HelperElfMissy

Nup! Boarder...ohh cr@p! Mike is a skier! Doh! Must have been half asleep when I posted THAT! Ohh well ... I had a nice instructor in April - he had the patience of a saint with the 3 old boilers from Perth who spent more time in the lesson on thier butt's than anything else. I feel pretty comfortable on my board at the moment - but I want to keep the improvement momentum going.

Originally Posted By: thursday I've done diamonds, watches, handbags etc.. it's all the same. It's the thought that counts and it's got to be an expensive thought. Still haven't got a clue about what to get her yet. I think in my horror at how I would feel (as a weight battler since having the kids) I might have given the wrong impression about thinking gifts need to be expensive...they don't. The best gifts I have ever given ranged from cheap as chips to v.expensive - the common thing in them was the thought that went into them: **One year we had a $30 maximum for each othe

Ok ... well maybe I was exaggerating about the diamonds and gold and expensive perfume ... but come on!!! A COW cookie jar that Moo's ... I have a friend who was seriously into pigs - ornaments etc (not the sick kind of into pigs!!) ... she ASKED for a pig cookie jar that oinked - and for her it was fantastic ... she loved it. But most women would be seriously offended - especially if it was a gift from thier partner. Personally I just told my hubby last night that I really didn't care what he gave me for Christmas as long as he selected it himself. Last year he got his secretary

You have GOT to be kidding me 2Pints!! Unless she has a cow fettish I think you just ensured yourself of a long dry spell!!! Go with gold, diamonds, expensive perfume, luxurious handmade soap(I KNOW you got a LUSH store close by in LONDON) - or if she is a ski bunny get her some gear - even a sweet beanie....but for heaven sake - don't condemn yourself to celibacy!!

hee hee hee .... I might have to look Mike up in January. It will be my first time on deep dry POW - April was more like crunchies and icey bits in the morning and coke slushy by lunchtime. And an Aussie Powder day can hardly compare... Lessons will be high on my agenda! Seeing all these pic's I am getting excited but nervous at the same time!!

Never evenm thought about a mouth guard - maybe because we are piste runners - not BC or Park enthusiasts (well...the older boys like the park maybe I should make them wear a mouth guard...) We make the kids wear mouth guards for Rugby but I never really thought of snow sports as "contact" sports - at least not in the people on people contact way ... I know all about the a$$ to ground way!

I've seen guys do this to get BACK up the run - usually an instructor coming back up to help me get up after a complete wipeout!! LOL I had to do it to rescue the baby bear one time - BOY! Am I unfit!!

Originally Posted By: Oyuki kigan the number one problem beginners make, and this is for pretty much 90% all beginners (and some intermediates) is that they don't put enough weight on their front foot when they turn. as soon as the nose drops downhill and you pick up speed, eveyone does the same mistake and freaks out and sits back on their rear leg, creating a very akward stance for turning. i won't get into it here, but the instructor should be able to show you how to turn without much effort or muscle needed. good luck, and take care of the knees A gnarly dude by the name o

Why do the WA Government retain Payroll Tax when it was supposed to be abolished with the introduction of the GST? Because they can - and it is free money... They will only make tax reform on these things when they need the votes from those people who are effected. Cynical - I know - but I reckon we support a couple of hundred dole bludgers in WA with the tax we personally pay - and it really ticks me off!!

FT is right in that a leash to prevent runaway boards is a very good idea - and will prevent accidents and injuries from runaway boards. My point is that the leashes commonly available are next to useless at stopping runaway boards. The ones that have more 'give' - either long knee strap or extendable - that you wear ALL the time are effective. They are just blimen hard to find! The reason we only have two straps is because that is ALL that was available - no more stock. And I got them sent from the USA. I also like the longer straps because you can use them to make a shoul

As far as I am aware leashes are not compulsory in Japan. There are some resorts around the world that require boarders to wear a leash to prevent runaway boards. However there is a fair bit of debate about thier effectiveness... We copped a bit of stick from a friend because our 10yr old had an escapee board in April. It was his first time on a board and it got away from him after he had stepped out of the bindings (we caught it pretty quick!). The popular small leashes that are used nowdays are useless in this scenario, as you need to unclip them to step out anyway. They are rea

Quote: note: yes, balls deep is a little up from where most people would expect, but I reckon that would be anatomically correct given the temperature.... LAUGH! So ... as a woman is it politically correct to describe snow as "ballz deep" when I am out there ....?

Lucky I take my coffee BLACK!

Is lamb hard to get in Japan, GN? I have been getting some parcels from my friends in the USA - I am a swap junkie - international swaps can be addictive! And I am now SO excited to be giving a simple gift to a local friend. My friend spent a year studying at Galludet Uni in the USA (she is Deaf, and it is a Deaf Uni)-and developed a LOVE of Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (also a big fave of MINE). My USA pals have been very obliging in sending them - so I have saved a heap from my tummy - and packaged up a boxed Christmas Pattern China coffee mug and snack tray filled with mini Reeses,

Originally Posted By: igloo I like you Mamabear. Thanks Igloo! I am sure you are a jolly nice fellow too! Keep it real, ya know - none of this scheming and twisted stuff!

Thursday - I would be thrilled to pick up something in the Lower Village at this stage - just need it to be big enough to fit the King Sized family... Mr Wiggles - GORGEOUS! Good on you, guys! As for me...one day...

Originally Posted By: thursday Originally Posted By: AK 77 Originally Posted By: Mamabear .... - he lost the PAIR! BOTH PAIRS... LOL - guess what Santa is bringing Baby Bear this year!! A smack round the head for being so forgetful? yeah and some shaking while you're at it. Yeah yeah yeah, You guys all WISH I was your mother!! There was a bit of 'grumpy face' when he lost them, but there will be no physical violence! LOL He has 2 new pairs of gloves already wrapped and waiting to be stuck in his Santa Stocking... ...and we have taken the bear cub snowboarding 3

Originally Posted By: Rag-Doll You're right, but depends why you buy. Our group are all Aussies and Kiwis. All except one lived long term in Japan and know we'll be back time and time again for the snow. If the place pays for itself and we have cheap holidays then we've come out on top. You are too right here!! Originally Posted By: Fattwins Mama what are you paying for your vacation? A whole lot more than I would like to admit!! And this is EXACTLY why we were considering investing in Niseko. We have 4 kids - that is 6 people - not small people either - my 14 yr old is 6f

Just to add my 10c in again.... that FIVE families from one school class may well just become SIX. I just got a call from another family who are keen to book - I emailed them all my contacts so hopefully they will find something (although I KNOW it is hard to get accomodation at this late notice) - but they did say ... "if we can't get in to Niseko and hang with you guys - then we will try Hakuba." ......I know I am a long way away - and I know that my interest in Japan and Snow Sports is fairly new... but I see a trend here...

You are spot on...the marketing machine is working wonders = as is the word of mouth about how great the experience is... ALL CREDIT to Niseko to making everyone feel welcome! This Dec/Jan there will be 5 families in Niseko (mostly at the same time, some overlapping) whose son's are in the same class. That is the power of goodwill - the kind of marketing you can not buy!!

Originally Posted By: Fattwins Hakuba has seen the boom bust in the worst way possible. As for missing something I dont understand what we are missing. 5 to 10 new hotels or B and Bs. Maybe 50 new houses all family size units. The only thing Hakuba isnt making is the Condos. If you are in construction there are plenty of jobs to be had as well. Hey I am not on the front line here - you guys are... just calling from my limited perspective. And it IS limited. Hubby and I got hit by the Aussie Tax man who gobbled up our nest egg ear marked for buying in to Niseko - we have some funds - b

OK - you're on! The ones I have now are all Thredbo - so I will wait until January to get some J-video's and upload those. I will trek it to the park with the kiddies - that is always good for splat or two... So is the chairlift when you get a skier trying out snowboarding - getting off when the brain tells you to point your feet straight ... it is hilarious!

I hear ya SJ...I just don't think our family flicks are going to make brilliant viewing for you guys - we are not exactly hard core boarders... If you wanna see 'em - I will upload 'em! I have got clip after clip of me face planting it! Charming viewing...

If we are looking for lost gloves - Baby bear lost a pair of brand new Dakine Camo's after just 5 hours at Thredbo...they might be in the same place as his grey and black ones....also lost in August at Thredbo! Maybe I should check out the website of that American woman who has started a site to reunite owners with thier one lost glove... ohhh that wont work - he lost the PAIR! BOTH PAIRS... LOL - guess what Santa is bringing Baby Bear this year!!

I will definately be taking video - we bought ourselves a nice little HDD camera after the last J-trip (inspired by the crappy vid's we got with our camera's) - and tested it at Thredbo. AWESOME! I also bought some nice editting software so I can make movies and then turn them into proper DVD's with scene control and all... too cool! Makes me cry watching the little dudes on the snow with background musak! Will I upload them? - maybe. Depends if I get anything that fits a catagory well. what about: BEST STACK MOST RIDICULOUS CHAIRLIFT DISMOUNT (although we don't really wan