neversummer
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Posts posted by neversummer
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I like the vid too. Much smoother than a hand held cam like I have experimanted with in the past.
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Will try and get some shots over the weekend, maybe friday if the weather is kind. I have a fair few people interested in having a try and many more interested in seeing exactly what it is and how it works.
Converted....yes!
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I am happy to take this but these clowns are the same guys who 'forecast' 1-2cm on Saturday and 3cm on both Sunday and Monday
. I would estimate we had somewhere around 60-70cm in this time in Kutchan so it that is any indication to go by then we should have at least 80cm on Sunday night 
We can all dream but more snow never hurt anyone.
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We I must say that all the hype that all the noboarders have been talking about is spot on.
Having seen an article in SB Canada and then talked to and subsequently bought a noboard pad from Kumapix, this is definately my full time snow activity from today forward.
Although only heading up for the morning and doing some hiking (3 lines of about 300m each) I couldn't help but smile and know that for every person who tries noboarding in decent powder will more than likely walk away with a similar feeling of immense satisfation.
It is similar to snowboarding but much more technical, works off similar principles such as speed is essential and fluid turns enhance the learning curve but where it was totally different was in the lack of bindings and the feeling of being one with the board.
It is really hard to explain how that feeling is but knowing that your nose is sinking and being able to move your front foot back slightly to take the weight off made riding really deep powder so kmuch easier, even after one practice run to try and understand what Kuma had been talking about.
"Poor technique will have you found out really quickly" he told me and possibly on the first run I was really trying to use the bungee rope to lift the nose. For anyone who is thinking of trying, think of the bungee cord as a leverage tool for slight corrections in your stance, whereby when you are leaning too far and need something to get you back over the centre of the board, this is the way to do it rather than just jumping off. I quickly, and really without thinking about it, moved my feet back slightly and then started to link turns, heelside much better than toeside but by the bottom it felt pretty amazing and I was wishing I had brought my camera.
On the hike up for the 2nd run, I kept thinking that with more speed the whole experience would be better and I would be able to work on a more continuous and fluid toeside turn.
Having never been a skateboarder or surfer, yesterday I was speaking with Michael from Niseko Photography, who is going through a similar learning curve on a snowboard, and he was explaining that after years of skateboarding whereby you use your ankles to 'tap' the edge to turn, he couldn't quite grasp the whole leaning into a turn such as is required on a snowboard. What I immediately thought was that as I didn't have any bindings, I too was esentially tapping my way through the toeside turn as there was nothing (no bindings) there holding my feet in place so from the top I pointed it straight, got some speed and just leaned into a sweet toeside turn, thus understanding the feeling of what it should feel like during a turn like this.
From here I was totally hooked and following my last run, which felt fantastic with top to bottom linked turns, I am happy to hit the resort sometime soon and continue the adventure.
I will try and get some pics next time now that I have the confidence I won't be holding many people up (no friends on a powder day hey
) and will keep everyone posted of noboarding in Niseko.Cheers, and say No
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Putting mine together as I write.
1st Descent tomorrow, should be interesting! Lets hope I make it in one piece.
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You're having a laugh....Aussies in Niseko? I think you got the wrong resort
Should be plenty to see and do though.
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All year for me. lots of snow last night too!
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Whilst all these guys were out there getting POW, I had to snow clear all the snow that had fallen around my place
Should have a new noboard here soon and will soon be chasing POW myself
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In Hirafu, you get a seasons pass if you instruct so it is not all over Japan. Maybe foreign companies only though, not sure about the Japanese ones.
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what is your budget dools? I know someone who may be able to help but it depends on your price.
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Originally Posted By: JAMatt,
Having been to Niseko (twice in 05/6 and 06/7) and Furano (once, last season) I feel somewhat qualified to respond.
Niseko is becoming quite "australianised" to the point that we were playing "spot the local" on the slopes. We'd have gone back last season except we were too late booking and the places that catered for our age (all 50-60) and group of 4 people were all booked out. So ... we went to Furano and had an absolute ball.
Our Japanese is not very wonderful, and it was even less so when we went in January, but the language problem was not very much in evidence. We found that a few basic words (such as please, thank you and excuse me) get you a long way. That and "the universal pointing language" will win every time!
If you go to Niseko, make a point of talking to GN! He's an authority and worth a few hours of your time.
Whatever, you should go through the archives and the resort reports here.
Cheers
John
Come on JA, it's not that bad.
The resort is big enough and Japanese enough to go for large parts of the day without seeing 10 foreigners in an hour. Apart from the Gondola and King 4 lift, where most people ski/ride, I find it no different to any Japanese resort which is 95% Japanese populated.
At night its the same too. If you want to see foreigners, head to Wild Bills but if you don't then there are heaps of places to play spot the foreigner.
Like GN, I like it for the semi westernisation; you only have to come down to Kutchan and you are right back in regular everyday Japan, bars without English menus, language difficulties etc. -
Dizzy,
any idea where the link is?
WOuld be keen to see it.
NS
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Hey Will,
Some tips, I did this quite a bit when living in the Northern Hemishpere for a while whilst going home to visit at the end of summer.
1. Find a brand that releases to the Southern Hemi before the current Northern Hemi season and if they fit nice, buy them at end of Aus season prices. You will usually get a 35-35% discount. Otherwise, get this Aus seasons boots. As they say, if the boot fits, wear it!
2. Get your tax back by buying them within 30 days of departure. This is the GST component and you will just have to take them to the airport and show the customs officials before checking in your luggage that you have the boots.
3. Take the receipt through customs and have them put the money back onto your CC, or write a cheque etc
4. Wear your boots at home for a bit, get moulded inners etc so that when you get here, you can put them on and go crazy.
I would say that with the exchange rate, it would be better to buy at home. If you have a day or two in Tokyo beforehand then you may find some really good deals though.
If you already do all of this (as you are a regular here), enjoy the winter!
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In all seriousness, I was being totally honest as I haven't seen a real need for them here. There is never much ice, not even on the road to Sapporo this morning or tonight when it was snowing heavily. I used snow tyres last year on work cars but not on mine and didn't really notice the difference so I asked a legit question.
There aren't many places on the road that are hairpin corners or off cambre slopes so with careful driving, you shouldn't get into trouble around here but I am sure over confidence will get the better of people some time during the winter. I will make it my business to not be one of them and will, on recommendation from many on SJ, look inot getting some snow tyres.
Oh, if i lived where those guys in Tubby's vid did, who knows what to do, not drive, I don't know.
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I'm not a hardcore tea drinker but if I could have any tea the Yorkshire Gold would be it. I love it but have never seen it here and don't expect to ever see it in Kutchan.
I don't mind Earl Grey either but honestly, give me a good Espresso or Macchiato any day
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Send me an invite next time Mike. I'll see if I can get some time away from the Reno.
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I use protein powder after riding for a long day. Always wake up feeling fresh and ready to ride again. Never tried Magnesium or even heard about it before this thread. Will try and compare though this season.
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Are snow tyres a propoganda tool? I don't have snow tyres, yeah it is a little slippery but that is the same when driving someone else's car who have snow tyres, and I didn't have snow tyres in Europe or in Australia so am wondering if they are all they are made up to be. My Japanese friends, and foreigners alike, think if you don't have snow tyres you will kill yourself on the roads.
Anyone else not buying into it?
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very good to hear Hokkaido is whitening up!
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I heard you put some lines in today Mike?
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I read in the Japan Times that a hotel in Niseko, who remained anonymous, had had 20% cancellation in the past couple of months.
It is easy to see how when you factor in as an example the holiday costs 20,000AUD and everyone here has a 20% deposit so 4,000AUD. 3 months ago that was 16,000AUD to pay 60 days prior to arrival or about 1,600,000JPY....now that is near on 2,800,000JPY.
If I was in that situation, I would seriously consider loosing my 4,000AUD to save 12,000AUD, it just means that you will return home and have a huge debt hanging over your head.
As JA said, the yen is stable so it will take a lot to get the AUD back to anywhere near where it was.
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I will never go back to a non-electric one.
The only thing I don't like is how much it costs for each head but I guess Oral B has to make money somewhere
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I use skype for almost all calls now, international and domestic. I am not sure if mobile phones are compatible here yet with skype but many of my friends in the UK use skype from their mobiles to to call my PC skype.
Qulaity is really good unless the other person is on a remote line in australia or other country with sub standard internet.
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Where the resort has had an opportunity to look at what has been happening, in terms of development, and as a responsible company, plan for the future, the resort has not listened to any of the local companies about how to sucessfully deal with problems that have arisen.
some points to note:
1. There are still only the small shuttles that do the loop through the lower village despite an increase in bedding numbers of around 500.
2. The lower village loop has remained on the same route despite a significant increase in development in the lower 'lower village' making it difficult for those to access the shuttle bus without a significant walk up the hill. NB not a problem for me but as more families come with children, this is a significant concern that needs evealuating.
3. The new lift that was built did nothing to relieve the crowding on the Gondola, only place more beginner skiers and boarders in the middle of the busiest piste on the mountain.
4. With the development of Izumikyo, there have been constant complaints from visiotrs that resort services are inadequate in such a strong growth area in terms of shuttles, snowclearing, resort information and access.
It has been mentioned several times before that Tokyu Resorts do not have any working relationship with foreigners who may be equipped to listen and work with major companies in the area and this is to their detriment. Tourism bureaus, promotion boards from regional centres such as Kutchan, Niseko, Hirafu etc find it difficult to agree to common ground, plus a lack of clear direction towards the future could be a recipe for a disaster here but I honestly think that there are enough inteligent and willing bodies and minds to make things work.
Hanazono, for one, is tapping into this and offering a free shuttle to thir resort each morning and afternoon to try and relieve the congestion, they are building eating facilities to accommodate approx 400 people, a ski school too. With their experience they will hopefully show Hirafu what can be done and how to do it.
Here is hoping it is not too late.
When will we get decent snowfall on Honshu?
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
it doesn't matter when it happens, it just will. I think last New Year there was a metre overnight and there were some great photos doing the rounds. I think I remember Creekboy posted some from his balcony (it could be someone else) and someone posted their car which looked like a mushroom from Mariocart.
I hope it sooner rather than later though!