blu

some of the best skiers at Noz midweek, are over 70.

I stayed in Fresh Powder years ago. However, these days I try to support the locals rather than the o/s investors.

Depends how steep the slope is. Most times you can just dig the tip/nose out and keep going. It can get really difficult if it's flatter & you have to take the back foot out and dig & skate. Never had much luck with swimming out, although I haven't tried the backstroke yet.

Pant Down Arai - gotta love that! GranDeco Snow Resort (Tohoku). (I've heard of Art Deco)

you will know if you need one - I do.

don't fall downhill

about ten years now for me. Hate getting slammed on the hardpack and much safer in the trees - those branches do whip.

My bank informed that my credit card with a specific $500 limit, does not stop larger transactions from being charged. I got that limit because I only use it on the Net and I wanted to lower my exposure for a fraudulent transaction.

Hi Hoky, you can ski near Kyoto at Biwako. It is accessable by train. See these links for information: http://www.kyoto.travel/about_kyoto/lake_biwa.html http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resortdetail.php?resid=174

Approx costs are: Niseko-Chitose bus $25 Chitose-Narita using Jal Airpass $150 Narita-Tokyo (N'ex) & Tokyo-Nagano Shink and return $240 for JR East "Any 4 day" Rail Pass Nagano - Happo bus station $15 That's approximately $430. Otherwise there's an overnight bus from Tokyo.

go Noz. For me, Shiga was not that great, with only limited offpiste & dumping heavy wet snow in mid Feb, with overcrowded, slow buses.

to avoid excess luggage costs we posted ski boots & snowboard boots back from Tokyo last February. We got two boxes and a roll of packing tape from Tokyu Hands department store. Squashed in a a few other small items as well so as to protect the boots. TYotal cost for postage for the two boxes was about 8,000 yen or about $120 on last years bad exchange rate (I think the $ amount is about right not sure exactly on the yen). Took 6 weeks to arrive back by surface mail in perfect condition.

... As also reported by Australian news - no dolpins killed (yet) (ie: was reported as "suspended"). Looks like the Jmedia is now showing some interest: "... the Japanese media has arrived in Taiji en masse" http://ecoworldly.com/2009/09/01/dolphin-slaughter-in-taijis-cove-suspended/

Just shown on national news; 'Taiji to suspend dolphin slaughter as a result of the film The Cove'.

always a worry when duck diving that display (done it once or twice, without being cleaned up in the process).

"There are wharehouses full of dolphin meat as there is no demand for it and there is no economic value at all. Dolphin watching is a far more sustainable and profitable option". Some nice points Farquah.

hi Mantas. I'm against it, maybe because of my surf culture background too. I'm with Rasta - he's becoming a bit of an eco warrior. I hope it gets some world media attention. Because somethings been done like that for centuries, doesn't mean it's right (or humane). Maybe it's time for some lateral and analytical thinking.

Dave Rastovich will probably paddle out amongst it. Not sure if Isabel Lucas can get back into the country to protest, she would probably be arrested.

please see National Geographic report for details: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/08/090810-cove-movie-dolphins-ngm.html

use JALPAK/JTB for airpass

Rusutsu is our favourite resort (the lift capacity is greater than the hotel capacity). The Travel Lodge looks pretty good, although we always stay in the hotel. It's got the Mongolian BBQ next to it. Biggest problem at Rusutsu is being "locked into" the hotel restaurants. Get a meal plan otherwise it's very expensive. There is a Seico Mart accross the road. But for us 5 nights is the maximum we handle that Disney styled hotel. Then back to Kamui & kitataisetsu

Once saw a wallet left at the hand basin while a person was in the cubicle.

not the impact shorts - saves the tailbone (ouch).

is your stance setup properly

We booked the Prince for mid February. Probably not as much opportunity for offpiste/tree skiing as Niseko or Rusutsu.