Mike Pow 52 Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 DAY 61 : SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2012 With Sunday the busiest day of the week in the Niseko Resort Area, Ian M and I headed to Rusutsu. Rusutsu was far from deserted but there's a far better flow and very quickly the crowds had dispersed all over the mountain. Ian M and I skied the groomed runs in the morning with Ian's focus being cuff neutral as much as possible - the shin neither sitting on the tongue nor the calf pressed against the cuff. Being too far forward or too far back in the boot puts the skier at a mechanical disadvantage and limits the ability to manoeuvre the feet and skis. Ian M found cuff neutral but also found that the aggressive forward lean of his Tecnica boots was a barrier to feeling light and manoeuvrable. I'm currently skiing in the Dynafit TLT 5 Performance boot with a 15 degree forward lean. Although this is a lightweight ski touring boot with a very soft tongue and minimal support fore and aft compared with an alpine ski boot it has a carbon fibre cuff which provides more than enough support laterally. Even for my 100 kg (220 lbs) load. That's with clothes and backpack by the way ;-) http://www.dynafit.com/en/product/shoes/tlt-5-performance-tf Ian M is already looking at replacing his Tecnicas with a boot with a more upright cuff. Watch this space. After lunch we headed in to the trees and the powder and put the morning's focus in to practice You can't see it, but Ian M was relaxed downstairs and cuff neutral more than he wasn't. Hence the snow going up, and over, and behind and not out to the side. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 13, 2012 Author Share Posted March 13, 2012 DAY 62 : MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2012 1406 cm so far at village level in Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area (approx 300m asl) I met Nithan at the Family Chair in Grand Hirafu and we skied around to the base of Hanazono to meet up with Preeya, Helen and Sam. After a couple of laps on the groomed runs and a run through Blueberry Fields we headed into the terrain skier's right of Silver Dream. Off the groomed runs there was a mixture of layers and snow textures lurking beneath the beautifully smooth and consistent overnight snow at the surface. The focus for today was being patient, light and relaxed in the fall line to allow the snow beneath the skis to consolidate to make a platform on which we could manoeuvre. Preeya letting the platform develop in 'The Cuts' in Hanazono Preeya manoeuvring off the newly established platform Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 14, 2012 Author Share Posted March 14, 2012 DAY 63 : TUESDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2012 Over a week away from Kiroro is way too long. It was more than worth the wait though. After yesterday's funky layers at Hanazono it was a pleasure to ski consistent, light powder. Ian M skiing from the top of the gondola Ian M skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sksMXXXTaZs&feature=plcp&context=C4417508VDvjVQa1PpcFMcn9jVtqizGt0npfWwSuMDpnBZYgJ0Syw%3D Yours truly skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7p1DpBy8_0&feature=plcp&context=C4417508VDvjVQa1PpcFMcn9jVtqizGt0npfWwSuMDpnBZYgJ0Syw%3D Ian M skiing 'Hangman' Ian M skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lpmaJgRCqc&feature=plcp&context=C4417508VDvjVQa1PpcFMcn9jVtqizGt0npfWwSuMDpnBZYgJ0Syw%3D Ian M on the run out from 'Hangman' at Kiroro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DEYEKpMcis&feature=plcp&context=C4417508VDvjVQa1PpcFMcn9jVtqizGt0npfWwSuMDpnBZYgJ0Syw%3D Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 DAY 64 : WEDNESDAY 29 FEBRUARY 2012 Leap Day and an extra day of snowfall for February 2012. 352 cm (139") total for the month making it the snowiest February in the 6 winters I've been following the snow here. Spent the day at Grand Hirafu with Di, Tex, Angus, Fraser, and Hardy. Di is the sister to Liz who was here with her family in December and January. First time skiing with Di, Tex, Angus, Fraser, and Hardy but by day's end all were skiing much more freely. DAY 65 : THURSDAY 01 MARCH 2012 Had the chance to ski with John Pidgeon again today in Annupuri. I drove John to the Annupuri base area and we skied Family and Junior while Di, Tex, Angus, Fraser, and Hardy skied their way round from Hirafu. On our previous visit in January John skied 9 runs in total. This time we put 6 in before a hot chocolate break and 6 after. John skiing Family at Annupuri John leaving the school children in his wake on Junior at Annupuri Tex, John, Di & Angus at Annupuri After lunch I drove John back to Hiarfu and then met up with the others for a couple of hours skiing the packed powder in Grand Hirafu. John's already looking forward to returning to the Niseko Resort Area next winter when he'll be 86 years young. A magic day. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 DAY 66 : FRIDAY 02 MARCH 2012 With no new snow overnight we chose to head to Kiroro for Pam Laidlaw's first lesson with me this winter. The sun was shining and the slopes were deserted giving Pam the ideal environment to try the new ideas and movements I was presenting to her. One of the things we worked on was being patient and relaxed in the fall line. Pam nailed it here. Pam Laidlaw skiing the Nagamine area at Kiroro DAY 67 : SATURDAY 03 MARCH 2012 To continue what we started yesterday Pam and I headed to the quiet slopes of Rusutsu. Rusutsu has a number of long, consistently pitched red runs with in my opinion far better grooming that the Niseko Resort Area. Pam Laidlaw skiing the Heavenly View area at Rusutsu And I chose Rusutsu because I knew there would be areas of untracked light snow beside the groomed runs 2-3 days after the last snowfall. Pam Laidlaw skiing the East Quad area at Rusutsu Pam was skiing a lot more confidently and comfortably after two sessions and we were both looking forward to her third session on Monday. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 DAY 68 : SUNDAY 04 MARCH 2012 Day off snow for a shopping excursion to BC Map, Sapporo http://www.ici-sapporo.com/bcmap/bcmap-sapporo.html After last Sunday's ski day at Rusutsu working on being cuff neutral and as upright in the lower leg as possible, Ian M was ready to look at new boots. After watching me ski Dynafit TLT5 Performance boots on last spring's trip to Hokkaido and all this season and him receiving a pair of Dynafit bindings from Porter Fox we went to BC Map to see if his foot fit the Dynafit last. It did and with no TLT5 Performance boots in his size available in Japan he chose a pair of the TLT5 Mountain. http://www.dynafit.com/product/shoes/tlt-5-mountain-tf-x He was amazed at how light and comfortable they are. Now to ski them! DAY 69 : MONDAY 05 MARCH 2012 A return to the quiet slopes of Rusutsu with Pam Laidlaw, but this time on a different set of skis. Pam has been skiing on the K2 MissBehaved (130-98-118) for some time but with packed powder conditions and our focus on groomed terrain for the moment she went with my recommendation of trying an all-mountain oriented ski. Today's choice the 161cm Volkl Tierra (129-78-99). It took a run or two to get used to the added versatility, performance and edge hold but then Pam flew on and off groomed. Pam Laidlaw skiing Steamboat-B at Rusutsu The off-groomed snow was more difficult to manage with a much smaller waist width but once Pam found her balance and patience she was cruising in the 5-15cm deep layer of untracked snow above a very tricky sun crust. Pam Laidlaw skiing east of East Muju at Rusutsu Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 DAY 70 : TUESDAY 06 MARCH 2012 Today was the first time for me to see Ian M ski in his new boots. We skied at Kiroro because we knew it would be quieter and the grooming much better than the Niseko Resort Area, which is exactly what Ian M needed as he was getting to grips with the new boots. We focussed on being cuff neutral and maintaining a longer leg throughout the pivotted manoeuvre. Ian M skiing the Yoichi #1-A Course (red course) at Kiroro DAY 71 : WEDNESDAY 07 MARCH 2012 Grand Hirafu today with Ian M continuing the focus from yesterday and taking that off the groomed slopes into the mixed snow conditions. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 DAY 72 : THURSDAY 08 MARCH 2012 Started the day solo in Grand Hirafu but ran into Greg Heptonstall (not literally) at the top of the Hanazono 3 Lift. Greg had already been out through Gate 5, so I joined him for a couple of laps before we skied more of the inbounds snow and terrain. Up high the snow was dry and light on a solid sun crust. Down low the snow was becoming custard like and well tracked. Greg Heptonstall skiing out of Gate 5 at Grand Hirafu Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 20, 2012 Author Share Posted March 20, 2012 DAY 73 : FRIDAY 09 MARCH 2012 Back to Kiroro with Ian M on a beautifully sunny Spring day. We came across this magnificent snow sculpture on the road to the resort which was the equal of any I'd seen at the Sapporo Snow Festival last month. Winter is long on the road between Akaigawa and Kiroro A sense of scale On mountain we continued working on being cuff neutral and maintaining a longer leg throughout the pivotted manoeuvre, and then the patience and balance to engage the edges in a carved turn. Ian M skiing the Yoichi #1-A Course (red course) at Kiroro Ian M showing that Alpine Touring boots do have performance After a morning on the groomed runs we headed to the ungroomed runs for the first time in his new boots to work on pressure control in unconsolidated snow. This is especially important in the Dynafit TLT5 boots as the flex rating fore and aft is around 100. Jamming the shin on the tongue of the boot at the start of the turn is a one-way ticket to over the handlebars. Yoichi-dake backcountry and a 'smoking' Mt Yotei from Kiroro Ian M skiing 'Still Waters' at Kiroro Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 22, 2012 Author Share Posted March 22, 2012 DAY 74 : SATURDAY 10 MARCH 2012 A grey, miserable day in the Niseko Resort Area so I took the chance to take a day off from skiing. DAY 75 : SUNDAY 11 MARCH 2012 Kiroro with Ian M. Grey skies again, and the snow off the groomed runs was spongy and heavy. So we stuck to the wonderfully groomed packed powder runs instead. DAY 76 : MONDAY 12 MARCH 2012 A skiff of new snow and the third grey day in a row in the Niseko Resort Area = another day off from skiing to recharge the batteries. DAY 77 : TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2012 With no new snow and the freeze thaw cycle in full effect in the Niseko Resort Area Ian M and I headed to our second home, Kiroro There was at least 15cm of new snow in the car park when we arrived and it was dumping when we started skiing. First stop the Nagamine area and the Nagamine #2-C course (red run). Visibility was low and the wind was blowing, and there was a fair amount of snow about. Even on the groomed runs. Ian M warming up on the Nagamine #2-C course (red run) at Kiroro Next up was 'Walk in the Woods' and the low angle powder to the side of the Yoichi #1-B course (green run) Ian M skiing 'Walk in the Woods' at Kiroro Ian M skiing beside the Yoichi #1-B course (green run) at Kiroro Ian M skiing 'Walk in the Woods' at Kiroro It got deeper and sunnier as the day went on and Ian M was really balanced and flowing in his first foray in deep powder in his new boots. Ian M skiing the trees off the Asari #2-A Course (red run) at Kiroro Ian M skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro And excellent day, and excellent to see mid-January conditions return to Kiroro. Same thing happened last mid-March too TR: SPRING ON HOKKAIDO http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/405321/TR_SPRING_ON_HOKKAIDO.html#Post405321 Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I spent most of last night and the last hour this morning reading through this post/photo album/video diary/season blog, from start to finish, and it was well worth the effort!! Top, top job Mike!!! I know from the time it takes me to write my blog entries that it's easier said than done, so thanks for posting all this! Ignoring the numerous great photos, of which there are simply too many (God knows how Ian M must choose his favourites!), highlights for me were the Tokachi road trip, teaching Nerys how to ski (though i'm not sure she'll thank you for broadcasting her age, unless that was a reference to the day [of your season] that she arrived!), hearing either you or Ian laughing to yourselves whilst filming each other's powder runs and the "She stole my line!" "Well find a different one!" complaint and reply in one of the Moiwa video clips! & what a great advert for the places beyond but not too far from the Niseko resort area - namely Rusutsu, Moiwa but especially Kiroro!!! As I said last season (and failed to do this season), I must get myself to Kiroro! To use a certain ski instructor's pet phrase, "Good choice!" Finally, I'm wondering whether the origin of "MikePow" is not as obvious as it first seems. Judging by the accent, could it be Mike from Powys???? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 Thanks for reading Mick Rich and thanks for the kind words. It's no secret that Kiroro is my favourite resort around here - 34 days and counting this winter - and I recommend it to anyone visiting this part of Hokkaido. So too the other resorts. Variety is the spice of life. Very close. Aberdare boy, in the former Mid Glamorgan, now Rhondda Cynon Taff. Link to post Share on other sites
IIIII 2 Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Nice one Mike. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 Cheers IIIII DAY 78 : WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH 2012 Kiroro with Ian M. Not as deep as yesterday but we managed Ian M skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro DAY 79 : THURSDAY 15 MARCH 2012 No new snow at Kiroro and a little scratchy underski but still plenty of powder to be found. Ian M skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro DAY 80 : FRIDAY 16 MARCH 2012 A cold, clear evening sucked the moisture out of the Kiroro snowpack to give us stellar powder under bluebird skies. Ian M ready to ski 'Still Waters' at Kiroro Ian M skiing 'Still Waters' at Kiroro Ian M skiing the Nagamine area at Kiroro Ian M back in 'Still Waters' and then on to 'Hangman'. He hit his marks, I didn't. Hopefully next time The last two runs of the day in 'Hangman' we skied with Otaru resident and fellow Kiroro seasons pass holder Hiroki. Hiroki skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro Ian M skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro Hiroki skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro Hiroki and Ian M at Kiroro Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 "Green is the Colour" More great powder shots from Kiroro! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 Thanks Mick Rich. This colour green really pops against the white of the snow and the blue of the sky - on the odd occasion it's out here on Hokkaido As evidenced in the next series of shots on what was a very snowy, greybird day. DAY 81 : SATURDAY 17 MARCH 2012 St Patrick's Day at Rusutsu with Ian M. Very grabby, heavy powder off piste. Ian M worked on patience and letting the platform develop underneath his skis before pivotting. Then an 11.30 pm kick off at Craig Meikle's house in Annupuri to watch Wales secure a third 6 Nations Grand Slam rugby title since 2005. DAY 82 : SUNDAY 18 MARCH 2012 A grey, miserable day in the Niseko Resort Area so I took the chance to take a day off from skiing. DAY 83 : MONDAY 19 MARCH 2012 MY 75th DAY OF SKIING ON HOKKAIDO Spent it at Kiroro with Ian M where it was snowing all day and getting deeper by the run. Ian M skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro It was coming down heavily as we headed home and we passed this road crew clearing the heavily laden and somewhat ineffectual avalanche barriers on Rt 393 between Kiroro and Kutchan. These barriers have been featured in many an Hokkaido ski & snowboard segment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTSZfN8bN2A&feature=plcp&context=C4417508VDvjVQa1PpcFMcn9jVtqizGt0npfWwSuMDpnBZYgJ0Syw%3D Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 DAY 84 : TUESDAY 20 MARCH 2012 The top lifts in the Niseko Resort Area were on wind hold and the gates closed, so Ian M & I had another day at Kiroro. The Kiroro Gondola and Nagamine #2 Express Lift were on wind hold too but we were able to find plenty of deep turns off the Yoichi #1 Express and Center Express lifts. Our tracks were filled in from yesterday and we even found two new areas. Fabulous. Ian MacKenzie skiing 'Walk in the Woods' at Kiroro Ian M skiing 'Walk in the Woods' at Kiroro The snow didn't let up all day and it was coming down January style as we drove back to Hirafu Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 DAY 85 : WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH 2012 After the wild weather of the past two days we returned to Kiroro under clear and calm skies. Joining Ian M & I today was James Marshall, originally from just outside London, England but currently residing in Singapore with his family. James started skiing in Europe and during his time living in Tokyo he skied many of the resorts on Honshu. He's been coming to the Niseko Resort Area for 10 years. This however was his first visit to Kiroro. He'd brought two sets of skis with him to Kiroro - the K2 Obsethed and Salomon X-Scream. He chose the X-Screams and it was a good choice. James had been skiing on the Obsetheds this holiday (138-105-125 in a 189 cm length) and it took a couple of laps on and off the groomed runs for him to get used to what today is regarded as a very narrow platform but which at the time of the X-Scream's release was cutting edge technology (108-70-97 in a 186 cm length). After presenting a couple of different ideas to James - in powder being patient at the start of the turn and then manouevring once a platform has developed, and keeping the body facing the direction of travel and not facing the fall line he started to get more and more comfortable in the unfamiliar terrain and unconsolidated snow. Ian MacKenzie skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro James Marshall skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro Ian MacKenzie skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 James Marshall skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CcLidTRLmk&feature=plcp&context=C4417508VDvjVQa1PpcFMcn9jVtqizGt0npfWwSuMDpnBZYgJ0Syw%3D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8BCRCCSbng&feature=plcp&context=C4417508VDvjVQa1PpcFMcn9jVtqizGt0npfWwSuMDpnBZYgJ0Syw%3D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR29Rd64dbs&feature=plcp&context=C4417508VDvjVQa1PpcFMcn9jVtqizGt0npfWwSuMDpnBZYgJ0Syw%3D Ian M skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro A great day all round. And James has already booked a return to Kiroro next winter. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Mike....I've been trying to keep away from this thread this year.....I've not been able to get out as much as I normally would and looking at these pics makes me insanely jealous!! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 26, 2012 Author Share Posted March 26, 2012 Thanks TubbyBeaverinho DAY 86 : THURSDAY 22 MARCH 2012 If it ain't broke don't fix it. Kiroro with Ian M. Snowing when we arrived. The powder wasn't as light as yesterday. But it was still good. Ian MacKenzie skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Awesome stuff as usual! How do you feel about skiing with snowboarders? It would be cool to meet up someday. By the way, are the names of these places (like 'hangman', etc) something that you've come up with or are they more official than that? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 26, 2012 Author Share Posted March 26, 2012 Thanks Black Mountain No problem making turns with single plankers. Let me know if you're ever up this way. They are the names Ian M & I have given to our favourite areas at Kiroro. Bit of fun and points of reference for us. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Nice, that's what I thought about the names... It's definitely good to have those points of reference (and sometimes fun to come up with!) 'Field of dreams' is my favourite area in Myoko and only myself and a couple of friends know it even exists! I'll definitely let you know when I'm up in your neck of the woods next. It used to be a yearly pilgrimage until recently... used to get 25(ish) days a season up there. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 27, 2012 Author Share Posted March 27, 2012 DAY 87 : FRIDAY 23 MARCH 2012 A grey, miserable day in the Niseko Resort Area so I took the chance to take a day off from skiing. DAY 88 : SATURDAY 24 MARCH 2012 A second grey, miserable day in a row in the Niseko Resort Area so I took another day off from skiing. DAY 89 : SUNDAY 25 MARCH 2012 When Hell Freezes Over...it may look a little like this Light snowfall overnight and flurries early on as I drove over to the small ski area of Chisenupuri on the Niseko Panorama Line road. There were about 20 cars in the car park and 10-15cm of snow on the ground as I paid for my 4-hr ticket (JPY 2,200) and rode the covered 2-person chairlift to the top of the ski area. The new snow was light and dry on a solid sun and wind crust. I did a couple of laps skiers left of the chair down to Yukichichibu Onsen before heading off the back of the ski area and the skin up to Chisenupuri peak. The thermal pools flowing in to Yukichichibu Onsen Visibility was poor but the skin up was quick and easy. I dropped one of the gullies that takes you down to the Niseko Panorama Line road (Rt 66) and the top section was like skiing inside a golf ball. Once I got below the cloudline the skiing was smooth and fast. But not this fast The sulphur pools of Yukichichibu Onsen Skiers making their way back to Chisenupuri via Yukichichibu Onsen Two japanese snowboarders dropping down to Yukichichibu Onsen from the Chisenupuri ski area The tree runs at Chisenupuri are some of the best in the area for skiers and snowboarders starting to venture into that type of terrain. The pitch is consistent, never getting steper than a red run pitch, and the tree spacing is very accommodating allowing wider turn shapes as you get used to unconsolidated snow with features. Yours truly skiing one of the off groomed areas at Chisenupuri Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts