torihada

Originally Posted By: torihada As I've mentioned before I have had numerous severe head impacts (mtb crashes) and the last time my helmet saved me from a fractured skull at least, Originally Posted By: Fang How do you know? Did you go back and try it without the helmet and then compare results? The helmet (Giro Parachute with chin gaurd) was split from front to back; inch wide split. I had severe bruising around my temples and bridge of nose as well as jaw. (I admit the helmet wouldn't have stopped my shoulder from seperating, but I can (and do) live with that). Me thinks the

Originally Posted By: Fang Originally Posted By: torihada I had a couple of tumbles last week and was glad to be wearing a helmet, especially after checking my speed; had my garmin GPS on me and I clocked 56 mph on one run. I didn't think I was going that fast and after that decided to wind it down a bit. Imagine cracking your beanie clad head on a groomed piste at that speed. Imagine increasing the mass and angular momentum of your head such that what would have been a nasty crack on the head turned into a fatal brain stem injury. As I've said before, I'm not saying that snow li

Originally Posted By: sanjo Cool. Any pics to throw up too? I'm interested in seeing more. Still trawling through the headcam footage . Have got some photos (not that many as I couldn't be bothered to carry the camera) which I'll upload sometime soon.

Visiting the family. The only reason I learnt to snowboard was from visiting snowbound Akita. I can see a small slope from the back of the inlaws house. Years ago I remember asking what all the lights on the mountain were for and was told it was a 'nighta'. Here's another clip: Tazawako Conditions over Christmas/New Year conspired to keep us at only 2 resorts: Tazawako & Appi and the late snow meant I didn't get up to Kawaba when in Gunma (more family) and I managed one nighta at the local hill. Still good memories and at times we had the pistes to ourselves conbined with vis

Just back from a few weeks in Akita & Iwate. Here's some helmetcam footage from Tazawako ski resort: snowjapan.tv

I am amazed at the number of kids in Japan skiing helmetless, even in the ski schools. I had a couple of tumbles last week and was glad to be wearing a helmet, especially after checking my speed; had my garmin GPS on me and I clocked 56 mph on one run. I didn't think I was going that fast and after that decided to wind it down a bit. Imagine cracking your beanie clad head on a groomed piste at that speed.

Downloading photos now and checking the headcam...watch this space. When I left on Sat am it was dumping forecasted 70 cm.

Was there last week for 4 days. One day in powder then 3 days of blue skies and corduroy. Got to say without fresh snow I got bored, but was very quiet midweek.

Originally Posted By: SKI Quote: so its cup noodles frm Lawson all round Yum! You been to Appi before? 16 days seems a long time there. Late reply as was in Japan with no internet access. Was actually 10 day tickets which dont go far between four of us. Have been to Appi before and was there for 4 days until last Friday. Was with the kids but after 3 days without fresh snow I got rather bored, beautiful weather though and could actually see Iwate-san. Sadly I had to leave as it dumped 70 cm Lawson at Appi was a let down; if you're there and need provisions get there ear

I do like sprouts as long as they`re undecooked. I have memories from school of half hour cooked sprouts, completely mushed and foul tasting. Mrs T (nihonjin) chops em up and stir fries them with garlic. Oiishi; we eat them all the time. But when it comes to beetroot, sprouts are out of its league. Beetroot is the king of all veggies. Freshly boiled, warm and a sprinkle of salt, raw and shredded in a salad, borsht, stews and sweet-pickled mmmmmmmmmm.

so basically we`re all fecked. we`ve been spending beyond our means and its our kids that are going to have to pay for it. yeah merry christmas and bah humbug.

Originally Posted By: muikabochi Which slopes will it be torihada? Was going to Kawaba today; no point due to conditions. Hopefully Tazawako (Akita)if it opens, Ani (Akita & already open), local ski jo (if it opens)- mainly for nightas and convenience - and four days at Appi Kogen which is booked for 2nd week of Jan. Fingers crossed for a big dump this week.

scrub that. 10 day passes for 4 man, that would`ve been a bargain. can convert 1 day pass into 2 kid`s passes.

Originally Posted By: iiyamadude At least you've got lots of cheap sales in the shops at home, torihada Saving my readies for lift tickets. Just slapped down 4 man for 16 day tickets at Appi: so its cup noodles frm Lawson all round

My pound is worth feck all. If only we`d joined the Euro we`d have a little more stability, and trade would be a lot easier.

3 weeks off (one week annual leave tacked on). Hopefully snow will arrive and can spend most of remaining 2 weeks on the slopes.

Originally Posted By: iiyamadude Quote: wouldnt they be drowning in powder? They'd be stuck in the onsen or grass skiing right now. Yep,　I`m off mudboarding at Kawaba on Tuesday

Originally Posted By: quattro If you have a U.S. Garmin there is some third party topo maps available for Japan. Cant remember the name right off but there was some info over on the avi section of the section of the forums. 3rd party Japanese map for Garmin GPS This is 1:25000 detail, which is pretty good.

Originally Posted By: Youdy Helmets dont make your head tree or rock proof they really only prevent cuts and bruises or small concussions. Should take a look at the recent study done by the canadian ski association; heres a quote "the use of a helmet will cushion the brain from a sudden impact to a certain amount, but in the instances when a fatality is likely, it will be unlikely to cushion it enough" I have had a lot of bike related crashes over the years on and off road. With probably 4 or 5 direct head to hard surface impacts at high speed (+ 20 mph). These have saved me from co

Originally Posted By: Go Native Mate I've been skiing 23 years without one and have no intention of starting now. When you're as good a skier as I am it just isn't an issue worth considering I wear a helmet, but that's because I really am a pretty crap boarder and has saved my noggin on numerous occasions when I've been rag dolling down the slope. Then again if you aint crashing you aint pushing yourself. Thing is it doesn't matter how good you are; a lapse of concentration, an idiot boarder/skier wiping you out; you cant control an accident once it happens but you can get yourself

Every other day probably (but then am only there for 3 weeks). Up in rural Tohoku I think a lot of the farmers go on an evening - it's a good way to get warmed up before going to bed (well it works for me). There's nothing better than soaking in the 露天 風呂 (rotten furo - outside bath) with the dumpling sized snow flakes falling on your head. Ahhhhhhhhh gokurakuja. Then its to the veding machine for a hot coffee/calpis soda/ice cream (delete as appropiate). The family's already picked out the first onsen; Ikaho in Gunma next week. I can't wait.

Also check out the ATC-5000 Wireless helmet camera. That's also got a small LCD screen at the rear of the camera to preview what you're filming which is not a bad idea. I have filmed entire runs with the camera p*ssed and its very frustrating. It also has a wireless remote so you could start/stop recording without having to faff around taking your helmet off. UK price GB£145 with 4 gb card which given the strength of the Yen might be the way to buy (about ni mai Yen or about US$210). The next stage up for integral units is the VholdR wireless helmet camcorder but is a bit pricier. By thi

The boeri helmet would have the same issues as a bullet cam for snowboarders; what with sliding sidewise. I imagine also the video spec is p**s poor as they give no spec as to camera (how many lines, is it cmos?). I imagine it would be poor phone video quality. I've managed to slim my kit down to a nice vio sport bullet cam (520 lines) with waterproof leads/connectors into a slimline solid state DV recorder (records 640 x 480 to a SD card, small enough to fit into a cigarette pkt) with a Lanc controler (wired remote). So now it fits under my jkt & I switch it on/off when I want. Prev

Not off to northern Gunma - I'm off to Ota (18 miles west of Maebashi)- obviously not for the snow. If there's a dump I'll sneak up to Kawaba for a day. I am a glutton for punishment, I just love driving at 20 mph for 100 miles with no overtaking behind ojisan farmer in his 20 yr old 700 cc pickup

Originally Posted By: brit-gob Ho ho ho. I can't remember how old I was when I found out Santa was not real What??????? You're kidding. Oh no..does that mean the tooth fairy as well........