Mike Pow

Fabulous

SUMMER SKIING IN THE CENTRAL BEACONS MASSIF

Thanks griller, TubbyBeaverhino, and muikabochi.

WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 I returned home to Wales a month ago hoping for April turns but the snow which fell at the start of the month had unfortunately long since disappeared. With Scotland still going strong and the thermometer barely getting above 10 C there was always a chance that cold air from the north mixed with the early summer rains could deliver one last day this season. And yesterday was that day, and the first time I've been able to ski in Wales in May. In the British Summer Time. SUMMER SKIING IN THE CENTRAL BEACONS MASSIF 16 cm had been forecast on the

Still the 12/13 season here in Wales. Skied yesterday, report to follow

Thanks all

Thanks muikabochi and Dunga.

Pleasure and fingers crossed

DAY 151 : SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Homeward bound after another fabulous winter on Fantasy Island. Great times and great turns with wonderful people from eight different countries. A number whom I skied with for the first time, the majority returning students. The youngest Charlotte aged 6, the oldest John aged 86. I had 113 days on snow at eight ski areas - Chisenupuri, Kiroro, Niseko Moiwa, Niseko United, Noboribetsu Sun Laiva, Rusutsu, Sapporo Kokusai, and Windsor Ski Village - with the deepest turns of my life this winter. The powder

DAY 150 : SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ For my last day of Shiribeshi skiing this season I headed to Kiroro with Greg and Hamilton, and today Greg "got" balancing with the pitch of the slope. Patience, standing tall and relaxed. Blue Danube And this was continued in the steeper off groomed terrain where we surprisingly found up to knee deep powder. Greg staying "longer for longer"

DAY 149 : FRIDAY 12 APRIL 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ No new snow in the Niseko Resort Area but a day of light snowfall at Kiroro with Ian and Hamilton. After a couple of runs Ian took one for the team and stepped out of his Dynafit TLT 5 Mountain boots and stepped in to Hamilton's Tecnicas. Ian lasted two runs and called it quits! Hamilton found out how much easier it is to pivot skis in a lightweight boot with a more upright cuff angle. And how he could feel the snow so much better in Dynafit bindings.

Thanks. Yeah the pros of April skiing

DAY 148 : THURSDAY 11 APRIL 2013 7 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Another good fall overnight and glorious sunshine for my third day at Niseko Hirafu with Greg Heptonstall. The early birds were out on Super Course again We were joined by Ian for the first couple of hours and he was flying. El Presidente Greg was slowly but surely moving away from his ingrained 'Pop & Drop' by day's end. 'Pop & Drop'? An aggressive pole plant to start the turn then a sudden lurch into the fall line and followed by a heavy edge

Japanese or Western instructors snowdude? If Japanese, then they definitely have wide hand spacing but teach the opposite of what I teach. They advocate 'aeroplane' turns where the uphill hand is low and the downhill hand is high, making the student bank inside.

Indeed. Arrived back in Wales late Sunday night. Playing catch up on the last couple of days of the season.

DAY 147 : WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 6 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ A good covering of new snow on top of the spring crunch for my second day at Niseko Hirafu with Greg Heptonstall. Super Course was smooth. The early birds catching the spring powder worm Global warming is taking it's toll on Hokkaido. The Hirafu glacier is breaking up badly and the sasa is coming out to play

Knee deep early at Kiroro. Then it warmed up and turned to creamy toe deep.

Snowing well at Kiroro today. 5-10 cm of powder on the groomers. A little more in the trees.

Thanks. And exactly what I'm trying to achieve.

5-10 cm at Niseko Hirafu on top of spring crunch. Very enjoyable.

I try to have my students thinking about the hands being on the lateral plane - out to the side of the body - as opposed to the fore/aft plane - forwards and backwards. Why? 1. Balance Most skiers think they're putting more balance on the downhillI ski when they turn, which is fine but without the upper body balancing over that downhill ski they're not going far enough. Placing the hands and poles on the lateral plane gives the opportunity for the downhill hand to balance to the pitch of the slope. Have you ever been given the drill of carrying the 'imaginary tray of drinks

DAY 142 : FRIDAY 05 APRIL 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ A day off snow and another fabulous lunch at Chez Doudou. First course of pumpkin gnocchi, scallop, courgette, red onion, spring onion, salad leaves, fresh herbs and a lettuce sauce. Chez Doudou interior Followed by Boeuf Bourguignon - tender beef with potato, turnip and carrot in a rich red wine sauce. And for dessert, coffee and Apple Pie with hazelnut praline and a caramel & custard sauce. For dinner I went to Niseko Pizza for owners Cezar and

Torrential rain Saturday night through to Sunday lunchtime. Lots of slides in the steeper sections of the Niseko United. Snowing lightly as I type. High winds have most of the lifts closed.

DAY 140 : WEDNESDAY 03 APRIL 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ My final day with Jasper, Jordan, Jade and Alex. Had an excellent time with them all. Visibility was non-existent above Ace Hill so we spent the day lapping the Holiday Pair Lift #1, the Hirafu Gondola and the Ace Quad Lift #2. Another big leap forward with more black runs successfully tackled, including Onsenzawa. Jordan, Jade, Alex, Japer and me at the 1,000 m Hut in Niseko Hirafu (Grant Parker photo from Monday) DAY 141 : THURSDAY 04 APRIL 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ I s

DAY 138 : MONDAY 01 APRIL 2013 5 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Another powder top up above mid-mountain and a big mileage day on skis for Jasper, Jordan, Jade and Alex. We warmed up on Center, Rinkan and Jumbo in Niseko Hirafu before taking Yotei Sunset down to Hanazono. After lunch at 308 we took the lift system back over to Hirafu and finished with the black run Ni-Kabe. They're all getting very comfortable on skis. DAY 139 : TUESDAY 02 APRIL 2013 1 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ I woke to brilliant sunshine and a light coating of new snow but this qui