neversummer

True, 120-150,000 yen for a board. I think I will stick with a new k2 gyrator.

When was that? I never knew they fought.

Honourable Mike....Honourable. Are you going to get out much before you have to start working during the season? I mean early morning before 9am starts

Thanks Dizzy, I'm up in Hokkaido now so will explore some other options. Maybe a Gentem??? or something like that. meant to be specialist powder boards degigned in Hokkaido. Anyone know much about them?

You have better eyes than I do FT. It look like a pre-determined shot for the camera to me though, especially with the person waiting at the top.

I found a couple of places on Rakuten which seem to be ok. backcountry.com have a really good selection but to ship it here is another 100 US plus cutoms fees, taxes etc will make it easier, cheaper and faster here in Japan. Thanks all the same Tsonda. I'll also give the boarding co a call soon FT. cheers too

Thanks Guys. I have a few other options here now as well. Tsonda, do you have a website where I can look at the NS boards. Have used them for years and they are rock solid but couldn't find them in Euro last season. The Mullet is a nice board though...

Thanks FT, I'll check it out.

I just noticed that a botched P-tex job has allowed water to seep between my rail and base and I now have a rusty inside edge. I know this won't last long so last night I was looking for a board online but I can't find anything that is my size or suitable for my style. I've got a Sapient Coulter '57 but it is just a bit too small in the POW here so need something similar that is stable at speed, is not exceptionally stiff and good in powder. Help appreciated, even skiing websites because they usually have boarding stuff too

40,000,000 will get you a 2 bedroom apartment with a studio attachment It would rent for 65,000 - 75,000 per night max Management fees: 30% - 40% factor in the utilities, snow clearing, maintenance etc At best, an investor should be 'hoping for' 80 paying nights and that is really pushing it. 15 for Dec, 26 for Jan, 25 for Feb, 15 Mar. outside of that is a bonus Returns are closer to 4.5% - 6%. offset that through the capital appreciation and it is worthwhile but not really as purely an investment for rental returns

I know Mike..also won't leave my screwdriver set in the car either. Unlike you, I have to work from early morning but don't start 'till 10 on the weekend so with the weather still hanging around hopefully I'll get out for a full day soon... Just coming in heavy again

Not really Kasto. But there still aren't many people in the resort as staying guests. No lines at the lift, lots of snow to be had by all but next week will be different I'm sure.

I've been wearing one since '97 and never ride without..it feels really weird now even walking out the door without it on my head. You get out today Mike?

I spent a couple of hours out there today and there would be 70-80cm at about 500m altitude (i could see a couple of holes and cracks in the base that had been dug out). At the top of the hooded triple there is easily over a metre but there is still a lot of sasa grass poking through. There was a lot more snow than I expected up there and without the right setup to ride that amount of snow I went for burger and chilled out for the afternoon

i'll see you all out on the hill at Niseko...there is a lot of snow on the ground, maybe 30cm in K'town and up in the village there is more today than there was in sat or sun. bring on the face shots

There is good squid ink Camembert cheese from Furano. I had some the other night but with the postage it was a little pricey.

No problems SJ, just checking

Most accommodation providers in Niseko can arrange Child Care and it has become a bit of a premium service. I can't really mention company names here (that is correct SJ Mods?) but asking any of the premium, western providers will almost certainly get a positive response.

Rafa is safe and BBC is saying that Mourinho would be interested in the England managers position if conditions were right. Liverpool will beat Marseille and go through again. Their form has been much better recently especially with their injured list being reduced and having some creative players on the pitch again. Agger will be back soon too and Kewell is finding touch again and Torres as adapting to life in the Merseyside well.

I have been riding for a long time and have seen the evolution of many binding companies so this is my experience and by no means gospel. I can't remember the first brand I had but I know the 2nd were Bent Metal, low back from '93/94 season. Snowboarding was so Skate/Freestyle back then and the scene had heaps of really low back bindings. I wasn't so I changed. I then started to ride Burton bindings but found they weren't torsionally rigid enough i.e. they always ended up with snow under the binding and in between the board. This was due to the position of the high back being joined

The Japanese men are a little more effeminate though and are much more manicured than most, maybe all, nations

I think it must have been your birthday recently Tsonda, hope you had a good day. Did you get a call or email from this 'friend'? Probably not I'm thinking based, upon previous posts. Sometimes, things are better said by what is not actually said. I think you have made a good decision to not say anything

He is now in custody, no one hurt.

Nice album Rach. I'm now listening to Soundboy Rock, their new one.

I'm a Hi & Regards for work but with friends its just name & name