[Debts]

So db are you saying you`d rather lease than purchase a car?

[Best of whats left]

Went up to Kagura/Mitsumata yesterday and just as I had expected it was a complete slush fest. To my surprise they still had 6 kickers in relatively good shape, 1 rail and 1 plastic tube(too difficult for me though). The upper part was all moguls&skiers had a dominating presence there...useless for me. That run between the gondola was the biggest bitch of them all, it couldn`t have been flatter! Well, I couldn`t really complain at this stage, can I? Thinking about hitting Shiga Kogen this Sat or Sun...anyone else going?

[Kandatsu Kogen closed next season?]

Not to worry, even if it really goes under I`ve got a feeling SOMEBODY will pick it up right away(just like Aizu Kogen Takatsue this season). Speaking of which I was in the Yuzawa area yesterday and saw Kandatsu Kogen bald...it was quite a strange sight!

[How many times this season so far?]

Yesterday was No. 38. I too will most probably miss my original target of 40.

[So, did you achieve your goals this season?]

Unfortunately no, not really. I was planning to catch more air/do ground tricks but my season hasn`t been the same since I reaggrevated my right knee and really injured it in early Feb. The only good(surprising?)thing that came out of this is that the knee held up enough that I wasn`t forced to end my season early...or maybe it`s just my konjo? Kintaro&Enderzero, how did you guys bang up your leg/heel, respectively?

[Weekends from now on busy?]

My buddy and I were really looking forward to finally checking out Okutadami Maruyama sometime this month but recent reports tell us it`s a no go afterall. According to our Japanese source it`s been mad crowded up there for the last couple of weeks(the lines for kickers are backed up for 15min...can you imagine?!). My plan for one more solo day-trip by train to GALA has also been put out due to similar reason. I guess all the trickstaz are coming out in full force huh? We have sadly concluded that we must settle for Kagura tomorrow.*sob*

[FEATURE : Ex-Rookie Meanderings in Melting Snow]

I`ll say it again, "Urabandai Nekoma is a nice little gem!" Good grub too...

[The smallest]

Shirakabako Royal Hill is the smallest I`ve ever been to. But then again it`s not THAT small...

[How did you decide?]

I just wanted to be cool...j/k I skied when I was younger and got bored with it so I thought I`d give boarding a try. I have been hooked ever since. Don`t even know if I can ski decently anymore.

[boardin near Maebashi ??? suggestions ?]

Try Tanbara...30 min away from Numata IC. It`ll be much cheaper and a safer bet than Tenjindaira, my favorite resort(please notice the sarcasm). Hope you`ll enjoy yourself. P.S. If possible get your rental gear at one of the shops on the way to the ski area. Some of them are still open for business.

["I prefer spring skiing"!]

You don`t give up do you Markie...good for you!

[Cold up there?]

Is it really snowing again? Ocean ya lucky bastard! My friend told me it was in the upper 20s in Nagano just a few days ago...

[Did you finish it yet?]

Just got back from Saipan over the weekend. Though I enjoyed my little getaway I couldn`t help but think about snow and boarding the whole time I was there(and the fact that what a pity it is them islanders haven`t got a clue what boarding is all about). I`m back with vengence come this weekend...Okutadami Maruyama perhaps? It ain`t over til I say it`s over!

[Koushinnryou on my apartments rent]

Yup, that is the norm...unfortunately. Down with "reikin" too!

[What Resorts Are Open Right Now ?!?]

Hey Barok, you`re not too far from Okutadami Maruyama then. I suggest you make very good use of that place. My friends and I will probably head up there in a couple of weeks.

["I prefer spring skiing"!]

Is there going to be like a torch-passing ceremony before the end of the season?

[This coming weekend - April 12th/13th]

I thought Royal Hill closes at the end of March? Did they extend their operation this year?

[How was the April dump then?]

 Quote:

Originally posted by snowboard_freak:
Lucky b@stards!

Yes indeed, I am. I reckon that`s probably the last time this season I`ll get to see powder.

[What Resorts Are Open Right Now ?!?]

I believe there are quite a few places near you that are still in operation, Barok. Tsugaike Kogen, Happo-One and of course Goryu. How about Cortina International? I heard they might`ve extended their closing date. Further down from where you`re at Ontake and Ontake Ropeway(probably too far for me)are open til GW I believe. Up in Niigata near Arai is Myoko Kogen Seki Onsen...I heard they`ll have a bad-ass board park up and running from this month. The trusty little Hotaka Bokujo in Gunma, with its Snowstyle Park and all has decided to run until the end of this weekend. After that it`s either Tenjindaira(hells no), GALA Yuzawa(might hit it one more time just for the park), or Okutadami Maruyama up further off the Kanetsu Hwy(that place is scheduled to open til 5/11 and supposedly receives its share of skilled freestylers). Take your pick. But I thought you moved out of Hakuba? Where did you relocate to Barok?

[How was the April dump then?]

It was raining on the way to Hotaka Bokujo yesterday morning but soon it turned to snow as we made our way up the mountain. Yeah, snow...powder snow, can you believe it?! Did a few freeride runs before I hit the park. I reckon it kept snowing lightly til about noon. But gusty wind also persisted all day so in the afternoon the condition at their Snowstyle Park had deteriorated considerably(ice instead of slush that I had at GALA a few days before). For y`all in the Tokyo area who still want to ride but aren`t crazy about travelling too far Hotaka Bokujo has extended its operation til next Sun(hurray)! My buddies and I will probably hit it again next Sun.

[Weekends from now on busy?]

Well, it`s all relative. I went to GALA Yuzawa on Thur and hit Hotaka Bokujo yesterday and although both places weren`t exactly what you`d call "busy" I felt a good number of people did come out. With most ski areas closing after last weekend I think you`ll see the places that stay open taking on more visitors(including myself)than you`d expect.

[Your best snow of the season]

Hokkaido at Christmas...I thought I`d creamed in my pants!

[Snow tyres off?]

Changing them now would be a mistake...especially if you went last weekend. My buddy and I saw many poor souls spinning and sliding yesterday(and slowing us down).

[Do you clean snowboard gear (wear) mid season?]

My gloves are starting to stink.

[Your favorite resort for this season]

 Quote:

Originally posted by frannyo:
Nozawa is up there.

Does anyone NOT like Nozawa? It seems to get all round good write-ups.

Nozawa Onsen is alright and definitely can be a lot of fun on dump days but not one of my favorite. Like Ocean said it`s a bit out of the way(and he lives in Suwa). Parking location is not very convenient, their "ski center"/locker room is a joke, the wait for the gondola is rather irritating and the good runs are spaced out too far apart. I can get good pow closer to home. Oh yeah, Nozawa`s got all that space but doesn`t have a board park(boo).