 Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks Ordinary Skier. If you need info drop me a line or post on here.
Mac46,
Thanks for the heads up.
Skiing on 173cm Blizzard Titan Cronus (123-88-111). Still getting used to them after skiing slalom skis the past 3 seasons. Liking them though.
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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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Patrol! Patrol! There's a Gaijin under the lift! He'll damage those protection pads! Sunshine here and high temps. Warmer tomorrow and then fingers crossed that the r**n forecast for Yamagata City on Fri falls as snow on Zao......hmmmm.
Sat & Sun Snow! Yeah 
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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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Wednesday 03 December to Friday 05 December 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area
0cm of snow at MQ.
Plenty of rain though. Almost washed the snow away, but around 9pm Friday it started to snow.
Saturday 06 December 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area
And it kept snowing all through the night.
13cm in the past 24hrs at MQ.
Much more up top.
Good turns today. Limited terrain though. Wind was howling for a time so only Ace #3 double was open. Then the wind died down and they opened up the King Hooded Triple. Much better.
Roped off (most of) the mountain from the King Bell area down due to lack of snow. More like lack of clue.
Tokyu. Japanese for 'couldn't run a bath'
The run back to the base of the quad was boot top all the way, hardly any ice scratch. Great turns.
Still snowing. Tommorrow will be great.
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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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Friday's rain left all the Zao pistes frozen/rutted this morning but snow started falling about 10a.m. and by 2p.m. there was some good skiing to be found.....forecasts of high winds, heavy snow and low temps kept the punters away. A few broken bones for ski patrol to carry off the mountain.......not the best conditions for doing kickers etc. Tomorrow should be better.....as long as the snow keeps falling. Next week's forecast isn't good but the weekend should be ok.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Fantastic.
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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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Mike, I put a post on SnowJapan but I thought I'd put one here too in case the moderators think my SnowJapan post breached their guidelines.
A group of 6 of us will be in Niseko for a week from 7 Feb. We're skiing 3.5 weeks weeks in 3 resorts all up with 10 days in Nozawa.
We want to get a lessons on the first couple of days of the week and then maybe one later in the week. I saw on here somewhere that you are an instructor? What compnay do you work for? How can we organise to get lessons with you?
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Wow, that looks Epic!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Monday 08 December 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area
2cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ.
After Sunday's amazing conditions, Monday was a little disappointing. Warmed up significantly. Still some good turns to be had but with visibility down to less than 5m it was like skiing inside a golf ball.
Tuesday 09 December 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area
0cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ.
Warm and sunny. Good 'spring' turns to be had.
Little bit of rain in the night.
Wednesday 10 December 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area
0cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ.
Warm and sunny this morning. Good 'spring' turns to be had again.
Started raining about 30 mins ago.
Hopefully this will turn to snow pretty soon and then we can get into what looks like a normal pattern of snow and temps staying below freezing.
Friday and Saturday look to be the pick of the days.
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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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Harrumph! on a descending scale of S,A,B,C,D for snow conditions we're at C at base and B mid-mountain (Zao).....we've lost another 30cm BUT tomorrow it will snow.....hope we get as good as you got or is that asking for too much
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You know it makes sense.
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Nice work Mr Pow
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Good stuff, is that inbounds? just interested as no backpacks etc?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Just back from a few days in Kagura.
The hill is only partly open and it's been hit by the warm temps and rain from the past few weeks.
The top is in good shape, but the bottom half is ropey.
Recommended for anyone who wants a quick hop to a Jap resort north of Tokyo during the Winter for a few days.
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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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| norris wrote: |
| Good stuff, is that inbounds? just interested as no backpacks etc? |
All inbounds.
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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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Wednesday 24 December 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area
22cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
GREAT turns all over the mountain.
Hanazono in the sunshine was particularly delightful.
Wind picked up above Ace Hill and created some big drifts and slabs were forming.
Didn't have a chance to ski with Glen today, but he got this great shot of local ski school director Trevor Dobson in his happy place.
Thanks Glen.
Just started snowing. Looks like we've dodged the rain bullet.
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That last picture is the money shot. 
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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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Hey Mike, great photos, long time no speak. Looks like a powder fest! Off to Three valleys' Friday for ten 10 days. Catch up soon? steve
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Cheers.
Keeps on coming down 
Have a great time in France Steve.
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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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When you back home in Wales Mike?
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I hope that you can help me out.
I have just picked up some cheap tickets to Japan.
I arrive in Tokyo on the 8th of January and will be keen to get skiing after a few days looking around. I have tried to get cheap accommodation around Nagano without much luck, I have now heard that it is the Japanese holidays.
What is it like on Hokkaido, is it busy? any advice on places to stay would be most helpful I am going to stay in Japan for just over one month.
Happy boarding!!
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
Thanks Ordinary Skier. If you need info drop me a line or post on here.
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After much stuffing around (due to me being "Mr Lastminutedotcom" and needing single accommodation), I finally have my booking secured.
I'll be there from 07-15th of Feb and will be staying in one of the pensions in the village (Grand Hirafu). I can't wait!
Great pics as usual Mike!
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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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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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Sunday 11 January 2009
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area
33cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Got off the King Triple chair, excitement building, and headed for what I thought would be over the head shots through Gate 5.
The reality? On my head shots as I punched through the wind scoured surface, through the wind packed pow and into the tree roots still lurking in the snowpack.
This was an upside down storm with better and lighter snow conditions at the base of the mountain.
The peak was closed due to high avalanche risk and there was avalanche debris in the face above Hanazono.
Looked like slow moving surface layer of 40-60cm of wind packed new snow had released on the January 9-10 surface hoar layer. Doubtful if it would have resulted in burial, more likely leg trauma.
Approx. 20 m start width, finishing approx. 150-200m wide. Ran from peak to treeline. Roughly where the traverse line would be from Gate 4.
Tracy made the most of the variable conditions
Had lunch at Ezo in Niseko Village. Average burger, terrible bloody mary and poor, slow service.
The house band, the Dirty T's, however were top notch.
Monday 12 January 2009
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area
8cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Bluebird and crisp for most of the day. Glorious day.
The groomers were in excellent shape and some of the best corduroy I've skied anywhere.
Still pow to be found lower down in Hanazono.
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looks awful, can't imagine why you stay there............ 
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This shot is excellent:
[quote=Mike Pow] [/quote]
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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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Thanks for the regular fix Mike. I check this thread daily now in the lead up to my trip. Please check out this thread when you get a chance and pass on any tips you might have (I didn't want to hijack this thread):
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=47626
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FAQ
