Greenroome
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Posts posted by Greenroome
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Originally Posted By: I'm SexyLooks good!
I usually have big breakfast (maybe I should not but cannot resist) and so only snack for lunchtime. always lunchtime is quite on mountain also as many people do lunch
Spot on. Two monster egg and fish sandwiches (made with real bread, not hotel bread) on the bus on the way to the hill. Keeps you going from first lift until 2 or 3pm. The sweet lunchtime void is perfect for high-speed straightlining runs.
If I do start to fade, it's takoyaki for me. -
Great read Mike, as always. Thanks for writing and shooting so much quality content this season.
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Thanks for the info. Hakusan certainly did look to be groaning under the weight of a billion tons, but alas it's not to be.
You're right about Kanazawa. It's absolutely ace. I would happily live here.
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Next big one is Yosakoi Soran, I think.
It's a beauty. Biggest dance-off I've ever seen.
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Quick question - I've just arrived in Kanazawa, ostensibly for the history, but couldn't help noticing a fair bit of snow on the hills on the way in. I thought my boarding season was over, but is it worth having a go around here?
Sorry for not researching it myself, but like the sign in front of me on the wall of the business hotel here says: 'We hope oneperson in about ten minutes as of use'
Cheers!
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Originally Posted By: Mamabear
....and an awful lot of it associated with my new passion for snow sports!
And karaoke, if I recall correctly. -
Originally Posted By: abe
- If temperatures keep rising as predicted, Tohoku (and I am going to assume the rest of Honshu) will reportedly get less snow and more rain, whilst Hokkaido will get more snow.
That definitely felt correct yesterday here in Nozawa Onsen. After a season in Hokaido, I found myself baking in the sun on the top quads at 9 degrees and sticking to slushy snow with a layer of Siberian dust on it! Intesting ride down involved charting a course through last year's sweet potatoes and ollying over sun baked mouldy lettuce.
Fantastic town and hill though. And still a big base up top. -
Oh well. It works. That's all I'm trying to say.
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Originally Posted By: The GimpA fair and sensible approach to terrain access, but geez, you duck a rope, even if it is to just ride on the outside of the rope in the fresh snow and they're on to you straight away... the patrol go nuts if they see you and will pull you up if they're in a position to do so. We had two of ours guys asked to show their passes and I was abused by a patrol from a lift for scooting down the wrong side of the ropes.
This is why I like Rusutsu and Teine`s policy. If they see you scooting down the wrong side of a rope, they assume you`ve read the big fluoro red signs about the dangers and liabilities, and that you`ve made a cosncious decision based on your abilities. It certainly isn`t perfect but it allows competent riders to have fun and keeps beginners on the inbounds ungroomed until they`re competent. I didn`t see one rescue from the trees all season at either resort.
The contents of the signs is kind of like your dad talking to you about drugs - he tells you they`re illegal and not to do them, but he knows you will so he advises you to act responsibly. -
Originally Posted By: Go NativeI think many Japanese resorts are still only catering to old school skiers who built the whole industry up in the 80's but are now getting on in age and skiing a whole lot less. They don't really seem to have grasped the concept that skis have changed over the years and the rising popularity of off-piste skiing and boarding amongst younger Japanese. Their market they cater for is dying off and yet they do little to cater to the emerging markets.
I`ve spent most of the season boarding off piste at Sapporo Teine and Rusutsu, and the last five weeks doing the same at Kamui Ski Links, Furano and Rusutsu and I really find it hard to fault the balance these resorts have found between danger and access. I`m not sure what else they could do to please.
Teine and Rusutsu in particular have got it right, in my opinion. They have big signs saying that riding out of bounds is not allowed and dangerous, and that if you come unstuck, you`re on your own. These signs are actually handy in low visibility as they`re placed at the best access spots
. Patrol don`t chase or wait at track ends. Maybe a glare or two, but that`s it. If you stray into an area that has a real danger ahead, you`ll see the skull and crossbones sign. Ignore that and you`re a fool. Only took me half an hour on my first day of the season to work this informal system out.
Kamui`s a fantastic free-for-all, again with signs about danger and responsibility. And with all the terrain at Furano, if you can`t finesse your way around the patrol, you`re not trying hard enough. They wait like traffic cops at the most obvious spots. I learnt that the hard way early on my first morning there, but a brief apology (and the handy wee excuse) was all that was needed to see me on my way. -
Hey Bakcountrygrrl,
I`m so stoked to hear that you cleaned up. That place is a deadset goldmine. I`d love to collect that beer and check out what you got, but I`m currently up to my Jatz crackers in sweet sweet Daisetsuzan pow. And will be for weeks to come, I`m stoked to say!
Have a great time, and thanks for the feedback.
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Thanks chaps. Much appreciated. I`ll head up there in a few days. Thanks for the ace food tip Ez.
I`ve just been pleasantly surprised by the word from some crew here in Furano who say they`ve been ducking ropes all week without any drama. Sahoro can wait. Alpine Lodge in Furano does lift tix for 3500 too!
Snowing all arvo and evening. Sweet.
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Hi All,
I`m heading to Furano tomorrow for a week and I`m thinking of hitting Sahoro as it`s on my season pass. The reviews sound good but does it only suit Club Med types? I`m looking for trees and side-country. Anyone been?
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Don't miss the International Food Fair down at about Nishi 9. The sausage lollipops are back! As is the steaky don. Indian Naan bread curry roll-ups too.
Apparently there are some ice sculptures too.
Thursday - please try to remember while you stagger about, clutching your can of Classic that pedestrian traffic is one way, clearly marked by arrows. We don't take kindly to free-thinking miscreants like yourself causing chaos at our well-planned festivals. It's run by the army you know.
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Sapporo Classic really is a top drop, when frosty cold.
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It's been up and down. End of January saw most sidewalks and streets back to bare, and snow-removal vehicles sitting idle. But since the start of Feb there have been some great falls. It's been snowing steadily again this morning, and garden walls are starting to disappear under snow piles.
Teine was epic on Sunday, even though the top lifts were closed. Deep deep powder galore. I've driven along easier roads on 4WD surf drives in Australia than the road from Teine town up to Teine Highland on Sunday.
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Had a good day at Rusutsu today. Bluebird, cold, light wind, stunning ocean/Toyako/Youtei views and enough snow from Sunday night to make tree rides fun. If you could find where it had accumulated it was heaps of fun. Only about 15cm though, and the place was more crowded than I've seen it previously so it got tracked pretty quick. The sound of the crusty past was never far from the ear but I'd still say it's worth a go tomorrow.
Strange thing that I've noticed about Rusutsu - if I go super-stealth covert off-piste striking out deep into dark corners, I usually find it tracked-out. If I just do a dozy drop off the side of a busy piste, I often find it fresh and clean.
Odd.
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Thanks JA. You're a champ. Much appreciated.
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It would definitely be the stinkier thread of the two.
By the way, Keba, what did you 'pull off'?
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Yeah, thanks JA. I'm going to both for a week each so your info is much appreciated. Any chance of a name or directions for the okonomiyaki joint or the sushi joint in N.O.?
I've cut my time in Furano back to six days, purely because of their off-piste policy. Planning on doing lots of groomer carving and Kamui trips. And some ice-hole fishing!
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Originally Posted By: MikePowSunday 25 January 2009
Rusutsu Resort
Either there was more rain here, or Rusutsu has has much less snow than the Niseko Resort Area, or both because there was plenty of sasa showing through.
That's what I've been spinning out about all season, Mike. Each time I get home from Rusutsu and read your Niseko report, I find it hard to believe your just a short plain and a Youtei away. I've had some great days at Rusutsu, but the amount of snow has been very different. -
Originally Posted By: thursdayI heard you could catch an Airdo flight from Haneda to Sapporo and it is the cheapest flight.
Yep, I just bought a one way Airdo flight from Sapporo to Haneda for 12,500. It's a '28-day' fare, meaning it's available for purchase from two months before flying date to 28 days before flying date. Best to buy right on the two-month mark as a number of flight times were already unavailable for that price. -
In general, as always, the kids are alright.
It just the meat-heads are getting a bit meatier.
There are less of them involved in nature sports than other sports though, thankfully.
Back on topic, if there was any damage to Sapporo area snow bases, you'll be lucky to find it under this sensational dump!
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Originally Posted By: samwillis5It's a sad thing the perception that some have of travelling Aussies these days.
I did a lot of travel 10+ years ago and Australians were always welcome. Viewed as relatively unassuming travellers always out for a good time but on the whole quite respectful and fun to be around.
I am not sure what has caused the shift in perception or whether there even has been a shift.
We're starting to see Aussie travellers from the generation who have been guided and inspired by such glittering Australian Football League role models as Wayne Carey (cop-assaulting wife-beater) and Ben Cousins (ice-snorting gangster) and various rugby league sex-offenders. I love both sports but the deterioration in off-field behaviour and resulting impressions made on adoring young Aussie males is now clear for all to see in some of our young travellers.
Niseko vs Rusutsu
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
Ezorisu is, as usual, spot on. The layout at Rusutsu is ace. And despite the fact that Niseko almost always scored more snow last season, Rusutsu cast a magical spell over me. So much terrain, so few people, such laid-back staff, and when it's too windy or crusty there is no end of wacky Japanese stuff to spin out on at the resort. From the life-size mechanical 'Dixie Dogs' to the glorious water show synchronised to 'Edelweis' (from The Sound of Music) in the lobby. Through in a talking tree, a decent sports bar and free internet, and you can easily keep your self amused until it starts snowing again.
I visited Rusutsu a dozen times from Sapporo, and then stayed at the Powder Lodge for a few weeks in February. I absolutely loved it. There are good fruit and veg stores down the highway towards Lake Toya, as well as a Co-op supermarket. There's a better than normal Seicomart right next to the lodge. The tree runs stay fresh for ages and the pistes are mostly wide and well-groomed. The walk from Rusutsu to Kimobetsu is excellent, with an excellent mushroom soup in the barn on the right on arrival.
Be warned however that 'highway life' (as we called it) is not for everyone. Rusutsu feels more like an Interstate Road Trip town than a tradish ski town. For a more well-rounded ski town experience, Niseko is the go. But for uncrowded fresh, silent contemplation of ice crystals and exploring abandoned cottages with two metres of pow wind-sculpted over them, Rusutsu is for you.