tripler

looks like they've already copied the mountain detail (see top right of Tubby's big paste).

The other day someone with experience in ski resort finance told me often it's the mom & pop operations which make a healthy profit. Whereas the big resorts are weighed down by debt from installing expensive lifts, which is almost impossible to pay off.

That's a bit drastic. If he took your advice, how's he ever supposed to learn?

post a link, dude (if that's allowed)

That line really showed you up, sales robot! You're new to the forum, so let me try and guess your name - Kevin?

Iwatake rocks! Back in '08 they were saying it was going bust but it's still going. Nice resort and that was without even raping the off-piste. If you think there's no-one on the slopes at Happo, try Iwatake and you'll redefine your definition of empty. It's EMPTY. Just you and the snow, like we like it!

I don't know Tokamachi but I heard something about a Gay Day at a small Hakuba resort (I forget the name) a few years ago. I was surprised because I didn't think there was much of a gay scene in Japan, unlike the UK where everyone's a homosexual. TB - i imagine you had to blow the lifties to prove your credentials. But of course as everyone knows, that's what you do anyway to keep your season ticket when snow patrol busts you in the pow. "Close your eyes and think of England..."

I think success of the Australian ski industry is more down to supply and demand, plus a booming economy. Lots of people with lots of money want go skiing but there are only a few, small resorts. If demand outstrips supply, it's hard not to be successful. In Japan during the bubble years people splashed out on skiing, love hotels and no pan shabu shabu. Now they're poorer they've cut back on all that, resulting in an oversupply of ski resorts. If half of them closed - and not just the small ones - I'm sure the ski industry would be much more profitable. I don't want mass closures to happen

I suppose the difference is Japanese debt is owned by the Japanese public. So the government isn't at the mercy of the markets. It's not sustainable but it could take a very long time before they default, unlike Greece.

is Igaya the only resort in Norikura Kogen or are there others still open?

you could do group lessons in Japanese. Ski instructing is quite a visual discipline - I reckon you'd get most of it even without speaking any nihongo. Watching your classmates' attempts is helpful too.

Grazza, do you know for a fact that big resort lift companies are losing money? They probably have very few overheads. Little or no rent, temporary staff, low wages. Keeping the existing infrastructure ticking over may just not need much money. Interesting subject. So zombie companies still exist in Japan?

G-G - no SKI - untrue. It was for ducking a rope, ostensibly... Method - sorry, that was a bit harsh - please accept my apologies. Happoshu... but really it was because you've got such great actual video in there it got me worked up seeing it diluted. ps. i'll be posting my masterpiece soon, so you're welcome to put the boot in

I hope you don't mind some honest constructive criticism (if you do, just let me know and I'll amend these comments to "high 5" emucons and "dude, that's a totally awesome vid, bro" type inanities). 1) 90% of your video is pan-and-scan of stills (very boring). You should have put the photos in an album and cut 10 mins of cheesy pics of you and your mates down to 2 mins of film action. You have some great footage in there, just wish I hadn't had to sit though the stuff in between. (And even if you did have 10 mins of actual moving images, no-one would watch beyond 2 mins because that's the

lol

wow, that was quick! Hopefully someone got to appreciate my "hilarious" effort. Thanks for the compliment!

[SJ David - if it's still not funny, please delete away (but it did take me 15 mins hard work!)]

sorry, must have imagined it. I see the government is giving away 10,000 free flights to japan to boost tourism. Weakening the yen A LOT would help too.

but didn't someone on this thread say it was 105 no long ago? 119 sounds like a bargain!

I'd be more worried about whether it has 4 wheel drive or not. 1) snow tires 2) 4wd Maybe they just mean ABS won't let you do an emergency stop on ice - nothing will. But even in Hokkaido I don't think you'll be driving on snow all the time. It wouldn't hurt to have good brakes.

sorry no info on shops but I googled your Rad-Air Tanker 187 - wow! Seems like you've got the Rolls Royce of snowboards there. I wonder what 187cms is like on a groomer. Hope you find some champagne powder for you deluxe tank.

One time I was driving vans for a season and a fellow driver had a semi-serious accident on a steep icy hill which we had to drive up and down every day. After that we insisted on chains (on top of the snow tires and 4wd we already had) but they're uncomfortable to drive and break a lot on roads without snow, and in a resort you often move between roads with snow and no snow. So what's the safest? Is chains on top of snow tires better than snow tires alone or is that like the 2 condoms fallacy? Someone mentioned studded tires as being the ultimate but I've never tried them. Also, would I d

thanks Go Native, I should have specified low is only for when you're creeping around. If you were cruising along and suddenly slammed it into low, you'd probably die! (I'd be interested to see what would actually happen - would it let you go straight from 4th to low while travelling at 50mph?)

If you're driving an automatic, be aware of the low gear. Until I drove on snow, I'd never used that gear and didn't know what it was for. If you're on a steep hill and it's icy, go straight into low and don't touch the breaks. That way you won't slide.

Make sure to get a seat on the left hand side of the plane for great views of the Japanese Alps.