Thunderpants
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Posts posted by Thunderpants
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Just my opinion on video editing....
Adobe Premiere scores very few points with me, unstable and too complicated.
I am using editstudio from puremotion
www.puremotion.com , but not for snowsports.. i crash too much to want to bring my camera
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I have to say Epic!
i know the snow haven't been as much as last year, but thanks to some great inspiration from this site, i have been pushing my limits, explored "powder-land" and in general had 1000% more fun than the previous 3 seasons i have been here in Japan.
had 11 days so far (not bad for an 8-18, mon-fri working man)
ATB
Thunder
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Hi! don't drink every night, alcohol is not a permanent solution to your problem!
Try some light workout, small jumps, move your feet around in circles.
Buy some warm slippers...what do i know??
hope it helps
ATB
Thunder
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Hi cold-feet-and-hands-people
Do you smoke?
Smoking makes the blood vessels contract, and you get cold hands and feet!
there are two things you can do
1. stop smoking
2. drink alcohol. Alcohol wil not make you warmer, but it will expand the vessels, beware though, a very bad advice against hypothermia
ATB
Thunder
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I don't normally send links to news to my firends, but this one is on the "sick side"
nice find!
Hrrrrrrrr cough
thunder
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Dear Frannyo!
I think it will be Montoya this year, not only because "It is BMW's turn" but because he has matured, he has got the car to do it, and because he is damn good!
As much as i dislike MS (i will not call him scum from now on) i can not count him out.
I am a great fan of Kimi-san and he is an outsider, but i tip him for 2005, and it is going to be fun to watch kimi and montoya fight it out in McLaren.
But what about you? did i step on your toes with my anti-ms post? who do you tip?
ATB
Thunder
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OKOKOK here it is!
F1 is not about the best man wins!
I belive that the drivers do their best, i don't belive that the drivers "agree" on who to win, it is not like that!
if you have watched F1 over some years you will se that about 50% of the fans support Ferrari so "what is good for Ferrari is good for F1" (Bernie ecclestone's own words)
The last 5 years Mclaren have come up with some very inovative solutions: berylium cylinders for their engines, Ferrari protested stating that berylium is a cause of lung cancer, yeah right they have no problem with Marlboro painted all over their cars, and even more important cigarettes are the number one source of berylium in human lungs (fact)
Mclaren invented a brake-steering system in 1998? that got approved pre season by FIA, only to be banned after protest from... guess who!
then there was Tyre-gate this year, Michelin finds a loophole in the rules. The rules stated that the treads in the tyres must be measured before the race, Michelin invents rubber that deforms under pressure, giving them a clear advantage over Bridgestone running Ferrari who protests and wins...
2004 McLaren designs a new rear wing for their mp4/19, breaking the lap record in Jerez spain, Ferrari protests over the new design, rules are in the process of beeing rewritten.
but this doesn't end here
1998 race stewards measures Scum's bargeboards after eurpe? and find that they are too big, he is disqualified, but F. protests, and guess what? FIA comes to their aid, stating that it is the horizontal part og the bargeboard that is too big, but since it is the horizontal part it can be concidered a part of the bottom of the car, where 5% tolerance is allowed. scum gets another chance of winning
I have seen scum win his 1. wdc in 94 by running Hill off. scum had a problem with his car, and only way he could win was to take Hill out, so he did. No penalty. to be fair to scum i have seen many drivers pull the same stunt, that doesn't make him unique.
I remember him trying the same thing in 97 Jerez with villeneuve, where he actually got a penalty, having to give driving lessons for 20something hours?!? and got stripped of his 2. place, but not his points?!?! (strange eh points = money for the team?)
i've seen him take Heinz Harald Frenzen off the racetrack at 270 km/h on purpose (while beeing the safety spokesperson for the drivers)
This year he was close to loosing the race tor the title, so FIA came to his help one more time by penalizing Montoya in Indy for a very questionable collision with... Ferrari's no 2 Barichello.
next race: our very own Suzuka, Thunderpants is sitting in C area where i have great view over both start/finish and the chicane, and i see scum make a complete fool of himself by attempting a dangerous and very optimistic passing of Sato-san, it cost scum his frontwing, but no penalty, next he tries to run his brother off at the start/finish in an attempt to avoid beeing overtaken.
Ok you may have guessed that i am not scum's biggest fan, but that is not what we are talking about here, and it is not my mission to proof to my fellow snowbrothers and sisters that he is a bad person. My mission is to make it clear that the rules are not the same for everyone (it is fixed)
Lets go back 15 years, to Suzuka '89 most of the people with whom i have discussed that event agree with me that Prost clearly took Senna off. but Senna got the blame.
Later, in 93 monaco Prost feels the heat and gets a drive though penalty for a jumpstart that never happend. later that year Ecclestone says on TV that he is happy that Prost will retire and that no one in F1 is going to miss him!
F1 today is a very important tool for promotion of car brands. No car company can afford to pump $$$ in F1 without getting some value, that is why Ecclestone and Mad Max makes sure that every major company gets their share. BMW is next.
i obviously have no proof to what i am saying, call me paranoid, ANTI scum, do whatever you want, this is my view of F1. i started to watch it in 89, i have loved it, hated it, and this year i kinda lost interest because it seems so unfair anddriven by so many other things than the "fastest man"
F1 is a little like WBO boxing, most of us know it is a bit "fishy" but it is still 2 great shows.
If you made it this far: thank you for your time
ATB
Thunder
PS. Yes i have been to Suzuka twice, just GO! i dragged my wife down there last year. She has No interest in motorsport, but loved the show so much that she already plans this years trip. You know my opinion about F1 now, and i am still going this year, it is noisy, very and it gives me goosebumps just to think about it. I have seen races in Europe too, but Suzuka is the best circuit in the world, both for spectators and drivers. Japanese racefans are such a pleasure to be with
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YUP!
japanese politicians are, in my opinion thieves and clownes. Still people vote for them. Therefore the japanese people deserves their own situation.
I know this is bit simplified. but we are indeed fuged.
ATB
thunder
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I agree wint most of the neagtive opinions on Bush posted here, so no need to repeat that.
Going to Mars is a very big desicion and i think that Bush should make an election issue out of that "if i get re elected i will bla bla bla"
... A country has the politicians it deserves. That is also the case with Japan.
ATB
Thunder
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Hi!
I have an old edge sharpner, the plastic kind that does more damage than good.
My friend has a very nice all metal, super adjustable edge tool. He got it from a shop wich is not around anymore.
As i get more and more into snowboarding, i realize that proper maintenance is very important.
Good waxing for example makes such a difference, i have discovered.
But to get to the point: do You know where to get a "real" edge tool? what do you use? and what is your setup?
thanks snow brothers and sisters
atb
thunder
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Hi!
Wore my Giro Fuse for the first time this saturday.
Loved it! no problems with goggels. Nice and warm, not uncomfortable, rather the opposite.
My confidence used to be below my ability. Now it matches, and i had SO much fun (and no crashes)
Now i hust have to get used to having a big(ger) head when i get in and out of the gondola.
ATB
Thunder
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One Thunder to another...
Move your swap file to your D drive
My computer/Properties/Advanced/performance/settings/Advanced/Virtual memory/Change...(do your thing)
ATB
Thunderpants
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Been into F1 for 15+ years, but last season i kinda had enough. It seems to me that the thing is fixed.
This year it is Williams turn to win.
After Bernie helped Ferrari and M. Scum to his 6. title last year, BMW and Frank are next in line.
There is too muck money involved to risk a fair result.
FW will get 2 years on top, and then it will be Renault, then McLaren.
Still i went to Suzuka in 2003 and it is a great show. I love it! but don't call it a sport!
ATB
Thunder
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hmm yeah, they come up with new things every year
Check this out :
and yes i own one
the question is if the technology actually works or not? To be honest, dont know, but it is a great board that has improved my riding a whole lot.
all i need is some more snow under that board in minami alps, but i can look at it this way:
this weekend will give me a great chance to test my board in icy conditions, unless i find the energy and money to go to Hakuba
ATB
Thunder
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I'm happy for you Hakuba going people, BUT
i am so unhappy with my Ontake Season pass
no snow there, even Norikura got 25 cm (u win fattwins) Ontake... 0 cm
i just can not make it to Hakuba
Have fun!!
ATB
Thunderpants
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So, how do you do it?
I read about you guys going to Hokkaido, i check the weather forecast, look at the webcams and make imaginary runs down The Niseko slopes (whitout ever being there!)
With only weekends off work, and not unlimited acces to hard japanese currency, Hokkaido seems like a no-go for ordianry people in Shizuoka, or am i missing something like bargain airplane tickets or time warping.
Any tricks you would like to share?
Thanks in advance (i don't want to make "thank-you-posts" every 2 hours, but your input is realy appriciated!)
ATB
Thunderpants, who is increaingly frustrated with southern Nagano snow, or lack of...
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hehe, i did not use that term "Ms. Thunderpants" on purpose
but if you must know, she is a very tolerant person, an expert surfer, and the best part: she loves me!
But i have been away every weekend since seasonstart, did the "getaway" for 4 days during shougatsu.
spent all of my summer bonus on gear, and still spending those hard-to-come-by ichi man bills as fast as i can on my addiction. Time to show some appriciation
ATB
Thunder
(sorry for the spelling)
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Funny, Fattwins, i was going to recommend the opposite.
Ontake is way bigger than Norikura. it is not a small place!
Ontake though, probably wins the prize for worst homepage in japan, ugly, not informative, and those 2 webcams?!? they are a complete turnoff.
But i'll recommend the place over Norikura anytime (to people at my level anyway)
I've spent 7 days at Ontake so far this season, and one at Norikura.
I am no Expert boarder, i don't go to the board park, (Ontake got it) i like to stay on the ground
and i don't know much about back country, something that you, Fattwins obviously know a lot about, Please take that into account, Forum.All i can say is that i went to Norikura for one day (1/2 04) and i did not enjoy myself at all (read my review) it may have been my own fault though.
Next day i went to Ontake, and left the place with a happy feeling, sore muscles and a lot of nice runs in memory.
(bathrooms are cleaner too and with hot water!!!)
ATB
Thunder
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I'll recommend Kiso Ontake!
looooong ride, board park, Gondola, high altitude.
backcountry?? dunno, if anyone knows the place better, i too would love some info!
i really like that place and the people there, but so far the whole resort is not open, but you can still get a 4 km ride. We still need the last 2 km at the bottom and the "Champion course" to open.
Yeah, i know Hakuba and Nozawa are better, but Ontake (and Norikura) is as far as i can make it alone on a friday night, driving alone.
ATB
Thunder (now with less gas:) )
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1 meter
must me REALLY nice to my wife this week, to get permission to go...
ATB
Thunder
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So, what are the "Snow Japan expert's" thoughts on this week??
I'm still a novice at looking at the snow data maps, but i seem to remember O-11 talking about the "big" snowmen lined up for days before he was happy, i see only small snowmen now
ATB
Thunder
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All night Ideling cars in the parking!!!!
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I went!
Saturday and Sunday i went to Ontake.
The conditions was not the best, but at least the moutain was covered with snow (20-40 cm) and it was cold!
I was able to hike the last 1000 m to the top and lay some tracks, that was sweet!!
Some times my wife drags me in the water for surfing when the conditions are bad, small and closing waves, and you end up having a lot of fun anyway. My Ontake experience was just like that. It felt Great to snowboard, it was nice to be in "winter-land" and it was wonderfull to feel al little freedom on the road.
You can either sit in front of your computer all winter and bitch about bad conditions, or you can go out there and make the best of it
ATB
Thunder
Riding powder - whats it like then?
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
Powder, so what is it like?
Well first of all I have to say that I am in no way powder expert, so why am I writing about it?
Because my first few experiences may help you who have never tried, to get started in a safe and fun way.
And because I have been at the receiving end of this forum since the beginning of this season, and it is about time that I give a little time back.
There are basically 2 things to consider: riding the powder and getting to it!
I remember a similar thread I read last fall about powder. At that time, I had no experience with powder myself. I was wondering about how to get to the stuff, and Ocean 11 wrote just a few words that changed a lot ( he probably didn’t even know that would change so much)
Something like “try the un groomed stuff that lies close to the ropes on the slope, it is not so deep and will give you a feel of what it is like”
I took that advice all the way!
I have read a lot about the dangers of avalanches, I posses no knowledge of the physics behind avalanches, I do not have the skills to ride the trees, and I hate to get in too much trouble with the patrols.
SO, on the opening weekend at Ontake, I wanted to get a taste of the “forbidden fruit” The resort was only partly open, the top 1/3 was closed, and so was the left most slope.
I hiked up to the top in 60 cm snow, for 45 minutes, and more or less tumbled down for 2 minutes, but you can se my so-called “tracks” here http://www.ontake.co.jp/live/live7/Dec1-15/121409.jpg (promise! It is mine) I scratched my brand new board (too little snow) I had a very hard time riding the stuff, but I did it !!! And in a fairly safe way, no danger to my self or others.
The rest of the day I rode the closed left slope, had to duck some tape, but no problem with Ontake-san (patrols) and I soon got confidence, and had tons of fun fun fun
As the weeks went on, I found small little (not too) illegal spots around the resort where I could get my own powder, some places just 10 - 20 meters, other places 100 or 200 meter, but what the hell, it all counts, and I have gotten “that feeling”
You just have to keep your eyes open for the spots, they are all around, and within the boundaries of resort. Example: The middle part of the left slope at Ontake is VERY wide, it is split in two, the left part is a slalom course for skiers only, it is clearly marked and I have no problem with that (being a snowboarder) but if you look carefully you will see that to the left of the slalom course, within the “legal” area, a beautiful un groomed little piece of slope is hidden, for me only .
So last Saturday, we had us some snow eh? And I was SO ready to get on the gondola first. It took some 30 minutes of waiting in front of the gate (I was first in line) then some running from the gate to the gondola, and then jumping on the last departing car (almost getting my bud stuck in the closing doors) but I got it, and I was alone in the car
I had the top of the hill to my self. Those of you who knows Ontake, also know that the top, right slope is moguls, and therefore un groomed, but with well over 1 meter of new snow, there was no moguls to be seen, just powder, my powder! Mine alone to be ridden, needles to say I had the ride of my life!
30 minutes later the “champion” course opened, same story, first in line, un groomed, powder, fun, smiles! I was able to run there for a couple of hours, until the moguls appeared, first tracks are the best, but you can still get “that feeling” even when it tracked. But stay away from the moguls if you are a boarder
My point: you can get powder, even if you are not Fattwins, whom I respect a lot even without ever meeting him (guy is giving his secret spots away for beer, which I am sure he can afford himself).
I am intermediate rider, but I am having so much fun, and I am learning powder fast, without putting my self in danger, and who knows, one day I maybe “grow up” and be able to play with the good guys and girls.
And now for the 2. thing, what is it like for me?
It is as good as anything, including sex! It is like flying, like snowboarding was meant to be, it is worth driving 6 hours in the middle of Friday night after a hard day at the factory.
The biggest difference from the groomed runs is this:
When riding the groomed slope, you have to keep your balance, left, right, left, right, I guess you can say it is a 2 dimensional thing. When you get into the powder, the board want nosedive, and you suddenly have an extra axis to control, your snowboarding becomes a 3d-thing – now that is a big difference! Your turning is a totally different thing, and it is not easy, but fun!
I also discovered this weekend that my little “secret” spot to the left of the slalom course was no good in deep powder, you need a steep slope, and speed is your friend!
I am usually a little scared of the really steep (groomed) slopes. But I was able to overcome that feeling last Saturday on the “champion”, because of the fact that powder slows you down naturally.
Wauw that took most of my evening… Why am I not writing this in my journal? Because I really don’t have time to keep one, and also because I feel this may (or may not) be useful for you, who want to go and explore powder land. My point is, take small steps, don’t do anything dangerous, just because you have seen some of the fabulous powder pics posted here.
I promise you, you are not ready for the great off piste adventure right away. Remember! If you crash in powder, you most likely have to walk out of it, and if you are in the middle of Mt. Hakkouda you are in big trouble (100’s of Japanese soldiers have died there)
But…
Powder is (also) for pussies like me
ATB
Thunder