the snowboarding vicar 1 Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Some Japanese people I know seem to label some skijo as being 'skiers mountains'. Names that often come up are Happo-one Zao Kusatsu I'm not quite sure why - they traditionally more popular with skiers than boarders, or is it a terrain thing or something? Don't shout, honestly I don't know! Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Id put in the argument its really down to what snowboarders hate in a mountain: traverses, moguls on the steeps, flats, and a lack of diversity. If it gets no powder on top of all that then screw it, leave it to the skiers and go ride something more fun. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Plus the skier stink eye... Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 I agree Happo is a mountain skiers can keep That baby looks evil Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 I can see how if I were a boarder in Hakuba, I wouldn't be choosing Happo. Can see how many skiers don't either - too many moguls for my liking. Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Can see how many skiers don't either - too many moguls for my liking. Yep. Not keen myself. Good for the views though. Link to post Share on other sites
the snowboarding vicar 1 Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 Cheers That's one scary baby there Chriselle! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 Lots of boarders go there, but lots of people traditionally think of Muikamachi Hakkaisan as a skiers place. I always think of it as the place I always see telemarking dude and the other dude with the snowboard like thing + poles. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 Ah yes Hakkaisan. Though plenty of boarders seem to enjoy it. Always wonder if the story of the top Prince dude getting it built "for himself" so he can helicopter in from Tokyo to do some morning moguls is true. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 I'd take that one with a large dash of NaCl; I once saw Tsutsumi arrive at Naeba by chopper to take a few runs on a roped-off area that had been groomed to perfection. He didn't look like much of a mogul skier. Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 Did he jump from the heli straight into the gnarly action!? Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 No, he had one of the ski school instructors put boots on him and adjust the buckles, though. That was impressive! Link to post Share on other sites
kkk 7 Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 How old is the dude now? Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 Looks like he's just about to turn 79: Tsutsumi Yoshiaki, born May 29, 1934 (wikipedia) Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 That's about how old the Prince hotel feels too....... Link to post Share on other sites
onsen tamago 0 Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 Kusatsu is just not very interesting for boarders, my friends tell me anyway. Some would say for skiers too! Love the onsen though. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 I quite liked Kusatsu, the top bit, though we had really nice snow when we went. I was surprised at how small it really is though, sprawls out over a big area but just very long and thin really. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 I heard it can be pretty low on snow for most of the season over there. Was the much when you went, muikabochi? (Or anyone else, how about you onehunga) Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Good up top. A bit thin on the ground at base. I'm trying to think when it was, late February? Link to post Share on other sites
onehunga 26 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Kusatsu is a very long narrow resort, but it does have some good runs at the top, and the run from top to bottom can be quite fun, 15 - 25 minutes from top to bottom. (15 if you are good, 25 for me) The snow this season wasn't that great, but still boot deep end of Feb. Last season was better. Boarders seem to find the flat area between the top half and bottom half a pain, and this year the main run down the bottom half seemed to be gentler than last year, poles needed and boarders had problems. The runs at the top have a lot of nicely sloped snowy banks, seemed popular with the boarders to climb, I even tried it with skis. I was there twice this year, once had a good snow cover, once very icy. There aren't many places to go off piste at Kusatsu, so if you don't mind skiing/boarding groomed runs all day it is a great place, some very steep runs, but best after a dump of snow (like all places) Link to post Share on other sites
onsen tamago 0 Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Yes I like the top area. It's a smaller place than it seems really being so long and thin and with lots of it rather gentle. Odd skijo really. Lovely town. Link to post Share on other sites
Saitaman 1 Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 I loved that onsen bit in the middle of town. We were there early one winter morning and it was really quiet. Lots of steam coming up from the water. Very nice scene it was. Though my photos were rubbish. Link to post Share on other sites
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