"Progressive and open-minded" resorts

[base40 0]

I was just reading in this thread:

http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/227424#Post227424

where someone mentioned they like "progressive and open-minded" resorts.

 

So lets Japan list. Which resorts might fall into this category?

 

>>

[Ezorisu 0]

I've only ridden at places on Hokkaido, but here's my 2-cents:

 

Niseko - pretty open off-piste policy at the 3 conjoined resorts, accessible B/C

 

Tomamu - there's specified off-piste riding areas, but you need a keitai and have to fill out a wavier

 

Sahoro - there's a designated off-piste area

 

I've heard people on here saying Rusutsu is "open minded", but my experience has been to the contrary.

 

"Progressive"? How about Sapporo Kokusai Ski-Jyou - last season they had a boarder on the patrol! He's probably like an unmarked police car to catch off-piste powder poaching pirates though... No boarder taking a quick glance over his shoulder would guess the boarder coming up behind them is about to bust their @$$!

 

This is Japan we're talking about here, so "open-minded" and "progressive" is difficult to come by, and when present comes in well-rationed quantities. Think of the opposite of The USA when it comes to "common sense" and "restraint".

[Fattwins 0]

Happo

Iwatake

Nozawa

Charmont

hachimantai

Takasu

Dynaland

Kagura

Tenjin

 

 

The list goes on really There is more than just Hokkaido.

[thursday 1]

reminded me of this thread:

 

http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthread...=true#Post89732

[Oyuki kigan 0]

any hill that allows snowks8ing.

 

ie NOT 47.

[Fattwins 0]

That area still is not open

[spook 0]

what happens if you try and go snowskating at 47?

it seems weird that they won't let snowskates, when most resorts allow people to ride those ridiculous scooter contraptions

[Fattwins 0]

They dont allow you, I dont think snowskates or bikes should be allowed without leashes.

[daver 0]

to add to fattwins' list:

Ghetou Kogen

Yamagata Zao

Hakkoda

[Oyuki kigan 0]

 Originally Posted By: Fattwins

They dont allow you, I dont think snowskates or bikes should be allowed without leashes.

that was the killer. They asked us about leashes at the bottom of the gondola, and we showed that we have them (i have a particularily beefy one, and ALWAYS use it) so they let us on.

Then, when we tried to get onto a lift, they said no. I complained that we were let up the gondola (they didn't believe us, they thoight we had hidden them from the lifteies) when all of a sudden, some guy on a snow scooter pulls up and gets on the lift no problem.

THAT pissed me off, and i asked why jack-ass contraptiosn like that were allowed, but mine wasn't, and they gave the usual arbitrary excuses.

Whatever, we went to Tsugaike after and never heard a peep from anyone. The park was way better too.

[Tubby Beaver 209]

snowskates?? is that the same as snow blades?? Small skis about a foot long?

[Oyuki kigan 0]

No, they are basicaly skateboard decks mounted on a single short ski. You ride them bindingless, but need a leash.

 

this is Hime, doing a perfect heelside turn on one

 

 

[spook 0]

i know you started another thread on them, but those snowskates look fun for spring...

[Oyuki kigan 0]

the best thing ever in slush.

[spook 0]

asahidake would be another 'progressive' resort. they let you go anywhere

[Tubby Beaver 209]

yeah, I'd rather still stick to the board.....in saying that I did have fun with snow blades

[ireallylikebakedbeans 0]

I remember the 47 thread from a while back. What is it with that resort and strictness? Any particular reason?

[Fattwins 0]

No real reason ORLBB.

 

Asahidake is not a resort really its a backcountry area that has a lift. If the weather turns to crap there is maybe one groomed course.

[daver 0]

this is hokkaido's asahidake i presume?

[Fattwins 0]

yes

[klingon 10]

I heard perhaps this is mistaken that there is a particularly dangerous part to 47 just off course and has caused problems in the past. Someone will surely know more on that than me, anyone?

[AK 77 0]

Progressive and open minded?

 

In my limited experience (in terms of numbers of resorts visited) only 2:

 

Hachimantai

Hakkoda

 

and half a vote for:

 

Happo

[AK 77 0]

but that doesn't count as 'progressive' in any freestyle / park related way... haven't seen any for that yet.

[tsondaboy 0]

Kagura I think is the most progressive resort I ve been in terms of letting anyone go anywhere he likes, but I find some of their tactics controversial. They have practically opened up the entire mountain and even give you free topo map photocopy’s of the area above the top lift. Also advertise (posters etc) their tree runs and BC to the point that have an enormous amount of people, considering the size of the mountain, going out every weekend. Still, they don’t do any avalanche forecasting/control for the same areas they advertise they have opened and it is probably a miracle that no one got hurt up to now. Basically if you go out you are on your own and the resort doesn’t take any responsibility.

Also twice this season, I was asked at the top of the mountain by people that came up holding their boards on their hands “how do I get back to the lift areas from here”.

Even if they don’t start doing avalanche forecasting and staff, I think I would be much happier if they installed a beacon-gate or something at the entrance of the top lift.

[Rag-Doll 0]

I'm glad they don't. It's one thing to be safe but the hills around Kagura are pretty tame. There is far greater danger of running out of ride than getting caught in the slide. Not that I'm saying you do TB, but there are people who impress themselves about being hard BC men around Kagura when but apart from the bitch of a climb from the quad to the top of the top lift, the rest is a doddle. I know there have been slides but last season there were slides in bounds a Naeba. A healthy dose of reality wouldn't go astray.