Mick Rich 78 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Having just been to Muikamachi Hakkaisan and, a couple of months ago, to Happo-One, 2 of the Japanese resorts known for their moguls, I still fail to see their attraction. Yes, I’m a snowboarder rather than a skier, so maybe I’m never going to get it, but apart from the challenge aspect, they just seem to be an easy route to knee surgery! Exhibit No.1:- Don’t get me wrong, a good mogul skier (can I say “moguler”?) looks impressive, as did the guy I saw on Saturday who straight-lined a mogul field before doing a backflip off a small kicker at the bottom! But otherwise they look like an accident waiting to happen and I only ever go near them if it’s the only way for me to get down the mountain or they’re filled in with powder! Thoughts anyone? Link to post Share on other sites
igloo 3 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 with you mick. Where was that photo taken? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I'm not the one to talk, since I'm terrible at moguls, but I would like to learn to ski them some day. The reason is the challenge aspect as you put it, specifically, the moment-to-moment, think-and-react-quickly skill that would be required. That is the primal thrill I remember as a kid learning to ski, and going to moguls seems a good way to tap back into that. Of course, I am older, heavier and slower than I was then, so perhaps will never be in condition to get into the zone that would be required. But that doesn't stop me from taking a stab now and then. (With sometimes comical results.) Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 As an old skool skier in Japan, moguls are just an unavoidable condition. Once you get the hang of it, it isn´t all that difficult if you approach it in a certain way. The ultimate is straight lining it, your body doesn´t divert from the fall line ... It´s cool to watch this stuff, but when you think about it, this is all artificial terrain. In a way, it´s like park ... Narrow ski runs plus lots of people with most average skiers transverse gives you moguls. We used to dream about European Alps. Can´t really dig the hype about most Japanese ski-jo , ie) Nozawa, Naeba, Shiga . I am lucky (in terms of snowboarding) I now live in Europe. As a snowboarder, moguls are crap. Powder (and carving) is what gives me that feel that skis don´t give me. Skis are versatile for sure to move around, walk, and anyone can pick it up easily. So why do I snowboard? Like I said, it´s not for moguls. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted March 6, 2012 Author Share Posted March 6, 2012 Interesting to hear the skiers' perspective! with you mick. Where was that photo taken? Umm, not sure tbh as I found it online, but I think it was somewhere in Canada?! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Don't like them. Very possibly because I'm rubbish at them. Puts me off Happo big time. Hakkai-san for the most part you can just avoid that big long run if you want and it not bother you. Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 I used to enjoy them way back, but I think my knees are still angry with me about that particular choice. Can't see the appeal now and I just try to avoid them. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 I'm a skier and I used to do them a lot back in Canada. But these days it's all about the powder. I literally think of bumps as a waste of time and good terrain. It's kind of like the smoking section in a restaurant, a few partake but for the majority it's just an annoyance. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 The worst offender for me is that one at Nozawa, what's it called Schneider? Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 I snowboard. nuff said. Link to post Share on other sites
yoroshiku onegai shimasu 2 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Me too. My skier friends don't like them either though and I sure didn't when I skied. They are particulary gruesome when huge and hard and icy though hey. They do come in different variations of 'not fun'. Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 they are annoying. i avoid them. Link to post Share on other sites
tokabochi 9 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Schneider at Nozawa that's the one. Many a person finds themselves at the top looking down and thinking 'oh dear' (or similar). Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 I think they're a bit of a historical relic and that a lot of them should be groomed away in keeping with customer demand. You can be at Happo and see hundreds of people on Panorama and then look up and see about five people on Usagi and Tanuki. That tells its own story. I think its crap that patrol make snowboarders who make a little jump (which is easy to avoid) destroy it when they're finished, but let a group of skiers to make a mogul run all down the course that just gets left. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 That's a really great point Mr Wiggles. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted March 7, 2012 Author Share Posted March 7, 2012 They do seem to be more popular over here though, or have I forgotten what's it's like to ride/ski elsewhere? Link to post Share on other sites
CnnmnSchnpps 0 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Not fun in the normal sense, but I do enjoy the challenge of tackling moguls on a snowboard. Great training for edge control and fast edge to edge transitions. Of course I only ever partake if the mogul course happens to be the only way down the mountain Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted March 7, 2012 Author Share Posted March 7, 2012 Not fun in the normal sense, but I do enjoy the challenge of tackling moguls on a snowboard. Great training for edge control and fast edge to edge transitions. That's the kind of training I can do without!!! Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 I think some people in Japan are stuck in the past regarding what people want out of skiing. The "spend a fortune on lessons and badge tests" technical approach is increasingly old fashioned. Folks don't have a fortune to spend and want more fun than spending half the day standing on the side listening to an instructor and the other half on one ski at a time. Stem probably knows this but is it possible to ride down the Olympic Downhill course at Happo on a typical day and encounter no moguls? Don't you get them on the lower part of Panorama too? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Mr W, some good points there. Shame I didn't meet you in Hakuba at New Year for a pint, when I met Stemik, Pete and TJ. Next time hopefully we can meet for a beer or 2....you always have a very balanced view of things. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 I found it hard avoiding moguls at Happo the other week. Didn't meet any at 47/Goryu. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 I think some people in Japan are stuck in the past regarding what people want out of skiing. The "spend a fortune on lessons and badge tests" technical approach is increasingly old fashioned. Folks don't have a fortune to spend and want more fun than spending half the day standing on the side listening to an instructor and the other half on one ski at a time. Stem probably knows this but is it possible to ride down the Olympic Downhill course at Happo on a typical day and encounter no moguls? Don't you get them on the lower part of Panorama too? They don't groom the steep part directly in front of the downhill start shack but the rest of it down Panorama is groomed. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Must have just been cut up pretty bad when I went by the time I was coming down? Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 They groom Panorama in the evening so any overnight accumulations will soon pack into soft bumps by mid morning as that section is moderately steep. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Sadly I don't know the names of the course. Basically I was on the left hand side of the hill as you look at it from base. Parked close to the jump. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts