neversummer

just a question about types of tickets.. which resorts/areas are using electronic tickets? there seems to be more time waiting in line at resorts and no singles line at places with electronic tickets. Having spent most of my time around Yuzawa (non-electrical) there seems to no problems with lines as they just add a singles line. which other resorts add singles line when needed and are there electronic places with singles lines also?

first tracks after a +30cm dump or knowing you'll be the first to get those tracks. my adrenalin rises just knowing there is POW to be had.

i think i would fear enjoying skiing again..i used to love it but the board just changed everything! As much as i loved skiing, i would prefer to board now and only ski if there wasnt another option. I must say you will never see me on a snow-skate.

he's working for ASIO (the Oz CIA) and has been posted in Nth Korea as a foriegn aid worker. Enderzero seems safe.

I went to the Solstice 'Crystal Skulls' event in Chiba and there were more than 10K, probably 15K there and most were off their heads!! It certainly could have been the music..it was there best rave ive been to..but it was more likely the ecstacy. this was most evident when the sound system blew for about 3 minutes. no music, dead quite and 10K people all tapping their feet and nodding their heads @ 140bpm. Then to walk outside and to see the other 2 or 3 thousand sitting on the ground like death warmed up summed it up to me. I was offered drugs at least 20 times, by foreigners, japanese and e

@ Tenjindaira there seems to be quite a lot of Patrollers on boards..saying that there seems to be lots of boarders. If you want quality backcounty, this is the place to go but I dont recommend anything to dangerous without avy gear and a few mates. The patrollers are anal about anything close to the resort but seemed happy to recommend 1-1 1/2 hikes to 'rockies' quality lines where they have low slide risks. If your Japanese is poor, go with someone who has an adequate level.

went there yesterday, was going for two days but so icy and lacking in recent snow i saved myself the 4000. im not sure about the recent snow comment but the snow seemed to be man-made and by 12, the top had been shaved off and i was boarding on ice. Not impressed at all. I had been told by several Japanese people it was a famous resort with quality terrain and took the trip because it was easily accessable from tokyo. it is easily accessable but the quality of terrain has nothing compared to Yuzawa or Hakuba.

each to his own..but those of us who wear a helmet know the value when you take a huge hit to the head!! the first thing you think, even if youre winded, is how f#cked up you would have been if you werent wearing one. I bought one on my second day in canada, my first OS trip from Oz. Riding the 'Super-G' course at Sunshine Village from the '88 Olympics and ate it going over a roller at speed. Smashed my nose, goggles hit so hard they left cuts under my eyes and I dont ride without a helmet anymore unless helping friends learn. Use your brain, helmets are passed being 'on-cool'

I'm with enderzero on this one. the most positive thing with the conventional 'strap-in' is that both toe/heel and side-to side are securely fitted. with toe/heel step-ins such as K2 clicker there will always be momevement from side to side, even if it is only marginal and the same with side-to-side such as burton and switch .ie.toe/heel lift you may be saying that strap-ins get that movement and I agree..its just less in both degrees because the pressure exerted on the boot is from above, forcing the boot into the binding, not just holding the boot into place from below. its up to

Do skiers think that the technology would be any different if it wasnt for the influence of snowboarding..by that i mean that 7 years ago, skis were still relatively straight with huge sidecut radius. Now, skis are basically the same as a board, twin tipped, shaped with lots of sidecut (short radius between tip and tail). How important has snowboarding been to skiing?

with the 'shaped skis' and 'twin tips' out there i'm scared of trying skiing again for fear of enjoying it. I havent skied for 9 years..never looked back after trying boarding.. but if there were no boards I would definately ski again.

your a funny man db, where in switzerland are you going? have you posted your hakkoda adventure yet? i think it will be interesting reading.

Would have to be the Rockies, B.C for the driest and fluffiest powder. Have been to central B.C twice and both times have had unbelievable snow..amount and quality!! The Kootneys are crazy even if a little outdated in terms of technology but if you want powder and no people then look no further than Red Mountain and Fernie. If your up for some crazy back country then check out Whitewater, a small bowl with only two lifts but access to some of the craziest back country in the rockies. The snow over the last couple of days in Yuzawa was pretty dry but I may have been just out of the seriou

You were once a beginner Plucky..dont forget that either. Everyone needs a chance to improve their skills and with people like you on the slopes they wont have much of a chance!! I've been boarding for 9 years and skiing before that for 13 so I'm no beginner. If your so pissed off with all the shitty boarders get off the beginner slopes and head to some more challenging terrain where you wont be impeded by them and they wont have to put up with attitudes like yours..sorry but your attitude sucks. Everyone is out there trying to have a good time and with your 'take no prisoner' attitude th

sorry man, my girlfriend only saw snow for the first time 2 weeks ago when it snowed in tokyo. ive been trying to get her to come to the snow since august when it was to hot and i was dreaming of snow. any other time and the signature is true. i love powder especially when there are no crowds and Hakkouda looks insane..i will definately be up for any powder trip just circumsatnces prevent me from joining you this time.

db, id love to go @ another time..definately! cant go in the new year but if you or danz are organising another trip before the end of march, count me in. im heading to hakuba from the 2nd to 6th with some friends, teaching my girlfriend to board, but would love to ride the bc up there. keep my informed and i'll look fwd to the update freom this trip. enjoy the pow.

nice one!! dont let them have all the fun and powder up there..let it snow heavily around Hakuba before the new year.

i had a pair of F50's for 2 years and they were solid. i've recently upgraded to F70's for extra power to the edges..f70 are higher off the board giving you better pressure on the edges. Drake make a great binding so you'll have no problems there. Without knowing what boots you uses, i would buy bindings of the same brand. They are the perfect fit and will mean you will have less trouble with things such as snow filling in gaps under your heel, the gap between the edge of your boot and the binding etc. Compatable boots and bindings are, in my opinion, the most important thing.

so they have speed cameras here?? will be going on a monday morn so shouldnt be much traffic..hopefully. i havent been able to work the speed limit out here. what is it. some people drive really slow then spped up etc so i have no idea? can you hire chains along the way?

to all the aussies out there.. Cascade Premium or Boags!! the only two quality beers. add in Coopers Pale Ale for a good threesome!

im with you enderzero! the place sucks bad!! you cant go anywhere without being hassled. ive even had, like most other people, dudes wanting me to go to stripbars with my girlfriend. they just dont give up..walking blocks talking shit in your ear not understanding the most obvious word in the english language..NO!

just trying to find out approx costs for trip from tokyo to nagano. how long should I expect to b driving?

ENVIOUS!! give me a chance fittwins and ill try to match that shot! By all accounts there should b a lot of snow coming our way so the Video Cam will be out in force.

This year was the longest time i had gone without snow since i was 3! sept 29 till dec 15..14 months and i thought about it everyday. i live for winter!!! 8 countries boarded in..Canada easily the best so far but still waiting for the POW to hit honshu..i mean serious pow to consider Japan. by all accounts there is some quality powder on offer. where else is up there?? for me 'Red Mountain, B.C' is the most insane place ive boarded.

For those doing the day-trip thing try and organise a crew and hire a car. soooo much cheaper than a train..music..scenery instead of tunnels etc.