Haydn

Sensational, Contender. Great pics are a combo of skiing talent and eye for composition. Anyone who has lugged a proper camera kit into the BC knows that its a bloody hard job and often thankless. Your pics truly showcase the Hakuba that most only hear about. All us mortals who only dream of that stuff are thankful for keeping the dream alive. I reckon you have just confirmed my intention to rediscover the BC this year. I might even brush off the old camera. To those who try to get pics like these from their pocket cameras, understand that its just not possible (though you will end

No problem. Weather depending, I will be a the gondola area (hikage) around 9 tomorrow. Failing that, look for my name on my helmet. There arent too many that wear a helmet here, it should not be that hard. Im staying at the kiriya, near the ogama.

I am around. Was one of the greatest days of my skiing life here today. I am not a local, and found the hill quite hard to navigate, but I have some definite spots to hit now. Looking at the forecast, it should not be an issue finding pow for th rest of the week.

Originally Posted By: veronica moby on 'last night' '"last night" is basically a love letter to dance music in new york city. Sounds like LCD Soundsystem did it on his last album. Check out the song "New York I love you" Will likely blow Moby out of the water. It was one of the best albums of 07.

Howdy there, I'm looking at sending the ski bag from Kansai up to Hakuba when I arrive at the airport. We get in on that dodgy Jetstar flight at 8pm. I would like to be able to offload the ski gear then and there. Does anyone know if the local takkyubin office operates at about 9-9:30 pm? If not, is it just as easy to take the gear into Osaka (staying there a few days) and get it sent up from one of the corner stores in town? Has anyone used takkyubin from Osaka to Nagano, and if so, what is the price for a double ski-bag.

I am supposed to be staying at Kiriya soon. Is that the outside onsen in the picture? From the snow on the rocks I suspect not. Did you enjoy it? I am looking at having a couple of nights at Kameya also

Results from the MRI are back: Type 3, ankle reconstruction required. The thing is, the physio says I cant make it any worse by skiing, so toughen up and get out there. I'm not too sure of this advice, but will take it if given. I'm looking at putting it all back by two weeks, so effectively, skiing in four weeks from now. Am I gambling here?

FT - dates are probably only changable to a week or so. Work wont give me the time off otherwise. Samui - Netball is a bit like basketball, but not the same. Its predominantly a girls game that is played during winter while the boys play football.

Thanks Stuntcok, that fits in with the advice from the physio. Probably best I just forget about skiing and re-route the trip somewhere slightly warmer....... The GF is devastated - her first big ski adventure.

What is the most injury prone sport in Australia? Netball. I was playing on an uneven ground, jumped up to catch the ball and came down on a corregated section. Big 'pop' in the ankle on landing.

Howdy, On cue, three weeks before I head to Hakuba/Nozawa, I sprain my ankle. The doc says "type 2/3". The MRI today will determine which one, but it seems likely I have completely ruptured the outside ligament, and maybe some bad bruising on the top of the ankle (where shin meets foot). Has anyone done something similar during a ski season, and if so, what was their recovery time. If it turns out to be type 3, I will forget about it: physio reckons reco will be required. cheers,

Just while we're all talking about Sea of Japan and Siberia etc, has anyone ever skied that peninsula of Russia that comes down into the Sea of Okhotsk (Kamchatka Peninsula). Logic tells me it should recieve that same Siberian cold air and moisture the way japan does. The kicker is, the mountains are well over 4000. Its like moving Indonesia into the arctic.

I have been checking the temperature differences between Nagano and Hokkaido resorts and it is huge (-3 vs -10). For mid winter, I expected Nagano resorts to be quite a bit colder. Clearly this effects the lightness of the snow. Has anyone got personal observations on this subject? Perhaps Honshu is just experiencing a really warm spell....

Thanks, I guess we'll just have to brave the crowds. Do the crowds last a week or two? Hopefully things will have quietened down somewhat once we hit Nozawa.

G'day, Am heading to Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen 2-16 Feb and have noticed it will coincide with Chinese New Year. Do the Japan resorts get inundated with people during this holiday, and if so, for how long (weekend/week) and where do they tend to converge on? thanks,