 Poster: A snowHead
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Finally caught up with this thread, which keeps delivering much like Niseko itself.
Happy Belated New Year to you Mike Pow...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Cheers Ordinary Skiier.
Same to you.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I was checking out out the various webcams and live streams about an hour ago and I can honestly say I've never seen falling so thick before...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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DAY 51 : FRIDAY 04 JANUARY 2013
15 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
As of today 700 cm (276") has fallen at MQ
The top lifts were still closed due to high winds, so John, Graeme, Liz, Tim, Annie & I drove round to Niseko Annupuri to ski John's favourite area of the Niseko United.
The weather was very changeable throughout the day, going from bluebird to driving snow to gusting winds and back again in minutes.
John took a couple of runs to get used to the limited visibility and mixed snow conditions under his skis - groomed, crud, powder - and when he was more patient at the start of the turn he was off.
Graeme joined Liz in the powder and the trees for the first time, and over the buffet lunch admitted that he even enjoyed it!
Tim, Annie and I lapped the trees skiers right of Paradise, dropped under the quad, and headed out through Gate 7 where we found the best turns of the day.
Both have improved tremendously this week and are starting to feel very comfortable all over the mountain in all conditions.
Tim skiing the Gate 7 terrain at Annupuri
And the one that got away. Sorry, next time Tim.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Mike, what age and ski ability would you say kids need before coming out to ski Japan ???
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Mike Pow, cheers!! They've flown to oz to see grandparents so that's not an issue!!
Youngest is 9, hoping to get her parallel this year, so maybe Narnia in the next few years 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Domo, as they say in these parts.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Wow!!! ^ ^ ^
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Nice photos in the last update Mike, even higher than your usual standard! Just three weeks until I get to Niseko
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Thanks Pedantica.
Cheers rob@rar. The yellow orb in the sky makes a massive difference.
We don't get to see it much but it makes for pics with more texture and contrast.
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You know it makes sense.
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DAY 53 : SUNDAY 06 JANUARY 2013
27 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
The Lovelocks and Craig rolled in to town yesterday evening for three weeks of Hokkaido powder.
It was great to see Neil, Ria, Alex, Hayden and Craig and we caught up over cocktails at Maki Lounge and pizza delivered from Niseko Pizza downstairs.
For their first week they're staying at J-Sekka in Hirafu, followed by a week in Rusutsu and a week at Kiroro.
All their arrangements are being taken care of by Ian MacKenzie of Niseko WOW
http://niseko-wow.com/
Day 1 of the trip was spent at Niseko Hanazono.
With no night skiing and no accommodation base the overnight snow blanketed the pistes and we were making our first turns before the lifts in the other areas of Niseko United were loading.
Two laps of knee deep powder on the Setsuzoku and Stairway to Heaven pistes and we were all in the groove and ready to venture into the trees and ungroomed slopes.
Either side of an early lunch we skied Silver Dream, Ten Turns, Blueberry Fields and Legend of Shinya and a lot in between.
It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Here's the first few chapters of War & Peace.
Chapter 1 - The trees beside Setsuzoku
Neil
Alex
Ria
Craig
Chapter 2 - Upper Silver Dream
Alex
Hayden
Neil
Chapter 3 - Lower Silver Dream
Alex
Ria
Hayden
Neil
Craig
Chapter 4 - Run Silent, Run Deep
Alex tall, relaxed and patient in Ten Turns
Chapter 5 - Ten Turns
Ria
Hayden
Alex
Neil
Chapter 6 - The Legend of Shinya
Neil
It was very satisfying to see Neil, Ria, Alex, Hayden and Craig hit the ground running and pick up where they left off last winter.
By day's end all were skiing better than they were at the end of their last holiday.
With massive grins on their faces.
Hokkaido powder + knowing where to ski + the right skis under your feet = a day for the ages
It didn't stop snowing until 3 pm and with high winds higher up the mountain keeping the crowds in Niseko Hirafu, this was by far the best snow I've skied at Hanazono.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Wed 9-01-13 13:05; edited 1 time in total
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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more great pics as usual!! How old are the kids in your recent pics?? Trying to show my kids what they are missing out on Mine are currently 9 and 12
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hmm, now have to ignore Touchguru, and rob@rar, in 2 weeks time....
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Seem like few of us are heading there.. 13 days as well for me! Anyone care to give some info on places to head for the pow..
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| kitenski wrote: |
| more great pics as usual!! How old are the kids in your recent pics?? Trying to show my kids what they are missing out on Mine are currently 9 and 12 |
Thanks.
Youngest was 9 and oldest was 15.
Alex is a young lady of 16.
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Thanks Touchguru and Timmaah.
Great info from kitenski and you don't have to travel beyond the resort boundaries to get the goods.
With the exception of Ten Turns which was accessed by Gate 9 Waterfall, Monday's pics were taken inbounds within spitting distance of the groomed runs.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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kitenski, cheers, tick all those three. The lecture actually sounds pretty interesting, even if it is £20! But.. it does seem like its access for the season, which is good.
The gates thing always confused me a little.. I'll stop myself asking a stupid question and just wait and see 
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Timmaah, mizuno no sawa is great. Yeah, it's £20 but the numbers are limited so generally good. Other tips...
If you're staying in Hirafu try getting the free bus to Niseko Village or Hanazono for first lift on powder days as you'll beat the crowds trying to get there from Hirafu. In Niseko Village head up the gondola, ski down to the rope tow and head up to the old gondola station. From there drop into superstition and keep following the fall line back to the bottom. Go back up and repeat or take the wonderland chair and hit snorkel if it's open. In Hanazono, take the Hanazono 1 chair and go straight into Strawberry Fields.
And - bearing in mind what kitenski says = outside the gates just don't up skiing to Moiwa by mistake...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hi Snowheads. I am heading to Niseko for 7 days. First day on the hill will be the 11th. Any on the ground snow forecasts. I have been cruising a load of sites and they all vary (as per normal). I think though the sea snow conveyor is on it is possibly not going to be as snowy next week as it has been the last 5 days. Any enlightenment is welcome.
Another question = is it as busy next week as the New Year period?
Thanks for any info. 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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+ 1 to thebongolian's advice.
Snow forecast for the next 6 days snorkyvandyke
http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Niseko/6day/mid
This site always underestimates.
For example they called for 1 cm this afternoon and 1 cm this evening.
We've had 6 cm already and it's snowing hard as I type.
Hirafu is fairly busy at the moment. Hanazono and Annupuri have been quiet the past 3 days.
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I always look at snowforecast.com. It is a weather vane but I don't rely on it too much. Elsewhere on the snowheads weather outlook thread it has been lauded as being reliable. I don't think it is so reliable. Trend wise maybe but not very accurate. I look at a bunch of other sources but they diverge. It can get confusing.
I have, as you state, observed this last three weeks that the snow on the ground at Niseko is more than predicted by snowforecast.com. It looks to be less snowy than last week. Is that the trend?  Any enlightenment???
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You know it makes sense.
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snow-forecast.com has been spot on with weather trends and freezing levels so far this winter.
It has underestimated snowfall.
If it snows a lot then skiing powder will be obvious.
If it doesn't then there is still plenty of powder but you may have to tag along with / pay someone to find it.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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How long are you guys above out there for? I rock in on the 10th of Feb, staying through till the 23rd.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Head out start of Feb to visit Tokyo for few days.
thebongolian, thanks! Will be staying at Annupuri, so guessing same caveats regarding getting a bus over there apply?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Timmaah, probably quite tricky to get a bus to Hanazono from Annupuri in time but Niseko Village definitely doable. There's also generally nice powder in Annupuri if you drop off paradise through the trees parallel but uphill to merchen. Seems to take a while to get tracked out. And if you in Annapuri, Moiwa is nearby and much quieter and cheaper than the main mountain. Definitely worth a day or two and if you know what you are doing in the backcountry you can ski back to Annapuri from there.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Back in Hokkaido after the winter break. Heading down for a Rusutsu/Niseko combo this coming long weekend. Might see you down there!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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+1 to thebongolian's advice again.
Will be teaching in Rusutsu on Saturday MagSeven. Say hi if you hear me 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| meh wrote: |
How long are you guys above out there for? I rock in on the 10th of Feb, staying through till the 23rd.
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I'll be there 7-13 Feb and staying in Hirafu. This is a solo trip for me so it'd be great to meet up with some fellow Snowheads while there...
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Ordinary_Skiier, we overlap by a few days so that would be excellent, also staying in Hirafu.
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FAQ
