seemore 66 Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Looks Yummy. Riding under chairlifts Mike thought you weren't keen on that practice? Link to post Share on other sites
634-maru 4 Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Thanks Mike. Hope it snow lots soon. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 Riding under chairlifts Mike thought you weren't keen on that practice? If it's roped off, then no. If it isn't roped off then definitely yes. Early season it's the best place for powder. Typically the lift lines are cleared of sasa and rocks so the lifties can walk the lift line for maintenance. By mid-season it gets a little dicey as the base gets closer to the bottom of the chairs. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 keeps you on your toes!! (or not as the case may be) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 5, 2013 Author Share Posted December 5, 2013 DAY 7 : WEDNESDAY 04 DECEMBER 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Another grey December day. Thought I'd left this rubbish behind in Wales. It brightened up in the afternoon so I went for a little drive up to Goshiki Onsen to scope some potential lines for when the snow comes. Mt Yotei made a brief appearance DAY 8 : THURSDAY 05 DECEMBER 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ It's beginning to feel like 'The Benjamin Button' season. Starting off with spring temperatures, sunshine, limited terrain open, and a quickly disappearing snowpack and working it's way back. Spent the morning skiing Annupuri. Glorious sunshine down low, thick fog half way up the gondola. Did one warm up lap and then shared the gondola back up with Johan from Melbourne who was over on holiday. Ended up skiing together the rest of the morning and helping him develop his skiing. At the start Johan was beginning his turns with a slight wedge, with too much balance on the uphill / inside ski So we worked on standing tall, keeping the skis parallel and being more patient in the fall line And then he was off Johan Pleasure skiing with you Johan. Enjoy the rest of your holiday. The snow was in good shape considering how little we've had. But we need more. Lots. Now. For lunch I went to The Grove in Annupuri. Fabulous katsu pork, rice and salad followed by bread & butter pudding and coffee. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 I think I've jinxed the Hokkaido pow train!! Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 I think you have, Tubby. It's Bottomless over in Hakks! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 5, 2013 Author Share Posted December 5, 2013 I think I've jinxed the Hokkaido pow train!! It's stuck in the station, not derailed Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 Dunno, there have been lots of JR Hokkaido derailings this year. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 Wow. Link to post Share on other sites
Ajax 0 Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 Maybe a tip for Johan when I saw his pictures. I used to tell my kids to get the posture of a big bear, leaning forward into their boots with arms out front and away from the body, don't look like a chipmunk with arms tucked in beside the body and lower arms bent out at 90 degrees which causes upper body rotation and a shuffling type turn. If they can keep that posture, face down the hill and put the weight on the downhill ski, the ski will start to carve on edge through the turn. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 That is a fab photo of Yotei! Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 Always great to read about people getting out there. 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. So you don't ride fattys then? 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. By the sound of things, the vast majority of people who come to Hakuba super early from overseas are also beginners. They're just stoked to see snow and aren't that bothered if the whole mountain is open. As you say, the resorts have a duty to set up something for them. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 6, 2013 Author Share Posted December 6, 2013 Thanks Matabo Oyaji and muikabochi. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 6, 2013 Author Share Posted December 6, 2013 Always great to read about people getting out there. Yeah fair play, Johan was making the most of the conditions and loving it. 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. So you don't ride fattys then? No. The widest I've skied on Hokkaido has been the 173cm Movement Jam (136-85-117). I found that they kept me closer to the surface of the snow, when what I'm looking for is an immersive powder experience. With the quality and low density of Hokkaido powder I want to be in it not surfing on or just below the snow surface. If you ski aggressively enough and use your upper body to initiate the turn you can submarine any size ski. But that's not the way I ski or teach. 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. By the sound of things, the vast majority of people who come to Hakuba super early from overseas are also beginners. They're just stoked to see snow and aren't that bothered if the whole mountain is open. As you say, the resorts have a duty to set up something for them. Agreed. But for them to continue with the sport and not just tick one off their bucket list there should be appropriate terrain for their ability level. I've seen far too many beginners and instructors struggle this past week because the areas which have been open and the grooming or lack of it have been wholly inappropriate. Hokkaido has a wonderful combination of low angled terrain wide slopes great snow low skier numbers compared with other alpine countries which make learning to ski ideal. The Japanese resort managers could learn a tremendous amount from countries which don't have these favourable conditions and who still introduce and keep hundreds of thousands of new skiers each winter e.g. Australia, Scotland, and the East Coast of the USA to name but three. Link to post Share on other sites
MagSeven 40 Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 I think I've jinxed the Hokkaido pow train!! It's stuck in the station, not derailed Wrong type of snow. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 6, 2013 Author Share Posted December 6, 2013 It is currently dumping at MQ in Higashiyama. And that's outside before you all start Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 7, 2013 Author Share Posted December 7, 2013 DAY 9 : FRIDAY 06 DECEMBER 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Finally the snow has returned. It started snowing around 11am and continued through the day. Had dinner at Tamashi with Ian. Fish supper with chips. Hit the spot. DAY 10 : SATURDAY 07 DECEMBER 2013 19 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ What a difference a day makes Yesterday at MQ 7am this morning Long time student & ski partner Tracy Lenard got in to town in the early hours of the morning, timing his arrival from Tokyo to perfection. We met at the King Hooded Triple in Hirafu at 9.30 am and then skied Yotei Sunset down to Hanazono. Spent the rest of the day at Hanazono skiing packed powder on the groomed runs and crud and powder on the fringes. Tracy on the Hanazono 1 chairlift Tracy skiing the crud and powder of Hanazono Great to be making turns with him again. It snowed most of the day and is set to continue through the night. All four areas of Niseko United are now open with Hirafu the only area where you still have to download from mid-mountain. Hopefully tonight's snowfall will provide enough coverage to open the runs to the bottom of Center 4 and the Hirafu gondola tomorrow. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 It was nice in teine today......very surprised at the condition of the snow that was there. we did a wee bit of sasa slalom and hidden rock grinding to get to some pretty damn powdery lines Very happy for the first day on the snow......its also JUST started snowing in sapporo too 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 UPDATE Ian and I were invited to dinner at the 1 Michelin star restaurant Kamimura in Hirafu by Tracy, his girlfriend Mika, and her friend Minako last night. We thoroughly enjoyed the Chef's Degustation Menu and wine flight. Nemuro Salmon Caviar smoked, with mascarpone, gherkin and eschalot Quail's Egg wrapped in Jamon Serrano, with truffle powder Nemuro Hairy Crab marinated with crab butter, cucumber sorbet Habaro King Prawn Sashimi sliced carrot, cauliflower and walnuts Rausu Hokke (Atka Mackerel) grilled, cabbage cooked in clam stock, and Japanese herb salad Sempoushi Oyster butter sauteed, garlic chive sauce and Spanish chorizo Takikawa Duck Breast slow roasted, Japanese leek, kumquat and duck jus Shiraoi Wagyu Sirloin chargrilled, Niseko potato galette and veal jus Yoichi Apple warm caramelised, with crumbles and vanilla ice cream Espresso or Tea, with Petit Four It was a different menu from last season with some bold and exciting combinations of flavours, textures and temperatures. The Takikawa Duck Breast was the highlight for me. Fabulous company, fabulous food, fabulous evening. Link to post Share on other sites
griller 9 Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Sounds fabulous. You really live the life up there, Mike. Good on you! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 It was griller. Highly recommended. Link to post Share on other sites
griller 9 Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 So what does a meal like that cost then.? Had to ask! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 13,000 yen A main meal out at dinner time in Niseko costs approx. 2,000 yen - let's call it 7 times cheaper than Kamimura. The quality and experience is "worth" far more than 7 times difference to me. And I understand that both of those prices are expensive for Japan. But the Niseko Resort Area is not indicative of Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Dining at Kamimura is definitely worth every cent. I miss it so much! Link to post Share on other sites
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