Amarcord 0 Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Hey there, this is my first post so I'm sorry if this has been asked before. I'm looking to do a few months skiing in Japan. The only thing I'm worried about is that the terrain won't be challenging enough to keep me interested. I Like to ski steep, hard lines, mostly in the trees. I hear there is great tree skiing in Japan at certain resorts, but I'm still not sure if the lines would be steep enough. I've been looking at Rusutsu and from the pictures it seems to be OK at best. I've been skiing at Red Mountain the past couple seasons, a resort known for it's steep, technichally challenging runs, but the snow hasn't been there. If anyone considers themselves a good skiier (by good I mean you're straightlining double blacks) and has experience in both Japan and BC, or terrain similair to BC such as the Alps or Alaska, and could give me their 2 cents on whether or not I'll find worthwhile skiing in Japan, I'd be very appreciative. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 I think there are places in Japan but Rusutsu isn't one of them maybe Honshu but the others will have to chime in with their thoughts. I don't straightline double blacks but maybe if you hiked a bit you may find some challenging runs. Check out http://www.snowjapanforums.com/index.php/topic/23581-the-ozsnowbum-experience/ Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 I would say you are more likely to find big lines down in the BC of Nagano. Still not anything like Canada, but the closest that Japan can offer. It's really the powder that I love about Japan, for me it doesn't have to be on über steeps, as long as it's pitch is enough for gravity to help me through the pow Rider69 usually is out hiking the back and peaks of Nagano, he may give you more exact details if he's lurking....haven't seen him around for a while Link to post Share on other sites
gozaimaas 61 Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 You are going to need hakuba backcountry for the biggest lines in japan. BC definately has the terrain but terrain is nothing without snow. Japan has the snow but the terrain is not as good (on average). There are spots but you have to discover them ;-) Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 If you are straightlining double blacks you will be disappointed with what is on offer at resorts here. There is nothing, at any resort, that comes close to double black runs back home (Canada). Resorts here are pretty tame. It you venture off into the backcountry you will find some pretty good interesting lines. The appeal here is the amazing snow. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 +1 to what BM said. It's all about the POW here in Japan. You'll have to hike and take some risks to get to any real steeps. And yes...Rider69 is the dude to talk with. Link to post Share on other sites
Amarcord 0 Posted March 27, 2014 Author Share Posted March 27, 2014 Cool thanks for the info. Kinda what I figured but I'll probably head there any way as it's the only way to squeeze a season in after working in Australia. I like touring and have all my gear, but I also love to ski by myself and I'm wary of doing that in the back country. Link to post Share on other sites
Bushiman 6 Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Yeah, I mean as far as I can tell from the YouTube vids of Red Mountain tree lines, I think you'd definitely find stuff to keep you entertained in and around Nagano/Niigata... You probably won't get lines anywhere near as long though -especially lift accessed... Here's a vid of my favourite slackcountry lines from a few seasons ago... Having no idea what a double black is like I can't comment, but at least you'll get the gist perhaps of some of the lift-accessed terrain available here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM5o_7rjl-4 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 The appeal here is the amazing snow. and the culture. And the food. And the people. And the onsen, etc, etc. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Hey there, this is my first post so I'm sorry if this has been asked before. I'm looking to do a few months skiing in Japan. The only thing I'm worried about is that the terrain won't be challenging enough to keep me interested. I Like to ski steep, hard lines, mostly in the trees. I hear there is great tree skiing in Japan at certain resorts, but I'm still not sure if the lines would be steep enough. I've been looking at Rusutsu and from the pictures it seems to be OK at best. I've been skiing at Red Mountain the past couple seasons, a resort known for it's steep, technichally challenging runs, but the snow hasn't been there. If anyone considers themselves a good skiier (by good I mean you're straightlining double blacks) and has experience in both Japan and BC, or terrain similair to BC such as the Alps or Alaska, and could give me their 2 cents on whether or not I'll find worthwhile skiing in Japan, I'd be very appreciative. Welcome. Only skied on Hokkaido, so here goes. If you're prepared to skin / snowshoe / bootpack then there's an abundance of steep tree skiing on Hokkaido. For example, the Tokachidake area the peaks around Jyozankei Dam (pics and vid on my thread later) Lift accessed supplemented with skin / snowshoe / bootpack you have Kurodake the Kiroro backcountry Otaru Tenguyama Sapporo Kokusai Sapporo Teine Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 How do Mt Granview and Tsugaike Kogen fare? Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 The appeal here is the amazing snow. and the culture. And the food. And the people. And the onsen, etc, etc. Obviously. I was speaking from the point of view of strictly skiing though. If your main reason is to come for skiing then most people wouldn't give a toss about any of that stuff. Around some of the bigger resort areas I don't really find the culture, food or people that representative of 'Japan' anyway. You need to get to more out of the way places for that. Link to post Share on other sites
pwat42 0 Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 I spent two seasons in BC the tree skiing in certain areas is just as good as BC and japan blows BC away in the snow and crowd department. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Blows away.....?? Now now.. Link to post Share on other sites
u-tan 2 Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Enjoyed the vid Bushiman. Nice work. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Bushiman 6 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Enjoyed the vid Bushiman. Nice work. Cheers u-tan! Being in Niigata you might recognise one or two of those spots! Link to post Share on other sites
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