SnowJapan.Com#3 0 Posted February 10, 2003 Share Posted February 10, 2003 A new As I Ski It feature, "Skiing in Iwate...for dummies", has been put online. http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/as-i-ski-it-10.html An introduction to skiing in Iwate means conveying to the skier that this Prefecture and the surrounding ones get a ton of snow, and I do emphasize quite a lot. Only those foreigners coming to Iwate from the Rocky Mountains have probably seen decent quality ski areas blessed with more snow. http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/as-i-ski-it-10.html Please note that the views expressed in any Features on Snow Japan are not necessarily those of Snow Japan. Discuss it here.... Link to post Share on other sites
damian 0 Posted February 10, 2003 Share Posted February 10, 2003 ahh, another feature, always a good read. cheers. ps - what has happened to the Chairman of the Board? What say you chairman? No features of late. Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan.Com#3 0 Posted February 10, 2003 Author Share Posted February 10, 2003 What happened?? His latest was online 21st Jan, not too long ago..... http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/index.html Thanks Link to post Share on other sites
damian 0 Posted February 10, 2003 Share Posted February 10, 2003 sorry, was on holidays, missed it. Link to post Share on other sites
Will Lee 0 Posted February 10, 2003 Share Posted February 10, 2003 Thanks for the info on Shizukuishi. I shall take them into consideration when(hopefully?)I go up there in a few weeks. Link to post Share on other sites
Plucky 0 Posted February 11, 2003 Share Posted February 11, 2003 Right on the money - great article! Thanks for the read. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted February 11, 2003 Share Posted February 11, 2003 I read in the newspaper (and posted on this forum last season) that Hachimantai Resort had run out of money. Is it going to stay open? I've heard good things about Hachimantai. It looks like a great little resort. Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Snobo Yaro, Shizukuishi is pretty good for the nuts and bolts as far as the skiing is concerned, just don`t expect too much over and above that, and you will have a great time. Though its been raining up here lately, hope we get some more snow before you make it to Shizu. Dean Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Plucky, you are too kind, Im glad to see you agree with me. I want to make it plain to the readers that you are not in any way paid for, or forced, coerced, or manipulated to say that. Though I should pay you. My High School English teachers thought I was going to be a good short order cook in the future. Yoroshiku, Dean Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 No Fakie, about Hachimantai Resort, it is runnig this year as it was bought up by Shimokura, the neighboring ski area. They now run together under one ticket, and have a shuttle bus between the mountains. They fixed up Hachimantais facilities some, and it looks to be a good move for both, as Shimokura is too small and a tad too challenging to be a great family resort. They compliment each other well, and one would hope they dont go broke. We`ll have to wait and see how it unfolds. Hachimantai, go there on a powdery day, and it defies description. Watch out for avalanches in the woods! Dean Link to post Share on other sites
Plucky 0 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Dean, I'll gladly receive payment for any future ego pumping you may need This first one is on me though. I'll be at the Forest this Sunday (Feb 16). I'm really hoping for a day like I had two weeks ago. Lightest powder I've ever skied! I've posted on here about the place a few times - a true secret of Japan skiing - until your darn article at least Any chance you will be up there this weekend? (I'll be at Tazawako on Saturday, Forest Sunday) I've never skied the Resort but had to pick some people up there a few weeks ago after my day at the Forest. They had the biggest Hello Kitty inflatable sitting outside the lodge. Looked kind of fun to bomb down the hill and run in to the thing. BOING!!! Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Boing! I really must try to get up there. Damn work, it always gets in the way far too much. Link to post Share on other sites
HelenTokyo 0 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 We went up to Appi last year for 3 days and had a wonderful time. Very nice resort. Link to post Share on other sites
bob 0 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 I used to live up there when I was in Japan, and loved it so much. What a great place. I want to go back. Link to post Share on other sites
oo 1 Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Well come on over. Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted February 16, 2003 Share Posted February 16, 2003 Scouser, I wish I could say I go skiing 100 times a winter, but i too have a day job. Skiing and writing are just hobbies. In fact when I hit the slopes this weekend it be the first time in two weeks.... Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted February 16, 2003 Share Posted February 16, 2003 Bob, I see you are in DC, not much good skiing there. Pre(This comment has been self-censored due to its heavily political nature)ks!!!!!!! However, you may just have a job that I am envious of. I guess everything has an element of sacrifice to it. Must miss Tohoku, Chuubu and/or Hokkaido skiing! Dean Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted February 16, 2003 Share Posted February 16, 2003 Helen Tokyo, Appi may not be the ideal place for a few types of really advanced skiiers (though they do have some decent expert terrain), it really has a lot for just about anyone else. It was no suprise a recent poll put Appi as the second best ski area in the country. Dean Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted February 21, 2003 Share Posted February 21, 2003 Nice job finnally read the piece. How about work up there is there any. Link to post Share on other sites
bigbush 0 Posted February 22, 2003 Share Posted February 22, 2003 Thanks for that. I am hoping to visit the area next month. Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 Fattwins, there is the usual assortment of teaching jobs in the area, plus the Earlham program is based here. In addition to a high concentration of JETs and Eikaiwas, there are more english teaching jobs than usual for a rural Japanese location. Appi itself is said to hire foreigners if their Japanese is good enough. I have seen a ski instructor, and a cafeteria worker that are most definitely not Japanese(by genetics at least, they may have passports and/or upbringing). Appi seems to have a higher awareness of the fact that some of its customers are not Japanese, and will have a higher concentration of English speaking staff(Japanese or foreign), than any other ski area I have been to in Japan. Dean Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 Bigbush, if you are going to get up here, please try to make it before the end of March, after that it become a little more of a "Ski on Sherbet Zone" around these parts. Enjoy! Dean Link to post Share on other sites
iwatehead 0 Posted March 6, 2003 Share Posted March 6, 2003 Thanks for that. A good introduction. Hi all, I'll be in Iwate in time for next season Rod Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted April 28, 2003 Share Posted April 28, 2003 Iwate Head, what will you be doing in these parts next year? Funding you lift tickets with English Teaching like the rest of us? Dean Link to post Share on other sites
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