XilR8

The pages I look at most often are the Now! pages on the front of the site for the latest updates on conditions at resorts. But when they say for example "just a couple of cm expected tonight", I'd like to look at the weather forecast. But the only way of doing that I can see is by going resorts->prefecture->resort name Shouldn't there be a link on the Now! page, eg Yuzawa now, to the info pages for the resorts covered by that Now! report? And if there is, shouldn't someone show it to me while I go and get a new pair of glasses? Thanks...

Make sure you try the "Mizuo" sake from there too. That stuff is the bomb

If I go up on my own, I sometimes scout for other single skiers (they're always skiers for some reason) and get them to share a taxi with me. It's about 3,400 yen total fare IIRC.

Get out at Echigo Yuzawa station, then you take the bus in front of the station that goes to Mitsumata, Tashiro and Naeba. Get off at Mitsumata, which is the base of the gondola.

Thanks Kuma, saw that thread over there. I wouldn't say it "feels" slippier than the regular sintered WFO base, but we're talking about the properties of the actual base compound versus water, so who knows. Anyway, it can't hurt to wax it!

Kuma, do you have the new Fish LTD? With the N20 base? I just got one but can't figure out whether I'm meant to wax it or not.

representative of the amount of choice for winter sports this weekend then, isn't it?

I think I'm going to head to Kagura on Sunday. According to snow-forecast, another 22cm set to fall up top on Friday night.

Well, it seems winter has finally come to Honshu with the first major snowfalls of the season and more to come at the weekend. Any plans for first turns, and where will you be going?

Originally Posted By: samurai did people on a ski/snowboard forum just say Whistler is in America? Jesus. I'm not even going to correct you. skidaisuki, 108 to the US dollar isn't low? How long have you been in Japan? Obviously longer than myself... because 108 is a 3.8 year record. Last month I got roughly a 120 exchange with Lloyds. This month I got roughly a 110. I haven't seen rates this low in over 3 years. It shot from 116 to 121 in one day when Kim Jung Il launched his fizissles. Samurai, 120 to the dollar is a lower (weaker yen) than 108! I think you just proved skidaisk

I boarded Karuizawa on November 1st last season. Expect them to be open from then on again this season. 2 weeks later Naeba opens. Both with artificial snow of course! But if you're desperate...

Nice commentary. Puts things in a little perspective.

Man who wank into cash register, come into money

What browser are you using? Firefox or IE?

Everyone here is very Nikon-oriented. Does anyone use Canon? What about the Kiss Digital N (350D)?

Mostly day trips, overnight bus out, arrive at 6am, board for the whole day, back home by 9pm.

Mine doubled. 120k last year, 250k this year. Unbelievable.

You can always go the rental route and see which you like better that way. Although you should give each one a few days at least, because you probably won't enjoy the first few days falling on your arse all that much!

Originally Posted By: spook can't remember which nozawa one it was, but i had an old yoda-ish man lecture me all on the virtues of onsen water. he then proceeded to drink the (very hot) stuff straight out of the pipe in the wall, accompanied with lots of oishiis. i'm not sure if this is normal behaviour or not, but i've never seen it before. i was somewhere between stunned and amused, as were all the other japanese men in there. Spook, I think that guy is there every day, as I had exactly the same experience. That was one of the free ones where you just walk straight in off the street,

Well Beaujolais Nouveau is never going to get any better... What is with the Japanese obsession with this wine? I swear the Japanese market keeps it in business!

Especially when not aged, I'd always choose a new world wine over a French wine. They're simply not made to be drunk young, and there's an awful lot of low-quality stuff floating around. Not too keen on South African either, especially their awful Chenin Blancs.

On the other hand, you won't get cork rot from a screw top wine ever!

Yeah, it was just 1 each. Tightwads!

I went up about 20th May last year and got discount lift tickets, Y2500 for a ticket, valid for the whole of 2006/7 season. Never used em ;-) Was a bit disappointed not to get one this year, although it was only 22nd April the last time I went up there.

Karuizawa opens on 1st November with artificial snow, but the hill is about the same height as I am...