keba

Originally Posted By: PWL Seems ask 10 people the question about size and you'll get 10 different opinions. And if you ask 7311 people? Mine are 168 cm, 76mm waist (Elan 666 2005 model). I'm 176cm, 90kg. For Japan pow, go longer and fatter.

For sure.

Unless you're not a ski racer, I'd argue that the racing helmets are uncool. Forget the look, get one that fits your head. Mine's a Giro too, haven't test it properly yet though.

I wear contacts. I found that when I wore over-the-glasses goggles (you have to ask for them specially), my specs would fog up at the bottoms of runs. I you get OTG goggles, make sure they have plenty of ventilation.

Yes, for the same reason as I have other insurance policies. Not impregnable, sure, but better than a beanie.

Yes you can. We got some Seth Pistols from a place near where the ski schools are.

Originally Posted By: Rag-Doll There might be different fares the yokoso fare I got - blackout period start from 6 March - is 26000 for two sectors. So they're still available during the 'black-out' periods, but with an increased fare?

For the information of others, with JAL, it's called the "OneWorld Yokoso Japan Fare", 10000Y/sector, if you have international flight with a OneWorld Airline. If not, there is the "Welcome to Japan Fare" for 13000Y/sector, with no restriction on international airline. There is information on their web page, but you need to book with JAL at an office or by phone, as you said, and only outside of Japan.

Originally Posted By: Rag-Doll I think someone mentioned how expensive the TY to Sapporo leg of their flight is - this might save a few bucks. I think it was me, and it sounds like a good plan, if we hadn't already bought non-refundable tickets. Maybe keep it up my sleeve for next time, thanks. How do you score those? Through JAL?

And I'm not even going to Yuzawa. Solidarity, brothers (and sisters)!

Yes there was, and yes they have pulled out, some time ago. It was Australian Airlines, I think, which is now defunct.

You live on the other side of the world to everything, you gotta cop it on the chin. Could be worse, could live in new Zealand...

Ther's a lot of talk about how short the flight to Japan is from Oz, compared to Canada/USA and Europe, but none of the flights actually land you in a ski area. The advanyages are in the quality of the snow, and the lack of jet lag, not actual travel time.

Flight from Gold Coast (dep 10:30am) - Osaka ~8 hours, then overnight in Osaka (there's the delay), flight the next morning to Shin Chitose, then drive to Kutchan. Our domesic flight lands at 10:30, so I don't reckon we'll get into Kutchan until ater midday, so ~26 hours. We could do it quicker if we caught a night connector, but I'd prefer to be driving during the daytime.

Our schedule has us ovenight in Osaka, so we take minimum 26 hours Gold Coast - Kutchan. More if we detour from the airport to Sapporo for ski shopping on the way. Still no jet lag, though.

That's just about right, took me 36 hours to get to Zermatt, Switzerland from Brisbane (including a shitty night spent on a plane). QANTAS/JAL haven't really gone out of their way to make it easy to get to Niseko, a direct flight to Shin Chitose would rock. I think Australian Airlines used to do it from the Gold Coast, with a refuelling stop in Cairns, before they folded up.

Mine is a good way to end an argument when I'm just over it. An ancient roman saying, I think.

You mean like, how difficult it is? We booked flights about amonth ago, from Kansai to Shin Chitose, and the only flights JAL had left were in business. It's costing us more to get from Osaka to Sapporo that it is from Oz to Osaka!

That's them! Thanks, I think... at least thanks for not mocking me. And you will know then, that "I Was Made for Loving You" was on the "Dynasty" album... a great album, if you're a twelve year-old, anyway.

The world economy is f***ed, and capitalism has failed. No government knows what to do to fix it, so theyre all trying something different. Communism failed first, though.

Single - "Tainted Love" by I can't remember now Album - "Dynasty" Kiss

Originally Posted By: Rag-Doll yeah but you get the cultural experience in Niseko!!

Well you don't know whether you're getting a cold or the 'flu, when all you have is a headache and a runny nose... let's see what happens.

Originally Posted By: Rag-Doll This might come as a surprise to some but there have been recessions before and the world didn't end. I recall one in the 1930's, and the world didn't end, but there were certainly some tense moments...

Seriously though, with all the fear and loathing going around at the moment, I wonder how much of an impact the credit crunch will have on the operations of ski resorts everywhere. Some, particularly in Australia, are running on pretty tight margins, as far as I am aware, and are probably dependent on credit for their seasonal upgrades, maintenance, etc. I doubt it's just the owners of accomodation that should be worried.