Mick Rich 78 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Hi all! I've been a stranger on here recently due to a combination of assignment deadlines, sulking about a bad back (tweaked over Christmas whilst messing about on my bmx!), buying a new bmx (the old one obviously not being good enough for my back!!) and watching the Olympics! So having just finished my assignments, and my back has survived clearing snow off the balcony for a second consecutive weekend, it's finally time to go snowboarding!!! Am flying up to Hokkaido on Tuesday, then heading over to Furano for a few days then back to Sapporo. Am going to give Niseko a miss this winter as I fancy checking out some new resorts, namely Kiroro, Teine and maybe another. Can't wait!! So a quick question for those on the ground, how's it looking up there? Cheers! Mick Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Not real good at the moment at Niseko mick. We havent had decent snow for a week. I have heard that Kiroro has been better. Tubby can give you the word on Teine. Gonna miss ya , bro. Link to post Share on other sites
sapporo 8 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Kokusai has been pretty good this season!! Heard good things about Kiroro too. To be honest, Hokkaido has been seriously lacking the goods compared to the last few seasons!! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Niseko had that very impressive run of tons of snow though didn't it a few weeks back. Link to post Share on other sites
sapporo 8 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Rusutsu has been pretty bad this year!! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Well, seems to have had more consistency than down here anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted February 15, 2014 Author Share Posted February 15, 2014 Thanks guys! KD, how long you in town for? If you're still around and about and it's not so good at Niseko, I'm aiming to be at Kiroro on Tues 25th if you fancy a trip over? How's the Big G looking Muika?? So where's Tubby? Busy watching the curling I guess. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Teine has been having regular top ups without it being mental. Enough to smooth over the tracks and give you some facefulls of powder. Snowing now so I'll be back up tomorrow for some fresh lines Was watching Canada v Japan women today.....Canada played an awesome shot in the 3rd end I think Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted February 15, 2014 Author Share Posted February 15, 2014 Teine has been having regular top ups without it being mental. Enough to smooth over the tracks and give you some facefulls of powder. Snowing now so I'll be back up tomorrow for some fresh lines Was watching Canada v Japan women today.....Canada played an awesome shot in the 3rd end I think I saw that too! Thanks for the Teine update TB!! I'm aiming to be there on or around Weds 26th/Thurs 27th if you're not working and fancy showing me your secret stashes!? Have fun 2moro! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 I'm working unfortunately..back to regular schedule from Monday....I'll be up there on the weekend tho....I'd show u the spots no bother Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Don't know where everybody else has been skiing but I've had powder all season long on Hokkaido. If you're prepared / able to move around there's always good snow to be found. I've skied Niseko United, Moiwa, Rusutsu, Kiroro and Sapporo Kokusai so far this season and had deep days at all of them. Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Don't know where everybody else has been skiing? Come on now, don't be insincere. Ask many in Niseko - heard of it? - in the last week or so, with hardly any fresh, and they might wonder what you're on about. Not everyone has a car or is willing to make journeys. Going to Niseko and having to travel to find fresh snow is not part of the deal. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I don't think a "100% it must snow" guarantee is part of the deal either. A number of Hakuba folks have been sharing some "where is snowy in the world" lists on facebook this week because the list had Hakuba top (no doubt snowdude's local isn't counted ), but fwiw Niseko was still top 3. So anyone disappointed at Niseko this week has simply missed the chance to be more disappointed somewhere else, possibly with more expensive lift tickets, little accom at the price of the pensions in Niseko, and probably worse and more expensive food. If they're coming from Asia, a trip to the US, Canada, or Europe would have given them a lovely nice long flight and skiing with jetlag into the bargain. My own opinion and just for Hakuba, but this season was normal till Jan 20ish, crap for two weeks, and has been picking up again since then. Some people will have timed it well, and some will have timed it badly. The crap two weeks do not negate the whole season. On average, I suspect January will have been as cold as normal, if not slightly colder. We've had no real fuyugata storm this time, but too much snow at once brings its own problems and does not provide the best riding. Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 You're right Mr Wiggles, but the 100% it must snow was not my point. I do think it's wrong to imply that it's been a full on powder experience all the way through, like some kind of brochure. When in reality it has not. Link to post Share on other sites
gozaimaas 61 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Agree. It gets a little bit annoying when people or companies spruke about awesome conditions when you are sitting there thinking how crap it is. It also gets annoying when you are not there and conditions are epic lol. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Well it's not like Mike is lying. Look at his reports. He's got wheels and prepared to use them to get the goods. All within a couple of hours of his base. Link to post Share on other sites
634-maru 4 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I wonder what percentage of people 'have wheels and are prepared to use them', on their limited holiday to Niseko. I reckon it's probably a small percentage.... though maybe not - actually, is it? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 It's certainly a small percentage but it doesn't have to be. It's pretty easy to hire a car for a day or two during a trip to head over to another resort if you want. Or use public transport. I guess my point is that Mike isn't lying or just crapping on for marketing purposes. He's just relating his experience. Anyone could do what he does with ease if they chose to. That they don't isn't his fault. Link to post Share on other sites
634-maru 4 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Interesting. I thought that the neverending appeal of Niseko though for most was.... Niseko. Not somewhere else you need a car to get to. Can't imagine that a majority of people want to be messing about with car rental on top of everything. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Like most ski regions throughout the country one place can be dumping whilst others relatively nearby are barely getting a flake. Having a car allows you go to where the conditions are best. It's not for everyone but so what?. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 It would certainly help if Niseko were more consistent!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 SKI, I heard that Niseko has the most consistent snowfall on this planet - possibly even including other planets, too. Many times, actually. So I think you should jolly well take back that heinous accusation! Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I think the indigenous people of Hokkaido would take offence at that Pie! Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Damn. It's like walking on particularly flimsy eggshells. I'm not sure who, but someone is a disgrace to their children's indigious ancestry and the children of Mr Adam Goodes. They need censed and apologise issue. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I think the indigenous people of Hokkaido would take offence at that Pie! Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts