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dyna8800

SnowJapan Member
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Posts posted by dyna8800

  1. Another question might be "how much vert." but that would mean that you had a method to keep track of vertical and/or distance.

     

    It also depends on how long the lifts are operating. Some resorts open at 7, 8, or 8:30 am and close at 4, 4:30, 5, or stay open for night skiing.

     

    With a "large" mountain like Happo-one, I can cover almost every run in a full day, usually doing laps on the runs that I find interesting or enjoyable. Somewhere like Shiga Kogen, you would need 3-4 days to reach the other areas that can only be accessed by bus, etc.

     

    I am not always on the first chair, but almost always on the last. There is nothing like riding down the last run of the day at dusk with patrol right behind closing it out.

     

    Mamabear, with some practice, you can learn how to balance and to fasten traditional bindings while standing up.

  2. Probably the Examiner is from Snow Trainers. They offer an 8 week course in Niseko.

     

    For the Instructor Academy, last I heard they could not get sanctioned for the Canadian course, so they offer the NZ course.

     

    Club Med has an annual listing for CSIA Level 2 ski instructors to work in Sahoro.

     

    Mina2, can you ping me with the details of the Canyons course, i.e. price, etc.?

     

    Thanks,

  3. Mina2,

     

    I did the Level 1 CSIA (Canadian) course in Whistler a few years ago. You need to be an upper intermediate skier who can ski parallel.

     

    Probably the Level 3 Instructor from Canyons is the course conductor for the program.

     

    For getting a job at Japanese ski resorts, you need to have a professional level certification such as from PSIA, CSIA, NZSIA, etc.

     

    At most other ski resorts in Canada and the States, usually they hire people and then put them through their own internal programs, and they get certified by the end of the season.

     

    The course is really fulfilling.

     

    Feel free to ping me with any questions!

  4. Creek Boy,

     

    Since I was doing consecutive interpretation, I usually went last.

     

    Wish that I had brought a camera the first day, as the weather conditions were better in the morning and I was in the lead group rather than at the end.

     

    It is probably more difficult to see how much powder there is when looking down the hill, save for the time I watched the woman skier with powder going over her head. Snorkel time!

     

    Here is another photo, hard to see, but about knee to thigh deep on this run.

     

    dyna8800_9.JPG

     

    Motomura-san in the pow...

  5. If the tracks under the gondola were near tower 19/29, then those are from the skiers/snowboarders on the program.

     

    The first time, I skied the line under the gondola and to skier's left, almost to the nets.

     

    The other times, we skied off the knoll towards skier's right and the powder was even deeper. Face shots galore.

     

    There are a couple patrollers who are comfortable speaking English while the rest can speak a little English, they are a bit shy.

     

    The program is only slated to run until mid February. Each time you must present your card and get a numbered bib which is returned at the end of the session.

  6. I hear ya, Black Mountain...

     

    After having gone to Niseko each year about the last 10 years or so, I really needed this experience to see new areas, it made the whole trip worthwhile.

     

    With my snowboarding sister visiting from the States, my suggestion to go to Rutsusu was vetoed, as she first learned how to snowboard in Niseko 6 years ago and wanted to return to ride the pow.

     

    When is the next trip planned for?

  7. Here are the pics. Enjoy!

     

    dyna8800_2.JPG

     

    Patroller Ginga-man

     

    dyna8800_3.JPG

     

    Motomura-san shows us the crevasse.

     

    dyna8800_4.JPG

     

    Hard to see from this photo, but the crack was about 2-3 meters deep.

     

    dyna8800_5.JPG

     

    Motomura-san gives some educational safety information and points out the hazards.

     

    dyna8800_6.JPG

     

    Powder, powder, and powder!

     

    dyna8800_7.JPG

     

    Our group, led by Motomura-san, the Swede (10) and couple from Tokyo (9) and (8), Ginga-man in the back.

     

    dyna8800_8.JPG

     

    Photo with the tall Swede (11)

     

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