SamuiKitsune
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Posts posted by SamuiKitsune
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Sheeee.....it, dawg! I am already stomping 1080s.
HAHA!
I wish, I saw the thread about 1080s and could not resist.
I am working on my riding as often as I can. On, Jan. 11th will be my 11th or 12th full day out since my frist time ratcheting my bindings last month.
I am shooting for 30 full days before season ends and being able to carve the really steep stuff, without worrying about which line is safer or easiest to turn or blitz through.
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So which places in Japan get more Powder? I want to visit the weekend of Feb. 8th.
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My back binding is set one back of center already. I will move it back another notch tonight.
I probably do need more lessons, since I just started boarding last month.
I have the turns down and I am an aggressive rider, but I am still working on all the proper body mechanics (i.e., no flailing arms or excessive upper body rotations).
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I agree that it is a good resort, but it has a couple of big misses for me. 1) The top of the mountain is much too easy to access for the really, poor beginner level boarders/skiers; 2) The resort closes early, there is no night skiing.
I think for a family it is an excellent resort and much better than Naeba for a family. As a family, you can enjoy the whole mountain and not worry about whether your kids or loved one can get through a tough patch of the slope (because the tough spots are short lived).
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Heading back for my second trip since I started boarding last month (Dec. 2008), but I am living in Osaka, so it is easier to get there.
I think it is actually more convenient to get to Niseko from Osaka than it is to get to Hakuba via the Overnight bus.
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So, I ride a 162 Custom Wide with 28.5cm boot. It takes much energy to get it rocking from edge to edge, but I manage. I love the stability at high speed, I like the edge hold. In the open powder, including deep and steep, the Custom Wide is holding its own, but the nose dives often (I have to bounce up often to stay floating, but it floats). In the trees or moguls, forget about it -- I am better of finding the nearest exit. No way, can I turn the board fast enough. Oh yeah, the base on the Custom is crazy fast (or is it my excellent waxing job, =( ).
So, I am looking for another board to ride all-mountain, but more manageable in the powder between trees. I see the Burton Malolo and GNU Mullet get recommended often. Height is 178-180cm and weight is 87kg-89kg *nekkid, boot 28.5cm. Binding angles 15/-12.
Looking for your opinions on those who have rode either the Mullet or Malolo. I was thinking a 158cm to 160cm board, too. Is that okay given my glutton stats.
If there are any other boards I should consider, please make the recommendation and size.
I do like catching air, if that matters (that is why I did not list the Fish, I heard it was hard to land and sucked a$$ getting to the powder).
Another option is to just get a smaller Custom or maybe the Custom X.
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Originally Posted By: Indosweet.. Thanx guys.
Will order the custon 162 then.
I wear a K2 T1 DB Boot that is 28.5CM.
I have the Custom Wide 162 as my first board. It was so difficult to learn to turn that I switched to the Sapient Identity 157.
If I had to do it all over I would get a board around 159/160cm with anything having a waist width 24.8 or higher. After some tweaking over this past weekend, my bindings are set at 15/-12 now (makes it much easier for me to ride switch than the 18/-9 setting which feels better, but not in switch mode). -
I will let you know later. I just put in a request to the travel agent. Last time I stayed at Hotel Koropokkur in the Hirafu Village. I liked the location, but might want to give the Alpen a shot.
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Originally Posted By: stillnoprogress1) watch the sprocking cat in subjekt haakonsen...get inspiration. Terje is probably the best switch rider ever. (there is a rumor that he won the Baker Banked Slalom switch one year).
2) I had a buddy that used to set up his bindings opposite direction every other year b/c he thought that board sports wreaked havok on one side of your body and not the other. Not sure if he was right about that but he was excellent at riding switch. Going a whole season switch is a big ask, but a good idea if you know you'll be forced to ride w/ a slow group and race them on the groomers.
4) If your riding out of bounds, ride switch when you get back to the groomers.
5) Last run down to the base should be switch.
I tried No. 5 last week at Myoko, but by 5pm the slope was icy, hard. It made it very difficult to attempt a turn, so I switched back to natural after running about 5m. -
Oh sorry, I will be going to Hakuba in February. So, I will post again when I decide which hotel. Too many decisions on short notice.
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So, I went to my local Beer Bistro tonight in Osaka and had a moment of clarity. F! Hakuba, we are heading back to Niseko for 5 days.
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Originally Posted By: orinocoWhy don't you, you know, just like, you know.... ASK THEM!
I'm sure they will know where they are located.
Because 1) I never believe anything a salesperson says about their establishment (they want the booking) 2) I wanted to increase my post count!
Oh yeah, another +1 for me. -
How is the White Horse Location for accessing Goryu / 47? How long does the shuttle ride take to get Goryu /47?
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Sweet. I am looking forward to the information. Yeah, I was seeing the train lines, mountain location etc.
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SJFORUMS
I saw the map linky. I just get some green map now without names. Is this a problem on my end? Or am I to understand that you are in the process of making, but just a little too busy with things to do right now.???
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Originally Posted By: Kraut_in_HongKong
Please allow me that silly question: is Goryu and 47 the same? I mean, will the day pass allow me to use either lifts? Seems the fields are connected at the top.
I have seen day pass offers for the two slopes. I have also seen other day pass options for just one slope.
I saw the pricing somewhere. Let me see if I can find it again and hook you up with a linky. -
I found a few onsens/resorts in Niseko that were not tattoo friendly. However, I also learned that those onsens/resorts generally suck, e.g., Prince Hotel chains.
But, for Niseko one of the better tattoo friendly onsens is the one inside Niseko Alpen Hotel, right at the base of the Hirafu side.
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PM me. Does it allow tattooed people?
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I saw all those Places To Stay, but I could not find a decent map to show me which joints where in the center of things. I deciphered a Japanese map and it looks like Pension Little is in the middle.
As for comparing Niseko to Hakuba, that is what this trip is for. I learned to ride in Niseko and this will be my first trip to Hakuba. I know they are in different leagues, but I still think Hakuba will be a great experience and much better than my experiences at Naeba/Niigata and Bandai/Fukushima.
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I am planning a trip for Goryu / 47 this weekend. I will also try to visit Happo One, but I want to stay near Goryu or 47. Based on your past experience, I would like to have your recommendation as to where to stay. I want to be in the village, near the mountain base with easy walking access to restaurants and bars. I plan to be on the mountain nightly. I will be there for four days.
P.S. If it helps, I really liked staying in the Hirafu Village in Niseko and had a wonderful experience walking to all the restaurants and bars at night.
Please give me your advice. I was looking at White Horse, but I was kind of wanting to do the cheaper accomodations this time around.
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I would avoid Grandeco Resort on a Sunday. Based on my limited experiences, it seems every Sunday is the busiest day at a snow resort in Japan. I have yet to experience a Saturday that was busier than a Sunday in Japan.
Drove to Grandeco Resort from Murakami (it is near Niigata City). The drive was very diffucult because of a combination of rain/snow and freezing conditions. We arrived at Grandeco around 930am. It seems like the rest of the Japanese population had arrived shortly before us and continued to arrive for the next 45 minutes.
Grandeco is too busy on Sunday, especially if you happen to arrive much later than first opening.
We waited 45 minutes to purchase our day passes. Then we waited 35 minutes to take the Gondola up. Fortunately, we only had to wait 35 minutes, because while we were in line they announced that the Gondola wait was 50 minutes.
The mountain is packed full of beginners. Even at the very top. I think there were only 2 lifts above the Gondola and it seemed every beginner was jumping from the initial Gondola ride to the lifts above. The courses at the top of the mountain were groomed to the ice. It made for difficult turns and hard falls if you lost your edge.
On the positive, if you are a beginner, there is no course too challenging. You can go on all the runs. The courses are wide open. There are trees dotted throughout a couple of courses, but there is plenty of room to prepare for a turn and alternative routes to take should you be unable to turn.
There is no night riding.
Bottom line, if you want to do Bandai, avoid Sundays and get in line prior to lift operation. You will have a good time for a few hours. Break early for lunch and then continue on the slopes while all the late arrives are having lunch from 130pm to 3pm.
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Looks like we will be getting some fresh snow in a few hours. It is starting to get chilly here near Niigata. I suspect it is already snowing on Mt. Bandai.
First trip to Grandeco. Sounds like a bunch of long, relatively flat runs. I guess it will be time to start learning to butter. =)
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I am 190lbs (87kgs), 5ft 11in (not sure cm), 10.5 K2 Boot and ride natural.
My gear for day 1: 162cm Custom Wide (08 Model), Burton Custom Bindings, K2 D.B. T1 Boot, Smith Venue Helmet and Oakley A-Frames.
Started Day 1 at Naeba. First run, I went straight down the hill about 10m, made a heel-side turn, then went for a toe-side turn. I wiped out. Busted my knee a little, but keeping boarding the remainder of the day. Never figured out how to turn on my toe-side. Balance and straight line run, no problem. I felt the board was huge and it was overpowering me.
One week rest for my bummed knee.
My gear for day 2: 157cm Sapient Identity (07 Model), K2 Cinch CTX Bindings, K2 D.B. T1 Boot, Smith Venue Helmet and Oakley A-Frames.
I feel like this board is really flexible and seems very small and easy to handle when just trying to skate to the lift. First run, I manage a few turns on my toe-side. This time I am at Grand Hirafu in Niseko. My second run, I am turning on my toe-side edge with confidence.
Day 3: Same gear as Day 2.
I invest in a private 1on1 lesson. I basically learn the different styles of turning. Dynamic, up-down, etc. The instructors comments how I am doing really well for a beginner. We are going down the advanced runs without great difficult. There are moments, but only at a few sections on the really step inclines.
Day 4: In the morning I have the same gear as Day 2 and Day 3. I was beginning to feel like I was overpowering my board. So, I made an equipment change for the afternoon and night boarding session.
Night Day 4: 162cm Custom Wide, K2 Cinch CTX Bindings, K2 D.B. T1, Smith Venue Helmet and Oakley A-Frames. Stance 18 / -9.
I felt like this setup was perfect. Everything felt natural. The board was not bouncing all over the place. The edges were catching when I wanted them to and were forgiving when I accidentally caught an edge on switch riding.
I am looking forward to Niigata this weekend.
My prior experience was in surfing, ice hockey and skateboarding. I think surfing taught me the balance. Hockey taught me edges and skateboarding taught me confidence to try dumbshit.
For all those beginners like me, do not be afraid to experiment. Also, do not listen to those who say such and such board is too much board for you. It really takes trial and error. You can easily grow out of one board.
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Think I can do it on a 162 wide Burton Custom? Or get a softer board like the Lib Tech SB.
How many times have you been to Niseko?
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
I am traveling with my all my gear, plus the girlfriend's gear on the other arm, makes train transitions difficult.
Taxi to Umeda/Osaka - 10 minutes
Umeda/Osaka bus to Itami - 40 minutes
Check-in baggage and flight - 2hr 10mins
Transfer time and bus ride to Niseko - 3hr 30 minutes
So, 6.5hrs.
I think that beats the overnight bus. The train is an option, but not carrying all the gear. We could ship via Black Cat, but we prefer to travel with our gear.
Driving to Hakuba is not an option, because we do not have a car and I do not have a valid license in Japan. The girlfriend would have to do all the driving and that is a nightmare for both of us.