Plucky

Sometimes being drunk is the only way you can put up with the enormous amount of crappy snowboarders on the slopes.

I've been to Saudi, I've been to Costa Rica, I've been to Chile - but the Japanese are by far the worst drivers I have ever seen. It's not the mountain that is extreme - It's getting home from the mountain that is the adventure. When the speed is posted 50kmh, you're in a raging blizzard, following a snow plow, why in the hell do they still try to pass you doing 80 kmh on a blind corner? Invariably, they end up in ditches, trashing their cars and then try to blame it on other people. No common sense in these people. At least the snow was good.

I've been to (Cr)Appi, Hakkoda (spelled wrong on this site) and Hachimantai Forest in the last two days. Frankly, the snow blows goats. I hope it is better down south. I was supposed to go ski today, but surfed the 3 foot crappy beach break instead. It was better than the stuff in the mts. We got a huge dump up here in the north last night - 5cm! Sorry to be so negative - I just want some real POW! Merry Christmas!

I don't know about the whole "wisdom" thing. snow on slopes - runs acceptable - I go. I don't mean this in a derogatory way at all. Hell, it sucked with all the boarders trying to get through moguls where they shouldn't be. I had a few words for them. As far as 'wisdom' goes, disproportionally, I had a different experience. I 'chose' to ski. I had 'fun'. At least in N Japan, your hypothesis is wrong. Way more boarders by far. You trying to paint some picture???

shouldn't be a problem. Just don't hit the airport on a Sunday.

I have to agree with you on that Ocean. I do think the resorts are geared to skiers still. I hate to say this, but wake up! The resorts are populated by mostly boarders now. Hey, it does me fine since I ski with boarders and go where a lot of them can't go. I have to agree - I hope they do feed off each other for the benefit of all. Japan has to be the worst on off piste policy (no big secret). We just duck the ropes anyway. never got caught last season and that's all we did at a lot of resorts. We did get chastised over the loud speaker once, but couldn't understand them .

I've skied without poles many times. It's a pretty fun alternative when the snow is crap or you're just tired of the runs you've been hitting all day. Realistically, skiers don't use their poles too much on the groomers. It's supposedly a form thing, but I call hogwash on that. The only time I find poles come in handy is in the steeps where you actually do use them for stabilization and as a tool for performing jump turns. Well, and poles are pretty useful in moguls too. I don't really think there is that much of a difference between the two sports. Hell, I ski and I surf and I sk

Ocean11, have you been up anywhere yet this year? I know it's not a good statistical sample with it being so early in the season, but I swear it was 90% boarders and 10% skiers last weekend. Last year it was at least 60%/40%. Boarding is taking over the world.... I guess I'm alternative now. When do you predict the cool factor will swing it back to skiing in Japan?

I live an hour and a half north. Some good ski areas down that way. I prefer Hachimanti Forest over anything I've skied in Japan and hope to make it down there this weekend. I went to Appi last Sunday and only one run was open from the top. The place looked like a bomb had gone off. I've never seen so many boarders sprawled every which way over a run. Made the moguls at the top interesting Glad to see there are some other N. Japan people on here. Let's pray for some more snow! How in the hell has (Cr)Appi held at 40cm all week with the high temps and no snow?? Liars!

yo miteyak, I didn't know that anyone here did any of that stuff. Heck, I've never climbed anywhere outside of the US or Japan, but I have some damn good stories! Especially the exploits in Alaska! I'm a total believer in 'earn your own turns'. When I lived in the NW of the US, I would climb peaks every weekend just to descend new routes. I loved it. I will be doing it a bunch later this winter! I can't wait! just read the posts above. And no, I'm not sponsored. I somehow find a way to do it on my own. Somehow....

kelly slater for the boys and layne beachley for the girls. you said ski, right?

Hey, that's pretty clever. Ocean, I'd like to invite you up to ski Aomori this winter. Maybe end of Feb or March. I'll pay your way. I make tons of dough here so it is no problem. We get the bullet up here on Dec 1. It would be an easy trip. Come on up buddy! You seem like a nice guy! Respond to this and I will give you my email. I know you can afford to take 2 or 3 days off to board Hakkoda or Hachimanti. This would be a hoot! We can take pics and film and you can be in my next movie! Hell, I'll even jump on a board and go with you. That would be a blast! Skis be dam

brummy, I could bring 3 or 4 people. Just to let you know though, we HATE Appi (or crAppi as we call it). But, through our club, we are designated to go there 3 times this year. Let me know the dates. We may even just skip a trip to join you. The club can get boorish. where do you live in Iwate?

to get back to the main topic....(and I have to agree, sex is better), but in a sports sense, I'd have to say surfing. I've evolved. You acutally have to have something in all months to do or you will go crazy. Oh yeah, and I love to ski too. Just this year I'm out for 3 months. 'jimmy down'. (sorry to you non-seinfeld watching people). I just bought some new K2 Extremes, twin tip, fatty-ass pow pow skis, and I just had to go and hurt my knee. So be it. I'm gonna learn to play the guitar while I'm down.

I do it all the time when we have snow. Best exercise you can have.

Thank you for the link. I had a lot more to say about the subject, but didn't want to make anyone mad. Just ski where you're supposed to ski. If you have the ability to go off piste, do it and don't blame anyone but yourself. I can't wait to get up there! Ropes be dammed!

what were the rules last year??? I'm curious. I hope to be there this February. Just to let you know, I live in Aomori prefecture. So way north of most people on here. I envy you guys up there.

Again, thanks for the advice. I know you are right. Just let it heal. On the other hand - you bastard! I don't WANT to see those pics! so unkind, so unkind..... Have you seen the movie "High Life" from Icon 2? It's a Japanese ski flik with all Japanese skiers and telemarkers (and some boarders). It is......insane. Probably one of the best ski movies I've ever seen. I drool everytime I watch it. They feature Niseko and......my God, I can't even think about it. Just, the best snow ever. One of my good friends is japanese and he told me to buy it. Best purchase I've made

Higuma - thank you for the advice! So basically, get it done, get it fixed and let it heal. I guess since it's not ligaments, I think of it as not being serious. I just shouldn't mess with it and take care of it though. It's so hard - I'm 28 but feel 18 - until I look in the mirror. I'm skiing better than I ever have. I just want to go-go-go. Like I said, I know the answer, but I can't deal until I hear someone else say it. When I did it before, I actually kept surfing until I had the procedure. I tried that here yesterday - snow on the beach, offshore winds, but no wa

I like them. Guess I'm the only one here who does. Makes you a better skier for sure. They do suck when they're icy though. In japan, they are a bit different. I've actually seen ski school members ski one line, over and over, just to make a mogul track. In the states, they usually let them form naturally. Here in Japan, they are tighter and smaller than I'm used to. It's tough, but shows the expertise of the locals. I won't be doing them this year though. See my knee post and you'll understand why.

I tore my meniscus (again). Just going to get scoped and cleaned out and sewed up (I hope). Last time I had this done, they put a dead guys meniscus in me. Luckily, my ligaments are really strong. It's my cartilage that is messed up. Got milk? Seriously though, it hurts like hell and keeps locking up in my sleep. I was supposed to go ski the Hokkodas today but litteraly couldn't get out of bed. That's the gist of it. Sapporo? Niseko??? I envy you......

I just found out Thursday that I have to have knee surgery in two weeks. Puts a bit of a damper on the beginning of the season. The biatch of it is, I hurt my knee in a ski training class. My question is - do you think skiing or boarding is easier on the knees? I ski great and only board decently. I just read an article that Bodie Miller will be having knee surgery and then competing a week later. The docs told me it would be 2-3 months. I can't do that. I just want to ride one way or the other. Any advice or other stories from injury prone people? I know the answer i

seems most peeps on here are living down south. what about the north? represent! I know we have better snow than them. And a lot better mountains. just curious to see if you are all big city blokes or actually live in the countryside.

I went hiking with a japanese friend last weekend in the Hakkodas. On the way back in to town, we stopped at ATC sports in Towada City which his friend owns. All backcountry skiing, rock climbing, etc... The guys in there were watching a ski movie. Yoshi and I watched along with them and we were blown away! I had to buy it. It's called 'Icon 2, High Life'. Just incredible footage of Niseko, Alaska, Fernie, Skookum... The thing I like about it is it's all Japanese boarders and skiers. Yep, everyone sucks in Japan. No snow here. Man, we got a well-kept secret here . Check it out if

Fernei rocks! Go if you can!