muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 (Updated with text and photos) This season Gala Yuzawa has opened a brand new downhill course. Until now, people had to take the Gondola down at the end of the day - and this was causing problems on days when winds were blowing... sometimes meaning the resort had to actually be closed for many days each season. Hopefully that is in the past now though as people can ski down. The new course starts at the top of the Chariot pair lift in the North Area of the resort. From there it's basically a 2.5km cruiser of a course down to the Gondola/Shinkansen station of the resort. Not challenging really but it was fairly fun - and some fine views of Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma on the way down too. The new downhill course The re-opened South Area The South Area of Gala has re-opened as well this season, after a number of years closed. The quad lift has been replaced by a fairly fast pair lift but the courses seem to be the same - turn left and you have ungroomed runs and yesterday the snow was awesome, it was deep and fluffy. For some reason, you couldn't get to the South Area via the very top lift of the resort.... I don't know if that is just because of the snowfall of the last week and if they plan to open it later (I hope so). Anyway, here's some photos from the South Area 1 Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Many thanks for doing that muika. Pretty much as expected I suppose. You need to be in the North Area to get on the course? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2011 Author Share Posted January 15, 2011 Correct. You need to get over to the North Area and then ride the short pair lift there (Chariot) which takes you to the top of the new course. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Cheers muika. Looking forward to the pics! Link to post Share on other sites
bottomless 0 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Is that the famous shinkansen / gondola station combo at the bottom there? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Looks like a nice cruiser. Nice views on the way down, too. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Enjoyed that Damn, when will they stop that crap music. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
tokabochi 9 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Cool muika, looks like a good way to end the day, definitely better than getting a gondola down. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 looks like you had a great day for it as well, the views coming down were pretty cool. When I was there it was cloudy and snowing and you couldn't see shit (not that I took the downhill course, I was too knacked and pussied out with the gondola) Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2011 Author Share Posted January 15, 2011 Updated original post with photos of the downhill course and new South area. More general photos coming soon. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 how did you get across to the South area then Muika? through the Edelweiss cat track? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2011 Author Share Posted January 15, 2011 Yes, I think that's what it is called. And coming back there's a 50m or so flat bit. Not perfect. Previously you could get to the south area from the very top pair lift of the resort. That was a cool run in itself. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2011 Author Share Posted January 15, 2011 Just had a look at the resort map.. looks like that run will open as it is on the map. It just wasn't yesterday. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Yeah, both connections were closed when I was there last week....which was a shame as the ungroomed bit must have been mental!! Mind you the top of the central area was ungroomed with the amount of snow falling and the lack of riders Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2011 Author Share Posted January 15, 2011 It was. I put the camera away and had a few hours playing around there, it was GOOD. Highly recommended. Not sure how that will be on a busy weekend but on a weekday after a dump of snow... very fine. Posted photos here: http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/396353/Gala_Yuzawa_Yuzawa_Niigata_14t.html Link to post Share on other sites
IIIII 2 Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 South area looks sweet. Must get there this season. Thanks for the report. Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 South area does look good. Downhill there doesn't seem to be much ropes at all... any shortcuts? Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Damn, when will they stop that crap music. hahahaha! no shit! South run looks fun, but that picture with the spread out trees and all those little pillows has me gagging to run it. Pity theres no tracks in it, i assume its just a piccie and not really a place you could hit without a bit of hiking (back up)? Im off in the general vicinity tomorrow. I'll try and skip the shenanigans though and head to either kagura, maiko, or naeba (depending on where everyone else isnt hopefully heading ) Maybe ill get lucky... Great pics as ever though, and a cute little run. Looks like if you run it a couple of times you can score a few lines between the loops Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 13, 2012 Author Share Posted January 13, 2012 The photo with the 'trees + 'pillows' isn't part of the resort, no, but basically just to the side. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Looks great - might be worth a revisit Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 Was just thinking the same! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 14, 2012 Author Share Posted January 14, 2012 It is good over there. And lots of people seem to simply 'miss it'. It's not the most obvious of links, especially if the top course over to the South Area is closed. Ages ago I went when it was crazy busy, but last season I went twice in fantastic conditions and it was empty. Mid-week of course. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 Muika, we'll definitely have to hook-up for one of these mid-week outings in Feb/March. As my Furano plans have been bombed, I'll be staying in Kanagawa for the winter and heading up to the slopes as and when! Link to post Share on other sites
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