powda tele

Don't have any real info yet, but it seems there was an avo on Ashibetsu dake (Furano region) on Sunday. Two buried. Woman dug herself out, then dug her boyfriend out. He's still uncouncious as far as I know.

If you want to snowboard around the world, just do searches on the net for every country and see what you come up with. You seem to be ignoring many of the more interesting countries that have snow, I think. I did something kind of similar (different sport) quite a while ago, and it isn't that hard. People will always pass you on to a contact in the next country. You'll get the most out of it if you go to places that are famous, as well as places most boarders have never thought of. Charity? Have you thought that perhaps the expense of two weeks in all these countries (including the numer

I've seen a Japanese 3-tracker (never heard the term before now) ski quite often (every day?) at Chise Nupuri (lesser known Niseko resort). Also, there is often a group of guys on those chairs attached to a ski with outrigger stocks at Rusutsu (kind of close to Niseko). Enjoy.

I'd have to agree that a lot of rope-duckers don't really know what they're doing. It all looks innocent on the other side of the rope, but... I was hiking up from the top of Hirafu the other day to ski Kozanosawa (the back bowl). It's high risk if/when she does avo, but we'd been assessing the conditions, talked to a patrol guy who did know what was happening up there, and dug a pit. No probs. Safe riding and good lines. The same day, patrol had closed a wide gully just off-course which had a different aspect and different avo risk. They were standing along the ropes making sure no

31. Telleboy - do you have a job? Very jealous. You must have quads like tree trunks by now.

As Mr Wiggles said. After skiing seven of the last eight days, my quads were on fire today!

Basement Boy, I hear more hype on here about how Niseko is getting trashed than I ever see about it being the new hot resort. There might be some losers there who are giving Aussies a bad name, but they don't make or break a holiday. Want to enjoy your Niseko holiday? Do the same as you would anywere: relax, smile, enjoy the powder, abuse your body, enjoy the powder some more, and abuse your body some more. If you meet a loser, give them a wide berth. How can you not have fun if you're not in the office and there is that much snow around? A holiday is a state of mind.

Just came back from three days of waist-deep powder at one of the lesser known Niseko resorts. Had a ball. Don't think I even saw Hirafu from a distance, but I heard there are a few yobos giving Aussies a bad name there. I think it's the usual story: a few guys on their 'boys only' trip away getting drunk, talking big, and thinking masculinity is defined through their fists. Those few wankers give all Aussies a bad name. The Aussie skiers I've talked to were all considerate and doing their best to be culturally sensitive. It's a shame about the few who think they're in Disneyland and can do wh

Asahidake maybe. Deep. Dry. What piste?

Sensitive? Not really. It's not my fav, and while I like skiing resorts, they're not where I'd prefer to be. I have just read quite a bit of negative spray over the years concerning Niseko and I simply don't understand why. I should say that the spray probably comes from a few people. It's just so tiringly repetative. Fair call on the snow melt thing. I don't remember smiley faces, but I'll believe you. Things can be read so out of context on the net. Bad example. The main spray against Niseko seems to be that it's flat, it lacks nightlife, and it's hyped. Perhaps it averages less gr

I have never understood the attitude some Honshu westerners have to Niseko. It's not my favourite resort, and I spread myself around many resorts, but I do ski there and it's not as bad as some of you make out. I often read southerners bitching on here about Niseko, but the tourist skiers/boarders I've met (foreign and Japanese) have all loved it. Sure there are great resorts in Honshu, but there are great resorts here too. Some people seem to bag out Niseko just because it's famous. I even read someone on here say that the snow had pretty much all melted at Niseko. I think 3+ metres of c

Something that isn't explicitly stated above (I think), but is clear if you read between the lines, is that your chances of survival decrease exponentially the longer you're buried. You want to be dug up in 15 mins really. This is a very short time if you factor in the confusion, organisation, search, and digging. Thus you should be well-practiced in all this. After 30 min, as said, you have less than 50% survival chances. Your chances plumit after that. Most (but obviously not all) people dug up are dead. That's not an argument against beacons and gear, it's just a strong argument to rel

My brother is coming over for a few weeks on the 19th. He'll be telemarking with me and my telebabe, so I guess that makes it a micro-telefest. I'm always up for skiing with others who are coming up this way.

Nice. Now, what's in that pipe you're smoking?

Love to, but I figure you're not coming all the way up here.

Miteyak - I just noticed your signature: "talk softly, and carry a big lurch". Do you mean 'lurk'? That would make more sense given that you're a telemarker. Or is it an intentional pun? 'Lurch', after all, means "a staggering or tottering movement or gait". Perhaps you talk softly, but if there's trouble, you start lurching around just to confuse the oposition. Actually, up until today, I always read your signature as "talk softly, and carry a big lunch". Personally I like that more.

Phool. I ski the SP's. I'm 63kg and ski the 179's. You might want to go the 189's. Personally, I think they rock, but I agree with someone above - what you should ski may not match what you want to ski. Match the ski for the style of skiing you do. The SP's are designed for long, fast turns in open areas. Thus, they come into their own on big lines. Sure, you can throw them around in the trees, but it's much more work. They love deep powder, but they're not very flash on piste. If I'm skiing lots of tight things (moguls/trees) or if I don't have much depth under foot, I much prefer my mid

Tele Mike - I checked out Toyru (the shop mentioned above) on Sunday. Yep, they have tele gear. Full kit will set you back around Y4,500/day. It gets cheaper if you rent for longer. I'm sure NAC also rent gear. I have to retract my comment about not seeing other 'round-eyes' teleing. I was at Niseko on Sunday (first time there this year) and saw a bunch of Japanese teleing, and 6 foreigners teleing. Great to see! I'm usually skiing somewhere on the weekends, so if you do decide to come up to Niseko, let me know and I'll come out for a tele.

I can't give you any tips without being there (except 'patience grasshopper', and go and have a look at the Telemarktips website listed above), but feel free to PM and I'll suggest a good book that'll help. Not a great way to learn, but better than nothing. You may be able to get lessons at a hill. They give lessons in English at Niseko. There are many things you can carry over from alpine skiing (or boarding) to tele skiing, but there are some things you'll have to change. Good luck.

Crack me up Miteyak.

Ooh. I can see a spelling mistake too!

Just a quick peak at the top there. It's work time, there are 21 users logged in, at least three are telemarkers. I've seen you. I know it's on all day at work like mine. I don't think 14% of SJ users are telemarkers. What does that say about us telemarkers? And you probably have TTips in another window!

Hm. Me and my telebabe are going for some Niseko BC action on Sunday if the weather's decent. Might try and find it. I can guess where you mean. Cheers.

Sorry. I was only joking. I think keeping things secret is kind of stupid, otherwise how would we find out about the good stuff. Just joking - I loved it there last time. Very homely feel, no waiting, no people, great powder access, all day freshies, etc. That's changing as more people go over there, but there's plenty more places to go and explore. No probs. Weiss is similar, but not as steep. Mostly ungroomed, with snow cat access to the top. Hard to plow through all the powder sometimes because you just don't get the speed up. Good for a try.

I have Seth Pistols too! It wasn't me you saw unless there's some freaky space-warp things happening. Got mine this season and I love them. Not the greatest piste ski, but they rock in the deep stuff. They're actually an alpine ski, but the tele version (Hippy Stinx) are basically the same aside from the graphics. They're fast, and like big lines. Couldn't agree more, I've seen some Japanese tele dudes and dudettes absolutely ripping it on piste and off piste. Great to watch, but I love watching anyone push themselves if they're having fun, no matter what their ability.