Mike Pow 52 Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 SR : HokkaidOH! 2013/14 DAY 1 : THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2013 21 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ (Mike's Quarters, in Higashiyama) It's that time of the year again. Local photographer Glen Claydon and Sam Kerr of Niseko Xtreme Tours got first tracks of the season way back on 09 November, but then the warm wind and the rain came and washed most of it away. The 23 November Opening Day at Grand Hirafu was cancelled and rescheduled for 30 November. I arrived back on Fantasy Island yesterday afternoon and the snowfall had returned. In spades. After settling in at the cabin and shovelling the day's snow it was out for Ian MacKenzie's 40th birthday. Dinner at Niseko Pizza with owner Cezar, Brian from Niseko Ski Academy and Mick from Niseko Cellars, followed by drinks at Niseko Cellars. Cracking night. Last season's words, pictures & video can be found here: SR : Shiribeshi Stories, Hokkaido 2012/13 http://www.snowjapan...okkaido-201213/ DAY 2 : FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2013 23 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ As of today 116 cm (46") has fallen in the Niseko Resort Area Another good fall overnight and a solid couple of hours shovelling all around the house getting after it before it gets out of control. Went to the Dragon Bistro & Bar opening party in J-Sekka this evening, a return to Hirafu for the restaurant. Japanese Italian fusion with a celebrated chef from Sapporo. The local businesses try to outdo each other with the most colourful floral gift Looking forward to sampling dinner. Snowing as I type and Opening Day for Grand Hirafu is scheduled for 8.30 tomorrow. Let's hope it's as good as last season's opening day Nikki Langley, Opening Day 23 November 2012 Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 I want to see photos of that gnarly ji-chan from last year's opening again. Link to post Share on other sites
Hyst 1 Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 Mike a Snowhead too good to get info on different forums Link to post Share on other sites
Dunga 1 Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 Awesome! My favorite thread is back! Hope the season is a ripper, partly because I'm heading over there this season. Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 leave some for me mike... Link to post Share on other sites
Ajax 0 Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 OK got the ' winter stoke' going now. Oops sorry wrong thread. Link to post Share on other sites
onehunga 26 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Welcome back Mike, looking forward to the photos. Any new gear for you this year, or the same as last year? Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 great stuff Mike look forward to the thread again Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Wow, Niseko gets the goods.....Sapporo has none Wonder if Teine was good today? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 30, 2013 Author Share Posted November 30, 2013 Thanks for all the comments guys. Started the season on last year's skis & boots onehunga, but have two new sets of skis in the wings. New clothes though Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 New underwear, I hope. Have fun. As if you need encouraging! Link to post Share on other sites
MagSeven 40 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Wow, Niseko gets the goods.....Sapporo has none Wonder if Teine was good today? It was! Decent, if slightly heavy powder. A few roped off sections which had 20cm or so of fresh snow. We had a big Hokkaido Cartel crew up there today, it was a good laugh. Coming up tomorrow? Link to post Share on other sites
norcal 5 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Looking at your photo/reading your reports make it seem like summer here in Tokyo, lol! Enjoy the trip! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Wow, Niseko gets the goods.....Sapporo has none Wonder if Teine was good today? It was! Decent, if slightly heavy powder. A few roped off sections which had 20cm or so of fresh snow. We had a big Hokkaido Cartel crew up there today, it was a good laugh. Coming up tomorrow? I doubt it, I've a nomikai, ironically with my shredding crew, in Sapporo tonight.......prob won't be in any shape to make it tomorrow, although the shuttle bus starts tomorrow I think.....so could prob make an afternoon of it. Was it busy? Link to post Share on other sites
MagSeven 40 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 No, not at all. But the shuttle wasn't running, so it might be busier tomorrow. We'll be going, so if you make it, I'll catch you up there! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 cool. I'll keep an eye out if I head up. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 30, 2013 Author Share Posted November 30, 2013 DAY 3 : SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2013 12 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ November saw 128 cm (50") of snowfall at village level, making it the 3rd highest November in the 8 winters I've been keeping records. The snowiest November was 2007 with 177 cm (70"). OPENING DAY AT GRAND HIRAFU Four days ago there was no snow in the village. Today the Center 4 and Ace Double #3 were running for the start of the winter season in the Niseko Resort Area. As last year, Ji-chan was in pole position for opening chair And when the turnstiles did start turning Ji-chan left them for dead Eye of the Tiger Glen Sam Ben Rode solo for 4 hrs so no action shots today. The groomed run was in good shape with pockets of powder on the fringes. Underneath the double chair was great with face shots every turn. Still loads of sasa off the groomed runs making the skiing challenging, but worth it. There's penty of snow on the lower mountain so hopefully they'll open up more terrain soon. It's snowing lightly at the moment with 6cm falling since the lifts stopped for the day. Niseko Village opens tomorrow (Sunday 01 December 2013) but with just the Community and Banzai chairs running the skiing is very limited. Grand Hirafu will be a better bet in my opinion. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 As last year, Ji-chan was in pole position for opening chair Spiffy new outfit this season too, no? Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Thanks for all the comments guys. Started the season on last year's skis & boots onehunga, but have two new sets of skis in the wings. New clothes though Hi Mike, good to see your japan reports up again. Have you been tempted to go a bit wider with your new skis? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 30, 2013 Author Share Posted November 30, 2013 Thanks snowjunky. Ever so slightly. Currently on Coreupt The Caspers (173cm, 112-79-106) Got a pair of Idris Renard for the piste (175cm, 116-71-100) and a pair of Majesty Local Hero (176cm, 116-82-111) for everything else when the Coreupts give in. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 1, 2013 Author Share Posted December 1, 2013 DAY 4 : SUNDAY 01 DECEMBER 2013 4 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Light snowfall mixed with gusting winds throughout the day. Noticeably cooler today compared with yesterday afternoon which will hopefully create a firmer base for the next big dump of snow. Three of the four Niseko United resorts are now operational for the 2013-14 season. Annupuri opened today with uplift on the gondola and the Jumbo Pair #3. Niseko Village opened today with uplift on the Community and Banzai chairs. Grand Hirafu continued on from yesterday's opening day with uplift and downlift on the Ace Quad #2 (Center 4) and skiing off the Ace Pair Lift #3. They also opened the beginner Ace Family Pair and Family Run. It was disappointing to see no groomed beginner terrain available yesterday. There are a number of Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai & Malaysian guests in resort experiencing winter and winter recreation for the first time. Trying to learn to ski or snowboard in ungroomed knee deep powder is a joke. For the 2013/14 winter season the Niseko Free Passport Committee (NFP) representing the four ski areas of Niseko United has introduced the Niseko United Snowsports School Accreditation System. The Niseko Free Passport Committee (NFP) has determined that Snowsports Schools (Ski and Snowboard) not directly aligned to or owned by an NFP member lift company must now become formally accredited by the NFP in order to use the NISEKO UNITED (Annupuri, Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu, Hanazono) lift network. The aim is to ensure that the quality of skifield experience in Niseko continues to improve and that the enjoyment and safety of guests is maintained at all times. As such, the NFP has established a formal NISEKO UNITED Snowsports School Accreditation System for third-party Snowsports Schools (i.e. those not owned or directly associated with NFP members) in order to become recognised as a NISEKO UNITED Accredited Snowsports School. Please note that it will no longer be possible to operate a Snowsports School business within the NISEKO UNITED ski area without becoming formally accredited by the NFP. http://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/school/index.html I received accreditation today and picked up my Niseko United Commercial Lift Pass for the season. In my experience the Niseko Resort Area is unique in allowing non-resort employees to operate independent snowsports schools. And long may it continue. Snowing lightly at 9pm. Most probably Grand Hirafu tomorrow for Ian MacKenzie's first day on snow this season. Link to post Share on other sites
Ureshii 0 Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Great! Link to post Share on other sites
Hyst 1 Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Envious, Japan in the summer is just not the same. Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Summer deffo not the same. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 3, 2013 Author Share Posted December 3, 2013 DAY 5 : MONDAY 02 DECEMBER 2013 10 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ A grey miserable day so I had a lie in and then lunch at Chez Doudou on the way to Chisenupuri. Ate there a number of times at the end of last season and I'm happy to report that it's just as good. But unfortunately still as quiet. I was the only one in for lunch today. But I did have the chef's dog for company. Chez Doudou closes from 20 December 2013 to 01 March 2014 as the chef is the private chef for Niseko Cuisine, a company which provides high end dining at your accomodation. 3-course lunch with coffee was JPY 2,200 Potato Quiche Pork Spare Ribs with patsa and carrots Apple & Prune Tart Another fabulous meal. Highly recommended. DAY 6 : TUESDAY 03 DECEMBER 2013 1 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ I spent the morning lapping the Annupuri gondola. Grey skies, a little flat light, but deserted and a surprising amount of untracked boot top spongy pow to enjoy. It was good to put more vertical under the skis. The best snow was under the gondola. The terrain out of Gate 7 needs a whole heap of snow for it to go. Riding solo again, so no action shots. Most waiting for the next dump of snow. And the small matter of getting ready for the influx of guests Not much new snow on the horizon, but I did see the Niseko Village gondola running today. So that could well be the destination tomorrow morning. Link to post Share on other sites
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