Will Lee

Hey Echineko, what do you want us to write on the rirekisho? What are your "requirements?" i.e. whether we`ve joined the gondola club or not, etc.?

Nightlife isn`t all that high on my priority list. All I want after I`m done riding for the day is a good soak, a good meal and some good ZZZ. Yes, I`m getting old.

Just looking at the map of Shiga Kogen makes me want to avoid the place altogether. I`ve studied different versions of its map and I really doubt if all of the separated areas are easily connected. Also, will I really be able to check out all of them in one day and get my money`s worth? I imagine driving there will be hell too(only one road), with its famous reputation and all. Personally I think I`ll have better luck going somewhere else.

Hi all. Went to GALA yesterday since JR was offering a 6500yen hatsu-suberi(first time out)special. I`ve heard a lot of negative things about this place but just had to check it out for myself and now I know exactly what they`re talking about. First of all, the runs are so damn narrow so if you fancy big mountain riding forget about it. The snow quality wasn`t all that great, either. Early in the morning it was between heavy powder and a little slushy but soon(by about 11am)it all turned into undesirable, bumpy and icy snow. Even the run on the very top was pretty bad to begin with. Onl

Chuo Highway always gets backed up around Yamanashi Pref...use Joshinetsu instead.

Last year the event was held the first wknd in Dec and the condensed version(about an hour)was aired right before new year late at night, around midnight if I recall. Since this year`s event took place just last wknd I reckon we`ll probably get to see it sometime after New Year? Swing by your local konbini and do a little tachi-yomi(freeload reading)next week and you`ll probably find out the on air date.

Echineko being available?

O-oh...I can envision a HUGE floodgate opening up. Don`t feel too blue, Echineko. We`re all here to comfort you. If there`s anything you need, just say the word. Fellas get in line!

Good for you, Etchineko...I`m sure you look great in them! Care to show us some sample pix(without mozaiku)?

Usually around this time of the year Hunter Mtn doesn`t have all of its slopes open yet...let us know how it goes Deebee.

The Chamber of Commerce in Nagano Pref should make you their spokesperson!

Who cares? DADDY LIKE!

Good read...witty and helpful. Thanks, Ocean!

It`s located toward the end of "Hakuba zone," just south of Cortina International. The two ski areas are connected and by paying an extra 300yen(500?)you can enjoy both places. Mostly a skier`s slope, so I`ve heard(but I`m gonna check it out this season anyway). From Toyoshina IC(the nearest highway exit)it`ll probably take you AT LEAST an hour and a half just to get there. Good luck P.S. No boardpark there except when they hold special events, so I`ve been told.

C`mon Deebee! How many times do I have to tell you...HOKKAIDO!!! It`s the ONLY destination for me if I got 5 days off in a row(probably 4 on the slopes, 1 just relaxing&doing a bit of sightseeing). It`s still not too late to reserve a package at your nearest travel agency. Whatever you decide to do have a great time!

I`d love to be given the chance to design a ski resort!

A good friend of mine spends his New Year there every year and I asked him about it. He said generally days toward the very end(30th/31st)and New Year Day are not crowded at all. The second draws a bit more crowd but try to avoid the place after that. Just my 2 cents

Will be going to Gala Yuzawa this Sun. Hopefully I`ll be able to eat up some pow.

Will try to check out as many new places as I can this season...dunno how much longer I`ll be here.

Well, put it this way...when the muscles on your front leg feel more sore(sorer?)than the ones on your hind leg you`re probably boarding the right way. When I first started most of my muscle pain came from my hind leg and as I got better I noticed the transfer. It probably does sound a bit nuts to you Deebee but like Ocean said you`ve gotta lean(when things get too hairy just make a turn). A tip my good boarding friend gave me was to put your front hand on your front thigh as you go down the hill(was doing that all day at Tanbara while practicing fakie and it worked).

Okay, I`ve never pulled off an "official review" before but I`ll try(what does it require? Cuz I don`t have a scanner for the map, etc.). Afterall, it is the ski area that I go to most often. It`s a nice little semi-hidden gem. Be patient.

The few years I`ve been living here have taught me to take ANY weather report with a grain of salt. Keep in mind afterall it is an island country with extremely unpredictable weather patterns. I do appreciate all the info this site has provided us, though. Use them as your references, not DA WORD. Keep them info coming! P.S. Barok, ya lucky bastard

Oh man Big Will! Why did you have to remind me of this? Now I`ve gotta start writing them...thanks a bunch!

Been thinking about an approapriate response for a while...I finally got one after going to Tanbara last Sun. It`s gotta be changing and packing up outside your car in the parking lot at the end of the day! It was minus 4 degrees for crying out loud!

Went to Tanbara on Sun...boarded nonstop for more than 6.5hr(paying for it now, my right knee`s aching a bit)! Gotta say the crowd was incredible. It was the worst I`ve ever seen there(been there plenty of times)! I only took the quad lift to the top of the mountain twice...there was just too many people in line. I guess it was because most of the ski areas around there hadn`t opened yet. But, it was powder, powder, powder!!! I practiced fakie all day long, finally getting decent a bit.