AK 77

Good thread. Qu: How high up did it snow last week - all the way to the top? It felt like it had snowed up to about the top of the gondola on Happo (height?), and then maybe sleet from there up, but was hard to tell from the snow on piste. Although the rain and subsequent freezing VERY bad for future snow stability, isn't a slow accumulation of more small layers better than one big dump at this time of year? I'm not saying it is any way safe out there, or that it will be safe in the future.

No. Weekend report: Sat: Perfect packed powder on piste for carving on the top half OF What is open (ie. one run), and hard packed on bottom half of what is open. Both fun. The odd rock or dirt patch poking through on a cat track and holes around the edges of cat tracks to fall into / ollie over. Sun: light small flake snow in the air - packing down into that marbly hard shiny snow that is easy to catch an edge on, on the lower run, and heavy snow on the upper run. Both days fun. In an early season training kind of way, but injuries waiting to happen for beginners and t

CB - ski racing? Or watching horse racing in a smokey speak easy?

Avoid massage on the lower back unless it's from a chripractor - there's not alot of good you can do there as an amateur. I tweaked my lower back a bit earlier this autumn, jarring it running out of a trick skating. Plus i think i slept funny or sat in twisted position at work. It was a bit sore the first run last weekend - hitting the chunky chopped powder in low visability, but it got better over the course of the day with the active strong posture of snowboarding. Massage on the areas around the lower back, ie. the rest of the back/shoulders, thighs and hips, and even lower legs a

OK. By the way, anyone in Hakuba seen my beige corduroy cap (i-path brand with red circular logo on front, and a silver pin in the side of a boy with a bird on his head - a local sculpture). FT seen it at yours? The day i came and painted maybe? I think i may have lost it at Snowbeds or Masta Brasta that weekend... (the 25th/26th November...) I hate losing hats. There could be a reward if found! (beer!)

oh yeah, so have I, now you mention it - he must be in Live Naturally - I'll try to find that before I come up to Hakuba - harldy any fs, just powder, trees and natural hits. And stoners and trance music. Very Omachi/Hakuba.

I think he means, did you see him riding last year. I haven't but i've seen the odd photo in magazines.

lunch while skiing is a pretty expensive rest, and besides you should be skiing. Go in for short stops to dry out goggles and hats, and eat your power bar with several glasses of free water, then get out again when the hordes head in. I can't believe how much Japanese people like to take breaks when skiing or snowboarding. Mind you the French take a break all afternoon if it's sunny.

Oyuki lets have an extreme euro carve competition next time your up here! Aim: full circle carve, closeness of body to snow, correct armpit form, smooth return to standing, thin tracks. This will of course be deadly serious. Image training and practicing the correct form while standing beforehand will be permitted. Smiling or outward expressions of enjoyment will not be permitted. Unless they are in German or French.

yes, maybe. thats why i will never try to post arguaments against wearing a helmet.

yes... weather looks like maybe similar to last weekend. I'll be there. EBC you gonna go skiing this weekend or just get drunk?

Crack the whip TJ.

Quote: Originally posted by eskimobasecamp: less time in the onsen? what exactly is good about LESS time in an onsen? hot water, nakedness, thawing out.... bring it on. one of AK's arguments goes something like this - if you wear a helmet you are buying yourself extra courage, so you go extra hard, take more chances, think you can do anything... and thus have more chance of hurting yourself.... and anyway, you could fall on your spine, not your head, so what difference does it make. but i'd rather protect myself where you can. i would have taken myself out in nz had i not been we

tash!!! woah! thats may more dirtbag than a beard. pics! I've got a christmas beard on the go, but it might have to turn into a comedy trucker mustache for a day at the end of the hols. tally ho.

dirtbag hippies. glad you've got some role models, Toque! Hows your beard?

oi potato, I used the phrase 'personal choice' in response to EBCs effort to make this a more entertaining thread with a weak attempt to get me to post some "anti-helmet" wearing opinions, as she knows I don't wear one (most of the time). I used the phrase to deflect this, rather than answer it, as even if i did have anti-helmet opinions (such as your all a bunch of over-equiped, under-skilled desk jockeys buying courage in the form of a helmet) WHICH I DON'T, then i wouldn't write them because you can't tell people not to wear helmets. What I meant was you can try to convince others

Carving is not difficult on a snowboard in the right conditions, but hard to keep correct when it's icy / bumpy / really steep. I learnt to carve the first day i rode a snowboard - it had K2 Clicker step-in bindings which may have played a part, plus i could ski and skateboard already, which is a big help. The first turn i made was a medium radius toeside carve, continuing round back up hill as i didn't know how to stop with all the speed i picked up. I remember looking at the completely thin carved tracks i left on the piste, sharp curves with gaps the width of a board between

Sorry, HI BAROK. Looks like a good crew massing for christmas / new years. Looking forward to some good turns and fun times.

Your jacket looked top quality, Kuma. Good colour to spot too. I appear to have some tree on my jacket - that'll teach me to ride on my feet instead of my back! The tree bashing mini pillows were fun - hope your board is ok.

You didn't meet Oyuki, EBC, he wasn't at the party. But he was on the hill snowboarding (switch) in p p p powdaa! the next day though (and the day before). As was Kuma - nice to meet you get the first powder turns of the season in together while remembering how to snowboard! Thank you Oyuki for being Mr Instructor as well as rocking so many cool bandanas. So cool - where did you buy them all? Thank you FT for dinner. And season pass advice (even if i didn't follow it - I appreciate knowledgable impartial advice - it enabled me to make my decision). Day 1 of the season lo

Quote: Originally posted by Mr Wiggles: Still, that's me off the mark! First day done. Good show.

Quote: Originally posted by Oyuki kigan: Who is that? The Tokyo guy? yes.

ok, i'll pack my village people steez (bagsy being the one with a tomahawk) just in case. And no asking out my neighbour - she has a boyfriend!

Riding in the rain is fine - as long as it's on a reasonable base. Makes you feel like a 'real snowboarder / skier'.

Oyuki - I'm going to drive up as planned first thing Sat, but going to make a decision on the weather when i get there... might wait till sunday if it's only worth one day's riding.