SnowJapan.Com#3 0 Posted November 7, 2002 Share Posted November 7, 2002 From now we will start thread for discussions on the features on our site, with links to these threads on the actual feature pages themselves. First up, The Setting Journals: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/setting-journals-6.html Link to post Share on other sites
oo 1 Posted November 7, 2002 Share Posted November 7, 2002 I read that last week, its quite interesting to hear from people actually working at resorts. Keep them coming. Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Barlow 0 Posted November 7, 2002 Share Posted November 7, 2002 Did you drive one of them big machines Blair? Looks like fun. Off for a pint down the Rovers now. Link to post Share on other sites
Raury 0 Posted November 7, 2002 Share Posted November 7, 2002 Nice articles SJC#3 I think I managed to find the one on ski-patrols before. You guys have really tidyed up and got things looking good. Good idea to put these links in occasionally so that we can see what else is around. Thanks a lot. Link to post Share on other sites
Blair 0 Posted November 7, 2002 Share Posted November 7, 2002 Hi there No I haven't driven the machines you saw in the article yet, but am hoping to have the chance at some point. It's pretty amazing how much grass that machine can cut. Look for the next volume of the setting journals on snow japan around about mid november. Thank you for reading the setting journals on SNOW JAPAN. Blair. Blair. Link to post Share on other sites
Karnidge 2 Posted November 7, 2002 Share Posted November 7, 2002 Blair, so are ARAI going to open early if they have all that snow up there? Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 Hmm. Interesting read Blair-san, it must be fun to work at a resort. Do you get to board much? Link to post Share on other sites
wakaran 1 Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 Why does that place get so much snow? It's right by the sea right? (does that have anything to do with anything) wakaran. Link to post Share on other sites
yodel 0 Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 It just does. So there. Gets good snow too by all accounts. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 If you're there Blair, I have two questions about Arai. First is about the lift that goes off to left from the gondola. When I went to Arai in April 2001, this lift was closed for the season due to "subsidence". Do you know what happened or how it was fixed? How long it took etc.? Secondly, last season I noticed that Arai is using "cattle tag" type sticky lift tickets, presumably to stop early leavers selling/handing them on since they get in a right mess when you take them off. If you know any background about them or could tell us about the general reaction to them, please do so. Have a great season! Link to post Share on other sites
backatsap 0 Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 What does snow smell of? Link to post Share on other sites
veronica 2 Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 water Link to post Share on other sites
Blair 0 Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 Hi there Thank you very much for all the questions. I'll answer them in random order: 1. ARAI will open on the set date of Dec. 14th; 2. I have yet to try boarding, but do ski throughout the season. I ski either when I'm helping to guide guests or assisting the ski patrol with setting up the mountain following a big dump (All hands on deck!); 3. ARAI gets so much snow because it is a coastal mountain. The Siberian winds blow off the sea, hit the mountain and dump on us. Thus, it was necessary to build the only heated plaza in the world; 4. In 2001 Kogenashi # 1 lift at ARAI was closed for that white season due to some subsidence appearing around the No. 17 support tower of that lift. The situation was remedied by driving approximately 100 hollow iron bars of 30 meters in length into the area concerned. These bars were then filled with concrete. Though the process took approximately 6 months, there has been no further subsidence since then; & 5. ARAI switched the lift tickets for the exact reason mentioned earlier in the thread. I apologize for any inconvenience this type of ticket causes our guests, but such action was necessary to avoid asking paying guests to pay more. Thanks again for reading the setting journals Blair. Link to post Share on other sites
dale#1 1 Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 Is the lift ok for this season then? Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted November 9, 2002 Share Posted November 9, 2002 What's this 'heated plaza' thing then? Link to post Share on other sites
Blair 0 Posted November 9, 2002 Share Posted November 9, 2002 Hello again All lifts are in the final stage of maintenance at ARAI MOUNTAIN & SPA. Operations are set to begin from Saturday, Dec. 14th 2003. ARAI MOUNTAIN & SPA's village centerpiece is it's heated plaza, that accommodates all ages year round in a spacious European "piazza-style" atmosphere. I'm looking out at the snow falling here right now! Thanks again Blair. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted November 9, 2002 Share Posted November 9, 2002 Blair, don't you think it's kinda lame that a place like Arai can't find a way to get organized when snow falls? I mean, it's not like the seasons come online at the same time every year, so always setting the same date and just waiting seems like a big wasted opportunity. If Arai were open now with all its snow, I'd be there. So what's the full story? Why is it so impossible to respond to the bounty of the skies? Some resorts in Hakuba seem to be cashing in... Link to post Share on other sites
humph 0 Posted November 9, 2002 Share Posted November 9, 2002 Ocean you are so simple, man. Link to post Share on other sites
phat 0 Posted November 9, 2002 Share Posted November 9, 2002 Why does this Ocean11 bloke not seem to be able to accept anything that he: a) does not agree with; and more importantly does not understand ? Link to post Share on other sites
Blair 0 Posted November 9, 2002 Share Posted November 9, 2002 Hello Ocean 11 I plan to give the full story of why we're not opening early in the next column of the setting journals due out later this month. Thank you very much Blair. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted November 9, 2002 Share Posted November 9, 2002 Blair, thanks. I look forward to reading about it. Link to post Share on other sites
phat 0 Posted November 9, 2002 Share Posted November 9, 2002 Although we all know he won't agree and accept what you say. He will know better than you. After all, he's a translator! Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted November 10, 2002 Share Posted November 10, 2002 Probably not, you phat knacker. A snow resort that is no use to anybody when there's deep snow all over it is no use to anybody. And someone who wants to find a reason to justify the lack of activity is a clown. Business is not done by making excuses, as most of the world knows. Although I still think reading Blair's future piece will be more rewarding than anything you and your mate humph have to offer... Perhaps the area with the snow on it is completely inaccessible without running lots of lifts. I don't know, maybe there is an excellent reason why a resort with a metre of snow shouldn't open. But after 11 years in the land of the economic miracle, I'll retain my skepticism. Link to post Share on other sites
humph 0 Posted November 10, 2002 Share Posted November 10, 2002 Well that certainly put me in my place. Link to post Share on other sites
cal 6 Posted November 10, 2002 Share Posted November 10, 2002 Let's just calm down and wait until Mr Blair-san tells us shall we? Link to post Share on other sites
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