Mike Pow

Fair enough. Unless you're first in there are always going to be tracks. Crossing tracks and hitting untracked diamonds keeps me more than happy. And then there's the factor of what you ski on. I ski on a narrower platform (173cm skis with a profile of 112-79-106) compared with most which allows me to ski different lines and have a more immersive experience in the powder.

Exactly. You don't have to go far to find it. You just have to be able to ski / board it. And want to ski the shorter lines. Whilst the locusts are in Strawberry fields I'm skiing Blueberry, Shinya, off the corner of Silver Dream etc, etc

Heading over a little later this season. Hoping to arrive on 25 November.

THURSDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2013 The Met Office is calling for the freezing level to drop below the summits of the Brecon Beacons National Park over the weekend with the possibility for the first snow of winter 2013-14 on Monday afternoon (18 November). BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/mountain-forecasts/brecon-beacons#?tab=mountainWeather Last winter saw the first snow (Yr eira gyntaf in the Welsh language) on the peaks of the Brecon Beacons National Park on 01 November 2012, and the first turns on 03 November 2012. Cwm Llwch p

Most people are looking for the marquee runs close to the lifts with wide open spaces and long vertical. Not surprisingly these areas get tracked out quite quickly. For example, Super Course, Rinkan, Konayuki. If you're able to ski / board tighter trees and happy to lap shorter pitches you can ski untracked lines for most of the day For example, far skiers left of Miharashi the trees between Miharashi (the run) and Konayuki. Dropping below Holiday and taking the river traverse back to the gondola

Plenty of untracked in Niseko United post lunch if you know where to go.

Through the gates at Niseko United and Moiwa. Off the back of Mt Annupuri and then skiining up to Iwaonupuri.

Yep. Had 2 weeks in Seattle in November 2005 before heading to Keystone, Colorado for the season. And 2 weeks in April 2006 at the end of the season. Alpental, Baker, Crystal. Loved it.

Another good suggestion. Seattle's a great city where you can legitimately live a city / mountain hybrid life. Alpental, Steven's Pass, Snoqualamie about an hour from downtown. Crystal and Baker about 3 hrs. Whistler and the Oregon resorts perfect for long weekends.

Park City, Utah, USA Plenty of shops & restaurants. Sundance Film Festival Great scenery Bands play the valley Vibrant arts community in Salt Lake City approx. 45 mins away Salt Lake City airport approx. 45 mins away. Access to non-snow destinations for weekends away

Give yourself an uppercut.

Very good article on Kosovo in September 2013 issue of Skiing magazine Seems like Brezovica isn't running anymore, but there is a cheap cat operation ----- Up & Down (& Up Again) in Kosovo Skiing is not exactly what Kosovo is known for. But in this tiny new country, the sport might just help heal some war wounds. Or, at the very least, provide employment for one good snowcat mechanic. WORDS BY Tim Neville PHOTOGRAPHY BY Dan and Janine Patitucci Some call me Timsky. “Timsky!” shouts Dren Menda, eyes flashing under ski goggles pushed onto his bro

Thanks. Will let you know.

Sounds a great trip ozsnowbum. How big is your group?

We went there and hiked it in July. A stunning place and an awesome mountain. It's on the bucket list for a spring ski trip! Let's talk im in the process of booking a guided tour to rishiri in february. its about 75000 yen just for 3 days guiding and snowmobile. Which dates please?

We went there and hiked it in July. A stunning place and an awesome mountain. It's on the bucket list for a spring ski trip! Let's talk

Most of my time will be spent at Kiroro Niseko United Moiwa Would like to spend more time at Sapporo Kokusai Ski the lake side of Windsor Snow Village And get to Rishiri

DAY 6 : TUESDAY 01 MARCH 2011 Left Zabjlak under fog at 9.30 and got to Kolasin just before 11am http://kolasin1450.com/ Parking is 1 euro per hour Half day pass 09.00 - 13.00 is 12 euro Full day pass 09.00 - 16.00 is 20 euro From 01 March only the six seater is open midweek. Some great groomers off the six seater and also old growth tree skiing of the highest order. Snow was crust on some aspects and spongy on others. Snowfall pattern is similar to Brezovica. Did a number of laps in the trees and on the groomers. Felt great in the boots and on the skis.

Thanks systemsguy.

DAY 5 : MONDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2011 Great night's sleep and woke to clear skies. Got my stuff together and went out for sunrise pics of the Savin Kuk / Durmitor Ski Area. Drove back to the hotel for breakfast and then back at the hill for 8.55 Shame the lifts don't start turning until 10am 2 euros for lift side parking and 15 euros for the lift pass. Only the first 2-man chair was running. Yesterday's sunshine had baked the snow in parts, but shaded areas under the cliff face and in the trees were magic.

Great info, pics and vid of Brezovica in the following links (also Valbona Valley, Albania) http://www.coreshot.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=129&Itemid=48 [VIDEO]http://vimeo.com/23842378#[/VIDEO]

After such a great trip to Macedonia last month and with Western Europe still hurting for snow I headed back to the Balkans. TR: Western Balkans Part I - Popova Shapka, Macedonia (January 2011) http://www.snowjapan...a-january-2011/ DAY 1 : THURSDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2011 Return train travel from Aberdare to London Heathrow - 50 euros Return Air Austria flight from Heathrow to Skopje, Macedonia - 208 euros Got in to Skopje just before midnight. DAY 2 : FRIDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2011 Rented an Opel Astra from SIXT at the airport - 180 euros for 8 days rental with unlimi

DAY 7 : THURSDAY 27 JANUARY 2011 0cm of new snow overnight. The top chair opened today. Sunny for a while with wind affected powder. But still plenty of untracked and unaffected powder all over the mountain. Lost my left ski at the start of the day. Found it an hour later over 200m away from where I lost it. Phew. Did the traverse skier's right off the top chair to ski the Ciripasina area and thankfully got in ahead of the Eskimo Freeride crew. Eskimo Freeride head guide Nena waiting for the group to catch up The terrain beneath the top chair

DAY 6 : WEDNESDAY 26 JANUARY 2011 0cm of new snow overnight. The wind woke me up before the sun and with the chairs swinging on the cable I thought the top chairlift wouldn't be running. I was right, it didn't move all day. So I skinned the mountain at sunrise. 2.5 hrs to get to the top. Amazing terrain off the backside. That's where Eskimo Freeride should be going. Skied off the telegraph peak, then above the rocks and round past the couloir I skied yesterday. Epic. Got back in time for breakfast and then chille

Thanks.