neversummer 0 Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 having only been up twice this season I have noticed the total lack of grooming skills by the japanese resorts. 1st @ Maranuma Kogen and then @ Kagura. Has anyone else had similar problems? theres nothing worse than cruising then hitting a 15cm "ledge" whilst laying down a toe-side carve. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 What do you mean by "lack of grooming skills"? Link to post Share on other sites
neversummer 0 Posted December 17, 2002 Author Share Posted December 17, 2002 huge differences in the heights of the groomed snow-like mini steps going across the snow. it may have something to do with the snow quality- it seems to be quite heavy- but i want to know if other resorts have similar grooming now. Link to post Share on other sites
danz 0 Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 yah...I have not been impressed with the grooming I have seen in japan...snow quality does make a difference, but even so, they don't do a great job here... and besides, if its crowded the cordoroid is only good for the first few runs in the morning... danz Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 In almost every other country a professional groomer gets a raise every year so they come back. Here its just a job that people do, no raise no long term staff. A place I worked at had one horrible groomer. So horrible that the kiwi in charge, refused to work and fix his cat until they transfered him. Some places do due a good job though. Takasu and dyna have some nice high spead groomers. Link to post Share on other sites
KRUSTY 2 Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 In general the Grooming in Japan is pretty good with a lot of drivers taking pride in what they do but at some resorts the job may not be as good as it could due to lack of experience/new drivers, time constraints, visibilty etc. In previous years Ive worked at various resorts in Nagano and the snow at this time of year is usually easy to groom if theres a good base. Grooming isnt as easy as most people think with a lot of concentration required usually over long periods of time. As the snow base gets deeper the grooming will also improve as there will be more snow to push around to make the runs smoother. If you go to a place with consistantly bad grooming change resorts and find somewhere else or even better, ride in the trees. Link to post Share on other sites
Wizz 11 Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 KRUSTY Now theres a name I've not seen in a while. How you going Krusty dude? Still in NAgano? (Or do I remember wrong) Link to post Share on other sites
KRUSTY 2 Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Back in New Zealand now. Just spent the past season as a Snowboard Instructor and now looking foward to having a summer. I usually keep an eye on this site just to see how the winters going but it often makes me wish I was back there riding some good snow. Probably be back there at some stage as Ive got family/friends in Nagano but at the moment Im happy living at the beach. Have a good winter, Krusty Link to post Share on other sites
mort 0 Posted December 19, 2002 Share Posted December 19, 2002 Krusty, were you working grooming at resorts? Link to post Share on other sites
KRUSTY 2 Posted December 20, 2002 Share Posted December 20, 2002 Yeah I worked in Shigakogen and in Hakuba Grooming and snowmaking and I would probably have gone back to Hakuba again as it was a great job but the area I worked at got bought out by another lift company and they dont want to employ foreigners. Link to post Share on other sites
igloo 3 Posted December 20, 2002 Share Posted December 20, 2002 How steep a slope can be groomed? I'm supposing there must be a limit to the steepness for a number of reasons. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted December 20, 2002 Share Posted December 20, 2002 You can attach groomers to winches I think, and then you can go really steep... Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted December 21, 2002 Share Posted December 21, 2002 Up to around 40degrees or so. But whats the point most skilled riders want it ungroomed. Link to post Share on other sites
Will Lee 0 Posted December 24, 2002 Share Posted December 24, 2002 All I`ve gotta say is they don`t have the slightest idea of the meaning "grooming" up in Myoko! Get a damn assetsu toraku ya friggin cheap-ass bastards! Link to post Share on other sites
mort 0 Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 Not being able to groom slopes well is unforgiveable for any resort. Link to post Share on other sites
Plucky 0 Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 The answer - DON'T GROOM! I know there is a need for groomed runs, but I think the Japanese Resorts take it to the extreme. I have been to a few resorts (shizukuishi, shimokura, amihari, appi, etc..) where they groom almost everything. Unacceptable! They need to leave a few of the steeper runs untouched. There is nothing sadder than seeing a snowcat going up a run during a dump of powder. Ocean, I've seen them winch up (appi) just to groom a run. Sad, sad, sad... Link to post Share on other sites
orinoco 0 Posted February 8, 2005 Share Posted February 8, 2005 Interesting read from before. Do we have any groomers in the pack? Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted February 8, 2005 Share Posted February 8, 2005 My pack isn't big enough to put a groomer in. Maybe if I got like a 1,000,000 litre pack I could squeeze it in there but then how would you lift it? Link to post Share on other sites
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