neversummer 0 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 There are plenty of people who spent more time on the mountain last season than I did but I certainly didn't notice it and I was very surprised to see huge mounds of snow being stockpiled last week Is this the first year that snow making has occured in Niseko? Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 WHAT? I certainly never saw any last year!! That would have to be new, yeah? Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Hmm... Not like I ever paid that much attention, but I don't recall seeing any snowmaking fans or pipe sprayers or related water piping all over the place in Niseko. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 WHERE IS MIKEPOW & GO NATIVE to confirm this Same never saw any Snow Making Machinery Anywhere. It would be a shame to think Niseko had to consider using snow making I think that is one of the appeals that you are going to get good natural snow. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 it's a snow job. Niseko doesn't need it. You fell for it. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 I AM BLONDE YOU KNOW!!!!!!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Snowmaking started last winter before the lifts opened. It was confined to the King area next to the base of the gondola to create a quick base to cover the major earthworks undertaken during the installation of the double chair. This winter they have had snowmaking in the same area and just above the last pitch on the run back to the base of the Ace quad. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 It's a sin. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Pet Shop Boys? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 I've seen about 3 snowmaking machines...it's not exactly on a large scale. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver Pet Shop Boys? Sometimes you're better off dead; there's a gun in your hand and it's pointing at your head. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Hey Thursday if it helps with early season base and gets you on the slopes faster in a late start season are you gonna complain? Dont think so. One good dump from Mother Nature and it is covered and not to be seen again until April or May. Link to post Share on other sites
Mongoose 0 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 They did it about 4 years ago..you couldnt ride down to hanazono as hardly any snow..We were having BBQ xmas eve sitting in the sun in T shirts..was real similar start to the season as this year..Didnt crack into gear until mid to late jan and we had dumps up to 1st/2nd week of april. I dont know why there is always the hype here on this site on how much snow there is..Dec is always crap..Nov/Dec 2000/2001 was the last good early base I can remember. If your used to riding oz conditions I suppose you would think its great but until the sassa is completely buried then its not even close to being on. niseko is just a big hill anyway.. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Mongoose 05/06 appears to have slipped your memory. We had near 2m on the ground by mid Dec and then over 3m by end Dec. There was epic powder throughout the month (Nov that year was great too). Also 02/03 had about as much snow on the ground as we have now by the end of Nov. Dec is not always crap, it's just like anywhere else in the world, variable. Even this season has had many great days already, just look back over some of Mikepow's photos if you've been missing all the fun yourself! Link to post Share on other sites
Mongoose 0 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 2008 - 4 equals 2004...it was 2003/2004 season bloke after having a good think about it..02/03 was a good season but what about all the other dec.. Come on mate how many of the local crew are going hard in dec..how many peak runs can you do...how much backcountry can you access..I lived up there for number of years and moved away when the circus hit town..Still like to do the odd day there but the hoopla over niseko is so over rated..its a hill!! how much better terrain does hokkaido have.. I knew I'd cop flak from this but the place has gone to the dogs!! As for pics..like I said ..still do the odd day back country up there plus since riding there since 99 reckon seen more fresh crowdless days than most! Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Yep it's only a hill with around 1000m of skiable vert. When you have snow to sea level it's not like you need saoring peaks to still have a good ski. Iwaonupuri has had some good lines on it already if you're after some backcountry. And I've skied better powder already this season than I ever got to in Aus (over 20 years skiing there), regardless of the lack of snow. Also the terrain here is plenty good enough for me. I've skied many resorts in Hokkaido including Asahidake and Kurodake but still think this area has some awesome, easily accessable terrain. And I don't mind the circus one bit, keeps me in a job (without having to teach english which I don't really enjoy) in a place I love. Plus there's a great expat community now living here year round which I also really like. Really don't think I could stand being the only gaijin in the village! Link to post Share on other sites
Mongoose 0 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 ott offensive post edited/deleted by SJForums Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 I've merely stated my opinions, interesting how you find that offensive. Sorry that I don't have the disdain for this place that you do. Link to post Share on other sites
neversummer 0 Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 if the weather continues with the cold temps then they should be able to pack them away and bring them out next year. Bring on the POW Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Mongoose, where are you at now and where do you ski? Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Originally Posted By: Go Native Yep it's only a hill with around 1000m of skiable vert. When you have snow to sea level it's not like you need saoring peaks to still have a good ski. Iwaonupuri has had some good lines on it already if you're after some backcountry. And I've skied better powder already this season than I ever got to in Aus (over 20 years skiing there), regardless of the lack of snow. Also the terrain here is plenty good enough for me. I've skied many resorts in Hokkaido including Asahidake and Kurodake but still think this area has some awesome, easily accessable terrain. And I don't mind the circus one bit, keeps me in a job (without having to teach english which I don't really enjoy) in a place I love. Plus there's a great expat community now living here year round which I also really like. Really don't think I could stand being the only gaijin in the village! for me part of the living in small town/resort japan is the expat community. Topped off with skiing over 1000m of vertical, being it Niseko or Hakuba..is the reason we are here. And the reason foreign tourists are coming to Japan. I remember skiing in the early nineties in Japan- it wasnt that good. (apart from the snow) Mongoose - maybe you need to find the next "thing" before it becomes to big for you. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I think you boys might have misread what appears in Mongooses post. I do not think he has said GN is OTT offensive, I believe that SJ has edited Mongooses response to GN for being OTT offensive. Might be wrong but that is how I read it. I think you fella's are living the dream over there - the expat community sounds awesome for the most part, the snow and lifestyle sublime. Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 177 Posted December 22, 2008 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted December 22, 2008 Quote: I believe that SJ has edited Mongooses response to GN for being OTT offensive. Correct. Sorry if that was not clear. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 ... and GN's response was to the post that mongoose made. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I don't know how they make snow in N. But the places in Korea, do a huge spray into the air at night making a curtain of solidifying liquid droplets that scatters the flood lights into a million sparkling dots, falling as ICE. Not my idea of snow. Link to post Share on other sites
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