Crudzilla
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Posts posted by Crudzilla
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If you want to visit a shop then Jimbotcho in the Tokyo is where I got all my stuff a few seasons ago, good selection but still a bit thin for people my height. As somone said before take a notebook and go to all the stores getting thier best prices, its one of the few places in Japan where you can haggle.
HOWEVER
With the exception of boots I'd say buy it on the internet!
Especially if you know exactly what models and sizes you want. The shipping here is really cheap, usually arrives the next day, and you can pay the postman so you don't need to worry about credit cards etc!
Most places use kuroneko delivery which costs 300-1000 yen even for big stuff and you just pay the guy when he shows up. You could probably even get it delivered to hotels...
I got myself a last season Burton Custom 166 (a size that I would never find here in Nagano, in fact I'm struggling to find a bag for it now >.<) for 20,000 about a month ago. This week I got my bindings (This seasons Flow NXT AT for 40% off!!! couldn't believe it)
Also recomend an american site called Moosejaw.com. got my jacket and trousers there this year, you need a credit card but the dollar is so cheap atm that even with the $70 shipping to Japan (UPS) they still came in at about 2/3 the price that they would have cost me here and in sizes that aren't even available in Japan!
Off to get boots tomorrow, I'd say buy boots at a shop as you really want to find a good fit! For the rest of it go online!
Oh and a tip for buying online in Japan... just go to japanese google and click the only search japan button then type in the model you are looking for and the top results are often what your looking for at the cheapest prices. Alot of the websites look really crummy and are the kind of places that I would never give my credit card / trust my order in the UK... BUT with the pay the post man option no credit card and if it never shows up you never pay
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Haven't been to church since I realised that there is no god at the tender age of 15 or so
But if the original poster is still reading, then this might interest them... I was looking into Norikura and thinking of getting a season pass there when I found a gaijin run lodge up there called Northstar with a distinctly christian bent to it.
The guy who runs the lodge (with its own school, rentals and backcountry tours no less) also runs an organisation called Snowboarders for Christ (or the Japan chapter at least)
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I think there you can buy some sort of Hakuba multi resort pass from JTB or something... not sure but I think I heard my teachers talking it. Similar to the one you can win in the lottery. Would probably be perfect for you guys! Would be great value and an awesome way to spend the winter!
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There are special azusas that run all the way up Hakuba (for rich tokyo types) but they are very infrequent, maybe just on in the morning and one in the evening... The train nerds are always out in force taking photos of them in the snow and mountain scenery
I got the oito line from Matsumoto to Kashimayari (yanaba station) for a whole season.
Was a nice way to travel and that particular resort is the first in the valley and very close to the station. Was a good way to hit the snow without a car, nice resort too as its 2in1 and not too busy, cheap dorm at the top with an onsen too! Journey took just over an 70 mins ish, but watch out for trains that you have
The train is also full of old guy skiiers and highschool kids with thier boards. Got a car this year so I'm probably going to head a bit further up.
If you are going from Matsumoto by car then get out to Toyoshina and take the Olympic Road, a special road that they built for people to get to the snow during the games. The expressway is a good option if you can fill your car but kinda expensive if you are alone. If you get up early the olympic road can be really quick!
As for resorts closer to Matsumoto theres Asahi Prime which is really close. I've never been but I heard that its pretty awful, just 1 small chair lift on a hill I think. You can also head up to Norikura, that place is really nice and not half as busy as Hakuba but the drive is probably a similar distance.
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I blagged free tickets for this off the Matsumoto city council website. Going tomorrow
Tanoshimi! -
Sweet, they got up there! that must have been cool
Was watching from the back for Iggy but managed to spot myself on WOWOW the other week in the crowd for Muse, and Kings of Leon (if you could call the CoL ppl a crowd) they don't seem too popular here.
For muse all the Japanese fans were singing along in perfect English, I was shocked!
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Aye, all the protective gear might make it a bit pricey.
That carve board looks cool, for a more surfey feel, watched the vid and it tilts to quite an angle eh! not sure I could get the hang of that.
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Speaking of the pain spook I found a good reson not to try this...
still might give it a go though!
(warning - a bit gorey at the end)
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Yeah I tried a freinds longboard back in the UK, It was alot of fun on the right hill but not being able to slow down made it too scary for me on steeper stuff.
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ooh nifty, thanks
I did actually search for it but forgot to ommit the "A" lol
edit - actually I just realised that I didn't increase the time feild from 1 week. Sorry guys must be a pain when someone reposts the same crap... apologies!
did you ever try it spook?
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Anyone out there ever ridden a Freebord? (a dropped intentionaly it seems... kids these days!)
I only just heard of them but aparently they allow one to "snowboard on concrete" I watched the "watch the ride" video on thier site and it pretty much has me convinced!
http://www.freebord.com/main.html
Looks like a ton of fun and a good way to make use of those random roads to nowhere in the mountains round here. Seems to handle incredibly like a snowboard (see the guy stopping for the truck in the vid) and travel insanely fast (end of the vid).
Anyone tried it, was it as good as it looks?
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Like you wouldn't drive a roller into a pool if you could afford to
Having more money than you know what to do with must make alot of people do things that they probably regret when they are sober (not because you'd miss the rolls but you think of the good uses you could put that money to). Would be nice to know how that feels though eh!
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I have trouble understanding my water bill and for the first few months didn't work out what it was and didn't pay it. Thus this kinda scam would never work on me. I't just sit in my junk mail pile. Protection through ignorance!
PS. my junk mail pile is HUGE. Is there anything I could stick to my door telling them not to post it and would it work?
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Need to be pink. Then I'd definately wear them!
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Not a huge zep fan either but love the who. Sure they're all front and no substance but you don't always need substance in your music (well I don't) Isn't it enough to just ROCK? Anyway I like seeing these old time rockers giving it thier best shot (except Mcartney... he should just give up) Saw Iggy & the stooges this summer and they put on a good show! He even invited the crowd up on stage with him and got swamped by about 150 crazed japanese fans
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I recently joined facebook to discover that just about everyone I ever knew in my entire life also uses it
Even my mum for christs sake!Anyway have found it a great way to keep in touch with freinds back in blighty and its a really handy way to share my photos (its cool being able to tag people in photos). Also a handy way to organise events and get people you know to turn up...
I'd recomend it, though like me jane says steer well clear of all the extra crap.
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Ugh glad he's gone, though suprised he went before the debate that he originaly staked his leadership on (the debate on support of the US war in afghanistan).
The BBC report had a scary theory that the LDP may have sacrificed Abe in a deal with the opposition to get the navy support pushed through in the debate... That would be truly scary but explain his departure before the debate.
Anyway if theres one good thing that his successor can learn from Abe then it's to stay away from a certain shrine! Other than that Abe was pretty weaksauce and a bit too nationalistic in my opinion.
Now that he has some free time Abe should head up here to Nagano and realise that Japan is already a freaking beautiful country
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I just finished reading 1984... great read.
I found it scary how in the book people who were 'disapeared' then had to be forgotten by the entire population, so that it was as if they had never existed in the first place. Those who control the past control the future
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Those pants attatching to jacket things are a great way for companies to sell you both eh! Ah well its gonna work on me too >.<
Who's zip system is that Oyuki?
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Man, I remember my first time trying snowboarding. Wasn't sure I'd get into it so didn't want to buy any gear.
Went in 2 wooly jumpers with a kagoul over the top and a pair of purple waterproof trousers over tracksuit bottoms. They worked fine really. But its nice to have shiny gear even if its only gonna make a difference to a pro.
BTW did you see the new snowskirts some companies are putting on thier ladies wear? Super cute and perfect for Japanese snow bunnies me thinks
These might be quite popular here as they already love wearing skirts over trousers... http://www.snowboard-mag.com/node/22989 (towards the bottom)
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cheers, I'll have to look into one of those too now.. more $$$ sigh
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I have a DSLR that I bought a few years ago, Cannon EOS 350 or something (kiss in japan?). Wasn't so expensive at the time and the lens I use the most is a cheap do it all sigma (wideish - 300). Even with this budget set up I wouldn't dream of taking up the mountain.
What do you guys pack your gear in? Is there a special line of snowboard camera packs out there somewhere. Or are you just gods that never stack it?
edit - oh and a newbie question but do you need any special filters/polarisers for decent snow pics?
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Having to buy all new stuff as I never thought I'd be back when I left Nagano 2 yrs ago and gave my entire setup to a buddy.
Bought last seasons Burton Custom online for 2 man (that new model X looks sweet kuma)
Looking to buy:
Flow NXT AT Bindings
Whatever boots feel the best (I've like burtons in the past)
Bonfire snow gear as its dead sexy
I want to buy some sweet oakleys (the US site has a huuuge selection but for some reason the Japan site only sell sunglasses >.<)
On the subject of shopping Across opened a new snowboard shop near my house (minami matsumoto). Its absolutely massive with the largest selection I've seen in just about any shop ever (including those in jimbotcho) All snowboard no ski junk
except a bizarre collection of oakley golf bags... Not much of next seasons stuff in yet but they got ALL the new Burton gear and the beautiful catalogue in abundant supply (you photo types will love some of the shots in that!) Old stuff is going cheap so go check it out! Nice staff too!
Bindings
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
Flow NXT-AT
I like flows and they seem to get better each year, I like the big strap as its comfortable and the speed and simplicity is nice also. They got alot lighter too!