[helly hansen free dvd]

I got mine last week. My suggestion: don't watch it if there's no snow in your area, because you're really going to want to get out and have a go.

[Where to ski? Based in Shibetsu, Hokkaido]

Shibetsu is only about 2 hours from Furano, which is my favorite place in Hokkaido. Everytime I go there the snow is great and there are few people. Even around New Year there are no crowds. There is a big gondola that takes you from the bottom to the top. It carries about 100 people so you never have to wait more than a few minutes. 5 minutes wait, 10 minutes in the gondola, anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour for the descent, repeat, repeat, lunch, repeat, repeat ... you get the idea. I love it.

[Truly Big Dump]

HINT: dump = うんこ

[Anyone go to that Sapporo sale today?]

Anyone go to that big Sapporo sale today? It's been on tv for a while - boards for 999yen, bindings for 500yen, that sort of thing. I'm looking for a jacket. If anyone went could they tell me what chanc I have of picking up a cheap jacket. Thanks.

[Good weather riders]

I would love to go riding in nice weather. Somehow, a blizzard always seems to appear everytime I go out.

[Powder Boards/All Mtn Freeride]

I'm 6'1 and about 80 kilos and have no problems in powder with my Custom 166. I wouldn't want to go any longer though (especially if I had to carry it around on my back).

[Advice and advice]

Getting them is not a problem. The local Sports Depot sells them. I was just wondering if they are worth the 10,000 yen they charge.

[Your first place this season?]

Hopefully Furano. Probably Nukabira. Yeah.. it's fun livingin the sticks.

[Advice and advice]

I'm looking for a new snowboard jacket, but the stores in my area are pretty limited (Far East Hokkaido). I've been looking on the internet and found that Yahoo Auctions has some pretty decent deals. Anyone know of any other online sites (preferably in Japan) that have a good range of snowboard goods. I need an XL jacket, which is a little harder to find...

 

Also, I'm thinking of investing in a set of those lifter things that go between your deck and your bindings (Burton calls it an elevator, different companies have different names). I was just wondering if anyone uses them and if they really make a difference (well do they make 10,000 yen worth of difference). Although I have big feet (size 13), I'm riding a Burton Custom, which has a width of about 25cm. It's the board I learned to ride on, so although there is some toe and heel drag, from the beginning I sort of taught myself how to compensate for it (ride faster, carve harder heh, heh, heh...). So will these things make a difference or are they just a gimmick?

 

Thanks.

[Rugby World Cup]

I heard about the headlines in the papers in NZ today. Two of them summed it up nicely "WORLD FLOP", and "THE END OF THE WORLD". I'm glad I'm not a Kiwi today.

[Rugby World Cup]

The All Blacks certainly did not perform to their best, but full credit has to go to the Wallabies. They actually looked like they had some fire and desire to win the game, unlike most of their efforts this year. I've always felt the Wallabies refuse to turn it on until they absolutely have to, at which time they can beat anyone.

[East Hokkaido. Good places?]

Over the weekend I talked to my mate and he reckons its only 2 hours drive (2 and a half on busy days) to get to Sahoro. He's happy to take me there on my days off. Woo hoo. As for skating, well, I'd like to try hockey, but I don't have any skates and I don't think they stock size 13 at the rental places.

[East Hokkaido. Good places?]

What am I doing? Well, for the last few days I've been adjusting to having frozen butt cheeks when I stay outside for too long. It's pretty cold. The sad thing is, in about 6 weeks its going to be much, much colder.

[East Hokkaido. Good places?]

Yeah, thanks for the info. That's basically what the locals told me - lots of ice and cold, not so much snow. The locals usually head off to Furano when they can, but I was hoping there was somewhere even closer. It would be nice to live a short drive from some decent snow. Ahhhh. Too bad.

[East Hokkaido. Good places?]

Furano is about 6 hours away by car (according to locals). I was thinking of somewhere further east.

[East Hokkaido. Good places?]

This is my first winter in Hokkaido. I'm living in Kushiro (far south east, about as far from civilization as you can possibly be). Anyone have any experience on the slopes in this area. If possible, I'd like to get out a couple of times a week to places that aren't too far away. Thanks.