 Poster: A snowHead
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Plenty of snow in Rusutsu 
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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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After some bad weather and rain in the week, the snow returned with fury Thursday and Friday. Saturday we went to Sapporo Teine for the first time this winter. Snow cover was great, and most of the trails are now open. Some of the off piste is skiable, although the real highlight of Teine, the bowls, still need more snow to be totally filled in. A good day though, and we lucked in with a bluebird morning. Just north of Sapporo you can see the snow still pounding down. (My place is somewhere under that cloud, meaning I had alot of digging to do to clear my parking space when I got home!)
Then today (Sunday) we went down to Kiroro. I've only been there once before, a couple of years ago. On that day most of the lifts were on wind hold, so I don't know the place at all. Unfortunately Mike Pow wasn't around to show me the good spots, so we were feeling our way a little bit. But the snow was incredible, legit chest deep in places. I was really impressed with the ski area and the snow, so I imagine I'll be back!
Unfortunately, as often happens this early in the season, a southerly wind is due mid-week, bringing warmer temperatures and rain. But hopefully it won't last long, and more snow will fall before next weekend. We'll be heading north, to hit Kamui and Asahidake.
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Great to hear that Kiroro delivered.
Look forward to seeing the movie.
Hopefully ski together next time.
Which lifts were open please?
And a technical question, how long is the pole your using for the camera?
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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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Yep, it certainly did deliver. I can understand why you spend so much time there!
The gondy was open, plus Yoichi 1, and Asari 2. (maybe Yoichi 2 also, but not sure on that) Centre Express was running, but only for a ski team bashing the gates.
The pole is just a 120cm ski pole. It's a little too narrow for the Gopro handlebar mount, so I've wrapped a strip of foam and heavy tape around it just above the basket which gives the mount something to grip onto.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Good to read you 'get' Kiroro. Many don't.
Thanks for the info. That's where I'm going this morning
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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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Same down here 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Love it.
Can I pick your brain please?
Camera?
Software?
Computer you're using to put it together?
PS your young lady charges.
Hoping my lady can progress to the deeper pow this trip 
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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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Thanks Mike. Not using anything too fancy as you can probably tell! Mostly a GoPro 2, and a couple of shots with a very entry level Canon point and shoot. Put together on an iMac with iMovie.
Will pass on your compliments to Mrs MagSeven! She's a solid skier. Don't think a non skier could put up with me! I saw her skiing at Les 2 Alpes nearly 9 years ago, and then again that night in the Avalanche Club. The rest, as they say, is history! (I can't imagine many happy marriages have resulted from chance encounters at the Avalanche!)
Let's hope this bloody rain stops!
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Cheers. Thanks for that.
It was meant to be obviously
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You know it makes sense.
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It could be mid January up in Asahikawa area. We've been at Kamui Ski Links the past couple of days, where everything is open and the pow is deep. All the tree lines and back bowls are rideable. Saturday was pretty damn good. Today, after 50cm overnight, was insane! Deep snow, big pillows and soft landings.
Sorachi district, the area between Asahikawa and Sapporo has blizzard warnings in place for tonight, so many of the small local ski areas will be opening up this week.
Didn't take any photos but will try to take some stills from the GoPro to post soon.
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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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Great.
Look forward to seeing the vid.
Friday was off the hook down here.
Saturday and today knee deep.
Tomorrow could be one for the ages as we're getting that storm you just had
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I might spend a bit of time finding some offpiste lines on East Mt this year, Mt Isola offpiste is getting too popular (Jan-Feb).
Just don't want to end up with a long walk back.
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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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Not really explored too much of East, just the ridge linking East and Isola which is fairly well known. I reckon there's generally still enough pow to go around on Isola, except on busy days when it hasn't snowed for a while.
Video from last Sunday at Kamui
https://vimeo.com/55272609
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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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Up, up and away
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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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Rusutsu on Saturday was pretty good. The snow was slightly heavier because of the higher temperatures, and they still need a little more snow to fill in all the sasa. But it was still a good day.
https://vimeo.com/55832177
The snow at Sapporo Teine on Sunday was better although still quite moist.
It's been snowing heavily today, and that should continue for most of the week. It'll be a couple of weeks until I'll get to enjoy it though - we're off to Oz and NZ for the winter break. Looking forward to alot more skiing in January!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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MagSeven, nice videos!
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Fair play
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Hi everyone!
Just thought I'd pop in to say hello. My husband and I are heading out to Hokkaido in February. We'll be in Niseko from 17 Feb to 3 March then over to Furano for a week. Its my first time in Japan and for both of us its our first time boarding in Japan so we can't wait!
KT
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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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MagSeven, any updates coming soon?
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Haha, Sorry! I've been slacking! Was away for Xmas and New Year in the southern hemisphere. (Though still had some snow in early Jan in NZ!) Queenstown on Jan 3rd - middle of summer!?
Haven't really posted anything since I've been back as Mike Pow's photos are far superior to anything I've got!
But, as you asked Ordinary_Skiier here you go.... Up here in central Hokkaido, we've had a dry sunny spell this week. Very cold, down to -20 the other day. But just today its started to snow again. The wind is coming up from the south, so its warm and moist, but that is forecast to swing round to come from the north west, which is what we like! Hopefully this weekend should be a good'un although it could get pretty windy.
Anyway, I have a few pics and videos, so I'll post them. Last weekend was sweet. Big snow falling through Friday night, so Teine on Saturday was awesome. Best day of the season so far, with deep pow and fresh tracks all day.
My buddy Florent in Bowl 4
Here I'm hitting the 'Tree branch gap of doom' under the summit express chair. (A friend caught a tip under the branch and did an unplanned front flip!)
Then Sunday we went to Mt Racey in Yubari for a bluebird pow day. Found a few new spots and as you can see, scored some decent pow, although not as deep as elsewhere. The empty mountain and blue skies made up for it!
Couple of videos, first, a general one made last weekend.
https://vimeo.com/57782055
And then midweek I went up to Racey and had a few sunny laps of the park. (Shame to be riding park in mid January, but mother nature has been stingy this week!)
https://vimeo.com/58006640
Am happy to continue posting as the season goes on if people are interested. But am aware there is another Hokkaido thread going!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Too kind MagSeven.
Always look forward to your TRs, pics and vids.
Please keep 'em coming.
Hopefuly we'll get to ski pow together some time this season.
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lol, I only just found the time to look at the latest update in detail. I take it that's you in the red jacket & yellow pants MagSeven?
You're definitely selling yourself short in the pic & vid department. Especially the terrain park vid. Great footage and well edited.
I'd go as far as to say it's nucking futs...
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You know it makes sense.
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Cheers Mike Pow, likewise, would be cool to ride together sometime! And thanks Ordinary_Skiier, glad the Sapporo tips helped you out for your trip. Happy to help.
Just had a fairly mixed weekend up at Sapporo Teine. Saturday we had low expectations, with zero snow overnight at home, and just a little sleet/rain in the city. But once we got up there, the snow had arrived overnight. So we had a good time in the bowls jumping pillows and slashing pow.
Then today, after alot of snow overnight, we headed up the hill, expecting epic conditions, only to find the wind was too strong for the summit lift to run. So, to make the best of it, we headed down to the golf course halfway up the hill to build a kicker. Found a nice spot with good views over the city.
And with deep soft powder landings, peer pressure and kodak courage, we had a fun jump session!
Next weekend will probably be heading up to Kamui, so we're hoping for more snow through the week.
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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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Sweet
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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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Noice.
PM sent
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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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rob@rar, blimey Rob, last year you forgot screws, and this year you've forgotten skis if the first pic is to be believed 
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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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ようこそ北海道 rob@rar and crew! Nice photos so far, although a bit too much of your lower legs are visible! Enjoy your trip. Hopefully we get some more snow early next week after the warm/stormy weekend that's in the forecast!
I was planning to head up to Asahikawa tomorrow for a Kamui/Asahidake combo, but with the sketchy weather, that's been put off until the following (3 day!) weekend. This weekend will probably be Sapporo Teine again Saturday and possibly Yubari or just a tour locally depending on the weather on Sunday.
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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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1 week to go!
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Should be back to normal for your arrival
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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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Sweet.
Worth every penny this week huh?
When was that, Wednesday?
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Touchguru, which company did you head out with and were they any good?
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FAQ
