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DAY 3 : SATURDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2012   0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ     Pulled an all nighter watching Wales lose to Samoa in rugby and then had a relaxing, indoor day avoiding the torrential rain a

DAY 1 : THURSDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2012   Back on Fantasy Island, and picked up at New Chitose Airport by long time skiing partner Ian MacKenzie.   Great to see him and great to be back.   Just over a

DAY 5 : MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2012   23 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ     5am alarm and the snow was still coming down.   It took me longer than I'd anticipated to get my kit together which meant out

DAY 65 : FRIDAY 18 JANUARY 2013

 

34 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ

 

 

After yesterday's turns Ria, Alex and Hayden took a day off.

 

Neil, Craig, Ian & I returned to Moiwa for what turned out to be the deepest day I've experienced on Hokkaido.

 

Taka Nakanishi who accompanied Ian, Porter Fox and me on our Tokachi trip last season was in attendance taking pics for the Japanese ski magazine Bravo Ski.

 

As were Tim Petrick and The Blizzard of AAHHH's legend Mike Hattrup from K2 testing next year's K2 gear.

 

It was snowing hard for most of the day but we did manage to get one lap on the quad before it closed for high winds.

 

We even got a little sun too

 

Craig

 

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Neil

 

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Unknown Japanese skiers

 

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DAY 66 : SATURDAY 19 JANUARY 2013

 

27 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ

 

 

Superb powder day in Hirafu and Hanazono with Tracy, Jeremy, Joe, Eric, Oliver, Mitch and Peter up from Tokyo for the weekend.

 

Deep turns in Ni-Kabe, Konayuki, and Waterfall.

 

The turns out of Gate 4 were mixed with a lot of wind affected snow.

 

Ian and I joined the group for dinner at Kamimura, the 1 star Michelin restaurant in the new Shiki hotel in Hirafu.

 

Fabulous evening with great company, great food, and great wine.

 

 

 

 

DAY 67 : SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2013

 

12 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ

 

 

As of today 1009 cm (397") has fallen at MQ

 

 

Day 1 in Kiroro for the Lovelocks and Craig.

 

Deep snow all over the lower mountain with 20 cm falling during the day.

 

Excellent way to start the week.

 

 

 

 

DAY 68 : MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013

 

0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ

 

 

12 cm overnight at Kiroro but the temperature had risen since yesterday and warmed up the powder making it a little spongy.

 

There were still deep turns to be had all over the hill though.

 

 

 

 

DAY 69 : TUESDAY 22 JANUARY 2013

 

0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ

 

 

No new snow overnight at Kiroro but the sun was up early and the corduroy was inviting allcomers.

 

Everyone took off the handbrake today and let the skis run on and off the groomed.

 

A great day as we wait for the next storm to roll in.

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DAY 70 : WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY 2013

 

0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ

 

 

15 cm overnight at Kiroro

 

A beautiful, bluebird day spent skier's right of the Nagamine #2-C Course

 

Hayden

 

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Ria

 

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Craig

 

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Alex

 

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Neil

 

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Ian

 

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Hayden

 

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For the last run of the day we took our first ride up the gondola for this visit.

 

The Lovelocks and Craig were blown away with how much terrain there is to ski at Kiroro.

 

We dropped into Finding Your Feet and skied the top section of Walk in the Woods.

 

A fabulous day with everyone skiing effortlessly and smoothly.

 

Neil, Hayden, Ria, Ian, Craig and Alex at the top of Kiroro

 

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How's Kiroro for snowboarders? I love ur pics but have heard there are some flattish parts that mean in clipping for us 1plankers. Also.....are those names of the runs ur own creation? :)

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How's Kiroro for snowboarders? I love ur pics but have heard there are some flattish parts that mean in clipping for us 1plankers. Also.....are those names of the runs ur own creation? :)

 

Tubby, rode there last year and it was a fun day. Plenty of nice runs and not many people. Would happily go back.

 

Mike great pics even if it looks like everyone is an amputee.

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The prob of the buses from Sapporo, although maybe Kiroro is different cos its a but closer, but they don't get there till mid morning....bugs me that. But a problem I can't wait wrestle with next year :)

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DAY 71 : THURSDAY 24 JANUARY 2013

 

0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ

 

 

0 cm overnight at Kiroro

 

Colder, windier and hazier than yesterday.

 

Neil, Ria and Craig made big strides with balance, commitment, pivotting, and rhythm today.

 

 

 

 

DAY 72 : FRIDAY 25 JANUARY 2013

 

5 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ

 

 

0 cm overnight at Kiroro

 

We woke to gale force winds and blowing snow for the Lovelocks' & Craig's last day on snow.

 

After a late breakfast waiting to see if the weather would improve we pulled the pin on skiing and headed to Otaru for the day instead.

 

We took a walk along the canal and then headed to the glass district.

 

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Then Alex and Hayden had a go at shaping the glass

 

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The finished necklaces

 

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Then it was on to the Otaru Brewery for lunch. The microbrewery produces beer in the Bavarian style with German food to accompany it.

 

http://otarubeer.com/jp/

 

 

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And to round off the day, shopping at the Otaru mall.

 

The weird and the wonderful.

 

Hayden's next ski jacket

 

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Smoking Elephant

 

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The cover and one pic from the book 'Smile'

 

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Detail of a kimono

 

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What time is it? Prayer time

 

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DAY 73 : SATURDAY 26 JANUARY 2013

 

6 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ

 

 

0 cm overnight at Kiroro

 

Time to say goodbye to Neil, Ria, Alex, Hayden and Craig.

 

3 weeks has flown by.

 

1 week in the Niseko Resort Area, 1 week at Rusutsu, and 1 week at Kiroro.

 

They skied Niseko Moiwa, Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Hirafu, Niseko Hanazono, Rusutsu, and Kiroro.

 

314 cm (124") fell during their visit and they skied the deepest snow any of them had experienced. Even had some bluebird powder days.

 

And took day trips to Lake Toya and Otaru.

 

They didn't want to leave and have already booked to return the same time next season.

 

I'm already looking forward to it.

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That beer looks good!

 

That beer was good! Thanks for your posts Mike! We took a day trip today to Otaru and had a great time. ;)

 

Mr Fonty had a Pilsner and a Dunkel and I had the Weiss Beer with the Rasberry Syrup! I am not normally a beer drinker but it was really good! Mr Fonty needed cheering up as his holiday on the slopes is OVER.............he has broken his ankle!

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Excellent. The wonder of the interweb :)

 

Well not the broken ankle, I'm sure! ;)

 

Hahahaha no the wonder of thinking you are in your 20's when actually you are in your mid 40's!! :lol:

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