that was funny as hell in 'Ski Movie'

[Is everyone okay over there?]

Fox and CNN are saying that it is supposed to hit after 9:10PM. It is saying this for both Hokkaido and Honshu but nothing more specific. That's in about 40 minutes, correct?

[Is everyone okay over there?]

I just saw the headlines saying a 6.5 foot tsunami is heading for the Pacific Coast of Japan after an 8.1 eq hit the Kurils.

 

I can't find much information on it at this point. Take care and be safe!

[Have you been lost in a white-out?]

yesterday at Kitzsteinhorn, Austria.

 

It cleared up later in the afternoon and I could actually see 5 meters in front of me! I didn't get lost, however. But I have before and it's not fun. The most scared I've ever been on a mountain was when I had to lead a group of 10 people down the side of an arete above the Lemon Glacier on the Juneau Icefield in absolute whiteout conditions. The so called guide had lost the wands and got us so off course as to put our lives in danger. All we could do was blindly down climb (with 75 lb packs and skis on our backs) until a safer place to hunker down could be found. I think I was the only one that realized that we may be above a hanging valley with nothing but air below us. I was scared absolutely sh*tless but had to gain my composure as a few in the group were in tears. We eventually did find a wand and ended up groping our way across the slope to a point where we could make camp. It was one of the most miserable nights of my life. I didn't listen to that east coast rich kid private college wannabe silver spoon pile of marmmot dung punk the rest of the trip as he was a complete idiot. But I have no resentment at all

[coldest]

I'm sure these two small mountains just north of Fairbanks, Alaska would have to be right up there. Much, much colder than anything you will find in Japan. I did most of my skiing at these two places the last two winters with some trips to Alyeska thrown in (and Whistler). Alyeska is like the tropics compared with Moose Mt. and Skiland. I remember skiing Moose Mt last year when a big temp inversion was taking place. It was 'only' -5F at the summit but was -35F at the base. Fargin' nutz. Did a couple days similar to this at Skiland too and froze my ass off on the super slow pre WW2 era double chair lift (possibly farthest north one in the world).

 

http://home.att.net/~Skiland/

http://www.shredthemoose.com/ (no ski lift but uses buses to take people from the base area to the summit(s).)

[Weather Where You Is]

 Quote:

Plucky, are you sure people are really jealous of your gas-guzzling American Jeep?

I've actually had quite a few offers for it from Germans. It is fairly unique over here and good for the winters.

I bought the Jeep in Hawaii with a soft top (perfect vehicle there), shipped and stored it in Oregon while I was in Japan and then drove it from Oregon up to Alaska where it again was the perfect vehicle for the situation. The company offered to send it over to Germany at no cost to me which is way better than buying a new car on the economy when re-settling. I'll probably sell it after this winter and pick up something much more fuel-efficient this coming summer. However, it is getting around 25 mpg which isn't too shabby for American vehicles these days. I only drive it to work and back home as I can walk to do all of my shopping where I live. Any big trips I take are via train which I love to travel on.

spud is correct - people drive crazily over here considering the gas prices. Driving to work every morning is a game of leap frog for most people. Cars passing each other and re-passing while going well over the speed limit. Even in my slower-than-normal jeep, I always end up behind the wannabe F-1 racers at the next stop sign or light. For so many green initiatives in this country and claims of environmental responsibility, a lot of shit is so backwards as it is a bit incomprehensible to this Auslander. People just don't seem to give a rats ass about their wasteful driving practices - especially on the Autobahn. Is it really necessary to drive 200 kph on a two lane highway clogged by trucks and packed to the gills with traffic? It's almost like a birthright to the citizens in the Fatherland and any discussion concerning change is quickly dismissed.

Ah yes, but back to the weather. We got a total of around 2 inches of snow but it is already starting to slowly melt. It was a beautiful drive through the forest to work this morning, however.

[Weather Where You Is]

Okay, everyone gets that it's snowing here. I'm just stoked!

 

Two more:

 

 

 

AND it is sticking to the trees and grass but not the cement.

[Weather Where You Is]

A few pics taken 10 minutes ago (yep, very bored at work today)

 

 

My gas-guzzling American Jeep that everyone is now jealous of because of the weather and ice on the roads.

 

Falling snow and trees behind the office

 

In focus trees

 

Snowing harder yet now! Unfortunately it's 1C and the ground is still relatively warm so it's not sticking.

[Weather Where You Is]

That looks like a fun place to go. I may have to check it out one of these weekends. I don't think it would take more than a few hours to get to. Let me know how it is if you go! Maybe we could meet up down there one of these days.

 

It's actually started lightly snowing again here! It was beautiful, cold and sunny not 2 hours ago and then the clouds quickly moved in. From the radar it looks like it will continue for at least a couple of hours. I highly doubt it will amount to much, however.

 

This weekend I'm going to drive down to Grosser Arber and take the dog hiking. It is a ski area about 45 minutes south of me (not open yet of course). It's the closest decent skiing in the area and would be good for half day trips and even night skiing on Friday. It is funny that the place is so small yet check out the lift system they have! A little overdone in my opinion or it possibly means big crowds. It still is good to have at least something under an hours drive away.

 

http://www.arber.de/earber/index.htm

 

I found this site yesterday and thought I'd share it. I love the maps they have for Austria.

 

http://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Austria/Austrian_Ski_Resorts_Map.html

 

PS - snow coming down much harder now! Yippeeeeeeeee!!!!

[Weather Where You Is]

We got our first flakes of the winter!!!!

 

It was spitting snow last night before I went to bed which means it had been exactly 6 months since I last saw snow (the day I left Alaska, May 1)

 

Wow, and it really piled up!

 

 

 

I took these before leaving for work this morning. It was dark so the pictures suck.

 

Now it's beautiful and sunny out but the forecast is calling for more light snow the next couple of days and then a week straight of rain. Oh well, as long as it's snowing in the mountains!