mandycooke 0 Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 Hey there, I'm new to this whole forum thing, but have been reading and see that some people are quite experienced! I hope nobody gets upset because they think my topic has been covered before, but I promise I read many previous discussions and didn't find the info I'm really after. So, here goes... I'm a snowboarder with season experience in north america. I'm a newbie Tokyo resident and looking to go to Hokkaido for 2 weeks in mid december. i'm looking for a place to go that is a low key resort/ski area with awesome powder (obviously). Niseko sounds great and maybe i'll go there sometime, but would like to find a more chilled out place to ride. would realllllly like peoples opinions on this. I know they'll all be different, but that's great. cheers Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 I ve heard that Kiroro is a really nice place, and that the BC there is even better than niseko. Never been up there myself though. By the way, welcome onboard. Link to post Share on other sites
Kumapix 0 Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 I've heard Teine is good Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 mid december is hit and miss. If you have bc gear go to one of the ropeways Link to post Share on other sites
dizzy 0 Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 kudos for saying that you've read up and did your homework. makes us answering the same questions over and over all the better. where in NA have you ridden? how low key? how much powder? knee-sec-ko has what you may be looking for, but depending on what you want, there are plenty of options Link to post Share on other sites
skidaisuki 0 Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Go for 2 weeks in January and I will be very jealous. December may be too early - unless we have another freak early season like last year. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 As peeps say its hit or miss. Asahidake would be another option. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 the ropeways would and could be nice. I would only go if i had gear though to explore. Mid December is not good for your only ski trip. If it is one of many then fine but... The chances of it not being deep enough to venture off trail is high. Furano tends to open early but the patrol are very Nazi maybe the most strict in all of Japan. If its not your only trip then heck go for it and have fun. Also if it snows early on honshu you can just hop on a train to anywhere near here. Link to post Share on other sites
mandycooke 0 Posted October 17, 2006 Author Share Posted October 17, 2006 thanks heaps for all your replies. seems dec may not be the best bet, but it's the only extended time off i have. will definately be looking to do some weekend trips later in the season. dizzy, thanks for the kudos ?@#??@! i've done seasons at whistler and mt bachelor (oregon). looking for mt bachelor rather than whistler, but i guess the big resorts are big for a reason, so maybe i'll end up at knee-sec-ko this time round... Link to post Share on other sites
snosurf 0 Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 zebra i was in a similar situation to you last year and i tried out niseko... not meaning to sound patronising here but it really isn't a bad place and I think it's probably a good introductory mountain to visit if it's your first time riding in the country. I think another early season start is on the cards so there should be plenty of white stuff on the ground mid-december (by my reckoning!) Good luck mate Link to post Share on other sites
damian 0 Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by snosurf: I think another early season start is on the cards so there should be plenty of white stuff on the ground mid-december (by my reckoning!) Mate, any chance you could give me an early season stoke forecast for Europe as well? What you got going on down there in WA, weather guru? Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 when you talk mid december what is mid december? 10th to the 20th the 20th to th 30th? That can make a difference. and being in country you can hold off a while and then go on a whim. By waiting instead of booking you can see where the snow is falling. If you are a MT B fan and Whistler Fan you might like the ropeways better than niseko. Link to post Share on other sites
snosurf 0 Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 My forecast for europe this winter is good beer and hot girls! ...that should tide you over til the first dump of the season! Link to post Share on other sites
mandycooke 0 Posted October 18, 2006 Author Share Posted October 18, 2006 snosurf, thanks for your comments re niseko. i am kind of starting to think the way you said. i guess i should go there at least once hey! (btw, didn't sound patronising. good call really!) fattwins, mid dec is from 9th til 21st....only time i've got, so no choice. if i could leave booking til then i would, but i presume i would miss out if i did that..? snosurf...if the hot girls are gonna be in europe, where the hot guys gonna be? Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 i dont think that you will miss out that is off time. from about the 22nd to the 10th is when things get really busy. Remember that you can hop a train or a ferry to hokkaido. That means you are not limited in travel options like overseas travelers are. Ill say this if you cant get into any place at that time in hokkaido, ill let you stay at my house free of charge. Thats how confident I am. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 zebra mid Dec can be a little difficult off piste if the season is slow to start. Most areas will need well in excess of a metre for all the sasa grass (bamboo) to be covered. As some have suggested the ropeway at Asahi dake should have some good snow (as it's around the highest lifted point in Hokkaido) and it's certainly laid back and has plenty of backcountry options although beware the weather can get pretty extreme above the ropeway and you'd need to know your stuff to head out from there. If you want to ski Niseko, mid December is not too busy as most of the Aussie hordes don't arrive until after xmas. Rusutsu is a great mountain also although accomodation options are limited outside of the big resort hotel. There are a couple of backpacker style lodges though. For those interested in what the climatologists are forecasting for this winter check out this link Cold Season Outlook Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by db le spud: Quote: Originally posted by snosurf: I think another early season start is on the cards so there should be plenty of white stuff on the ground mid-december (by my reckoning!) Mate, any chance you could give me an early season stoke forecast for Europe as well? What you got going on down there in WA, weather guru? db looks like the outlook for Europe and specifically around the Alps region is for average temps and above average precip. Should mean a good winter. Check out the following link Met Office: Winter 06/07 Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 Thanks for the link. "The snowfall amount outlook calls for both near-normal and below-normal conditions with a 40% probability in the Japan Sea side districts." That doesn't tell us much about timing unfortunately. I wouldn't mind a below average season. Ten metres over three months would be much nicer than 15m in two months. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 amen to a more balanced season Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 not down this way dammit! A balanced season down here means not too many fresh dumps. Last season gave us a lot more nice snow to play in! Link to post Share on other sites
damian 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 balance is for zen fairies. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 man i dont want to have to shovel 8 meters of snow over a 2 week again ever. Link to post Share on other sites
SerreChe 2 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 The locals have been saying its gonna be a good winter in the french alps this season. To be seen. Link to post Share on other sites
TJ OZ 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 The prediction of weather. If only! Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by db le spud: balance is for zen fairies. OK fairy. Which is the factory and which is the pile of snow? Winner gets to come to Yamagata in the winter, and loser gets to dig snow. Link to post Share on other sites
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