Was having a long discussion about doing a 2 week trip next year around mid Feb - end Feb/ beginning March next year. I looked at a 2 resort trip in Japan with Niseko for 1 week, then 5 days in Hakuba with a night in Tokyo at the end. None of us have been to Japan so this was the preferred choice. We aren't too sure about apres etc here and heard of far too many Aussies esp in Niseko.
So, the more I'm looking at the states the more appealing it is. I recently looked at Park City where we have 4 or 5 resorts to play in. We have all been to the US and I've lived in LA so we kinda know what to expect. We were thinking we might have a better time here socially. Plus if the snow's good, the OP is pretty damn good here too.
We are 6 boarders looking really for the legendary off-piste in Japan but if there wasn't the snowfall we would be playing on the pistes and park, hence the thought of Park City. The problem is we want to book this next month when the new prices come out so we can get in early and get the best deals. Also, this is by no means a 'once in a lifetime' trip but saying that we may not be able to do a big trip the following year. What are your thoughts please?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
You guys will luv it at Alta
I've done both & I'd do Japan every time. Probably cheaper too.
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?
spyderjon, Forgetting DV ?
Gainz, Snows generally good in UT at that time - just had 17 days of good conditions end Feb/March there. I'd just base in SLC and choose where to go each day. Cheaper than PC. and easier to get to other resorts.
Not been to Japan so cant comment - but suspect if the snows good it will be fine
Gainz, There is a reasonable bus service, UTA but dont know how well as we always have a 4x4. Most of the reasonable hotels provide a free shuttle service ( one we stayed in did) including airport shuttle too. Plenty of folks staying there didnt have a vehicle. Theres a bus service at the base of each canyon so no need to drive up them if you dont wish to - but thats half the fun
A Vehicle makes life so much easier though for many reasons
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I've done both.
Park City etc is great fun. You must, must have a car if you want to ski multi resorts.
Deer Valley and Alta do not allow boarders at all, so already you have lost 2/5 of the easy to get to places.
Read my long report on my recent trip to Japan.
Of the two I would 100% say Japan. Not a shadow of doubt at all. Certainly would be a lot cheaper...just look at the price of lift passes and start counting!
If you are up to a full-on park Niseko has one.
You will probably never go near it.
Do your own work on the % chances of deep powder, on that basis alone Japan wins by a mile at that time of year (obviously % chances are still not guarantees)
BTW...What is wrong with Aussies?
After all it is free
After all it is free
Megamum wrote:
Well I guess there are 'problems' and then there are 'real problems'!!
I dont understand this comment
The OP asked about two totally different places to ski, and peoples experiences and opinions regarding it.
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Bones, I read the title and the OP and just thought that it would be great to be in the position of having the decision in the first place, hardly a 'problem' IMO. It was just a tongue firmly cheek observation on the 'problem' of needing to make a choice and book one of two wonderful destinations lol!!
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rungsp wrote:
I've done both.
Park City etc is great fun. You must, must have a car if you want to ski multi resorts.
Deer Valley and Alta do not allow boarders at all, so already you have lost 2/5 of the easy to get to places.
Read my long report on my recent trip to Japan.
Of the two I would 100% say Japan. Not a shadow of doubt at all. Certainly would be a lot cheaper...just look at the price of lift passes and start counting!
If you are up to a full-on park Niseko has one.
You will probably never go near it.
Do your own work on the % chances of deep powder, on that basis alone Japan wins by a mile at that time of year (obviously % chances are still not guarantees)
BTW...What is wrong with Aussies?
Nothing wrong with Aussies in general (I'm one!) There is however, a certain subset of Aussie called a cashed up bogan which is to be avoided if possible. They are usually young, big earning guys working in the mining industry. I wouldn't avoid Japan because of them though. Plenty of the Australians staying there aren't getting drunk and making a fool of themselves.
Japan is well priced, a great cultural experience and the food is fantastic.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Japan! Can't speak about Niseko, but we went to Hakuba in Feb. Happo One tends to be where many westerners stay. Yes there are quite a few Aussies, but the main skiers/boarders are Japanese. The Japanese are predominantly boarders, and we skiers felt outnumbered. Happo has some restrictions on off piste, but given the snow fall, you can get amazing conditions after a dump on piste and for a true off piste tree skiing experience you just get the bus to Cortina up the road. Lap after lap of great snow! Plus a venture through a backcountry gate courtesy of a Cortina regular who showed us the way. I am trying to track down a professional video of the area which I have seen on YouTube as it reflects our experience. Despite the fact that we are middle aged by no means experts, it truly shows what it was like!
We had intended to also take in Myoko (no off piste restrictions) but there was so much snow we couldn't get there! Japan is just different. Next time (and there will definitely be one), I want to take in Nozawa Onsen and Myoko.
The cultural experience, especially onsens are great too.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Mon 24-03-14 21:13; edited 1 time in total
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.
I've been to Salt Lake City and it seemed like a really cool place, we were there in mid-May and there was absolutely stacks of snow up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Sadly, I was there to look at the geology and not to ski, but we still had a good day in the snow. There were regular ski busses from Salt Lake, I couldn't comment on how good they might be though.
I would love to go back to ski. But I would also love to go to Japan to ski.
That didn't help at all did it
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Megamum, it's not like you to troll. Where did I say I had a 'problem' anywhere? I seem to recall the forum is SnowHeads and not Dear Denise! I suggest you run along.
Yes I've experienced the 'cashed-up bogan' in Thailand and so I probably based all Aussies on this lot.
Ok now I get the Alta joke, so that rules out 2/5 resorts in Utah but PC and Snowbird look good enough and the possibility of Vail (?) if we fancied a journey. I know first hand of the distances involved in the USA so this may not be feasible. Also I had a look at Mammoth mountain and combining a trip with LA or Vegas is appealing.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Gainz, I used the UTA buses to get up the canyons. This was a long time ago, before the light rail was built, there were groups of cheap motels around the SLC ends of the bus routes.
Maybe stay part of the time in PC and part in Midvale/Sandy.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
theres more that 5 resorts in utah, more than 5 inbetween SLC and PC
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Gainz, If you are considering Vail, then think Jackson Hole too, only a 5 hour drive which is closer than Vail.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Thanks for your input. I think we have a clearer picture of what to do in the USA but as for next year it looks like it's going to be Japan. Is it worth doing a twin centre trip or would Niseko be enough for 2 weeks?
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?
Gainz wrote:
Thanks for your input. I think we have a clearer picture of what to do in the USA but as for next year it looks like it's going to be Japan. Is it worth doing a twin centre trip or would Niseko be enough for 2 weeks?
hobbiteater wrote:
theres more that 5 resorts in utah, more than 5 inbetween SLC and PC
Just skiing Niseko United (Annupuri, Niseko Village, Hirafu, Hanazono) then yes to skiing Honshu too.
Rent a car and the world is your oyster on Hokkaido.
Niseko United, Niseko Moiwa, hopefully Chisenupuri will re-open next season, Rusutsu all within 45 minute radius of Hirafu (main village in the Niseko Resort Area).
Asari, Kiroro, Sapporo Kokusai, Otaru Tenguyama, Sapporo Teine within 2 hr radius of Hirafu. Or within 1 hr of Otaru itself. Not a mountain town, it's a port town. But gives a very different ski holiday experience.
More than enough for 2 weeks.
Here's my season report covering all of the above except for Chisenupuri - it was closed this season.
I just had 10 days skiing based in Niseko (Hirafu is the area to stay).
Top and tailed with a couple of days in Tokyo and Kyoto.
2 weeks? Not too long.
If you don't have a car there is a daily bus service to Moiwa (free bus) and Rusutsu (1000 each way) and a 2/3 times a week to Kiroro.
You must go to those places at least once!
I will return and next time we will rent a car and go to lots of those other spots Mike Pow has listed.
I saw "a car" but the great majority of vehicles seemed to be little 4wd minivans, and if you are a group of 6 one of those would be perfect, and split between 6 not very expensive.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
How come Chisenupuri was closed? Also is its still worth going over to Hakuba?
It was losing money season on season, so they closed this season and used the money they would have lost to renovate and modernise the day lodge and the Yukichichibu Onsen hotel.
Hopefully it will re-open next season, but no word yet.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Raven, never heard of cashed-up bogans, but I can imagine....
I'd love to ski Japan but my off-piste technique is nowhere near good enough yet. Been to the country a few times and the people were great. Couldn't half sink a few beers, too.
After all it is free
After all it is free
dobby wrote:
I'd love to ski Japan but my off-piste technique is nowhere near good enough yet.
No better place to learn to ski powder IMHO.
The powder is usually dry, light & consistent which allows you to ski soft snow conditions on low angle pitches - green runs - often actually on the green runs themselves or on the fringes.
For example, here's the Lovelock family and their friend Craig skiing beside the 'Yoichi Course 1-B' green run at Kiroro Snow World on Thursday 16 January 2014
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Mike Pow, could be very tempting........
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You know it makes sense dobby
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Utah...
I'd not worry too much about Alta or Deer Valley. Alta I would ride if I could, the other place, from what I've heard it's not up to much anyway.
Resort-wise, I'd avoid Park City because that's there the tourists go and there are much better places to ride. Other hills are not generally "destination resorts". Party people would be better elsewhere - the snow's wasted on them and other places are more vomit friendly. If strip clubs and getting drunk are on the agenda, then other places would be better.
If you're on your own then the buses make sense, and I've used them out of SLC for precisely that purpose. All the information you need is online. From what I remember you won't make the first tram at Snowbird on the bus though, and of course if there's 6 of you then hiring a car would work out cheaper and more flexible. Getting around SLC by car is easy, and a car also gives you access to more interesting resorts a little further away. If you like Vegas, then Brian Head is a classic snowboarding resort with unparalleled scenery and great riding. That's where I go when I can't take the obese stench of Vegas any longer.
Places like Snowbird aren't hugely tourist friendly. You may wonder what the fuss is about if you visit for a day when it's hard pack. In fact it's a steep little hill with more off-piste than on-piste, and when it's good it's really good. It feels considerably steeper than any Japan video I've seen to date (perhaps it's easy to make video on the easy stuff). I don't believe there's any "night life" at all up there; most people drive up for the day then go back to the city.
If you're considering Vail as an alternative, then you probably need to ride both, as they are completely different from most perspectives.
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.
philwig wrote:
Utah...
I'd not worry too much about Alta or Deer Valley. Alta I would ride if I could, the other place, from what I've heard it's not up to much anyway.
When I spent a season in Park City I had season passes for Deer Valley, Park City and The Canyons.
On a powder day I'd head to Deer Valley. Great trees, no one skiing them
Quote:
Resort-wise, I'd avoid Park City because that's there the tourists go and there are much better places to ride.
Agree about the skiing, but no better place to base youself. Largest choice & variety of dining , bars and shopping.
Quote:
Places like Snowbird aren't hugely tourist friendly. You may wonder what the fuss is about if you visit for a day when it's hard pack. In fact it's a steep little hill with more off-piste than on-piste, and when it's good it's really good. It feels considerably steeper than any Japan video I've seen to date (perhaps it's easy to make video on the easy stuff).
Snowbird is much steeper than anything in the Niseko Resort Area of Hokkaido.
It's also much busier, more expensive, and the powder gets tracked out much faster.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Megamum, Well I thought your comment was funny !
Bones, Gainz, sense of humour lost then with the stress of it all? -
Quote:
Arrgghh
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
yeah, on a powder day I'd be on the 1st tram at Snowbird. Once that's done, the more obscure lines get ridden, then you switch location until it snows again. This season I didn't go as my mates said it wasn't up to much.
Deer Valley: I'm not surprised about that.
Quote:
Snowbird is much steeper than anything in the Niseko Resort Area of Hokkaido.
It's also much busier, more expensive, and the powder gets tracked out much faster.
I'm not surprised about that either.
I've not ridden in Japan. When I was there quite a bit some years ago they said I'd scare the locals. I'm starting to see why the Stella (designed for the Japanese market) is a pretty large board though.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
All sorted kids!
Going to Park City Utah for 2 weeks from 21/02 - 07/03. Planning on hitting all the resorts around that will have us
It was a close call but seeing that we all so wanted to snowboard in the US since we started it was the favoured choice. I found a deal for £1600 including lift passes B&B, transfers, flights and baggage. I think that's a damn good deal considering we're getting twin rooms with queen sized beds, pool, hot tubs and a 'cookie man'. Japan came in at over £2k sharing a small flat. Since I might add a week in Alpe d'Huez in late March, this made sense. Japan will have to wait another year.
Thanks for the help. If anyone wants to hook up, give me a shout.
The countdown begins....
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
There's some great micro breweries in & around PC. I particularly liked the Polygamy Porter for which the advertising bylines were "take some home for your wives" & "why just have one"
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Try to get to Snowbasin and Powder Mountain.
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?
Looks like Park City Mountain Resort will be packed up on the back of some lorries for next winter....hope that gets sorted, but not looking good.
And I am leaving to Japan next week - stupid me - summer!!! 35 degrees C ??
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Gainz, Deffo get a hire car so you can hit other mountains - noone knows yet what will happen to PC if it will be open or not. Vail Resorts may be running it or maybe not
IF and a big if PCMR do remove their lifts form the mountain then there isnt time for VR to install new ones, most of the mountain will be poached from Deer Valley by tourers on powder days
I'd echo Mike Pow, about Solitude, but if you get the chance The Canyons is ok for a day. When at Pow.Mountain say hi to Tim and RJ couple of the best lifties in the area and be prepared to hike alittle for some good stuff on a powder day.
We will be out there from 19/2 for about 18 days
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un-effing-believable!
Spoke to American Ski classics and this is news to them. They're going to chat to their contacts and find out the lowdown. Apparently the lease ran out in April 2011 and they haven't paid any rent since then. What a bunch of %^$^&%$^&^*
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
