 Poster: A snowHead
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It begins - First snow in Naeba
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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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Any idea if it is good, bad, average start to the season?
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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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Either on time or early
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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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Looking like a good start in SW Hokkaido.
Sapporo Kokusai open.
More resorts opening next week.
Heavy snowfall with no warming or rain yet.
Which is very important in covering up the almost 2m sasa (bamboo).
If the sasa gets buried early, then the off piste is a go.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Things underway in Hakuba with Happo-one, Goryu, Hakuba 47 and Tsugaike all partly open with good coverage for this time of the year. 
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Early season conditions look amazing in Hokkaido. Far more snow than this time last year.
Going by the "Niseko Now" reports on SnowJapan, 266cm this year vs. 129cm last year accumulated at resort level by 7th Dec.
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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 Pow, Excellent news. Isn’t Cam usually on 165 66mm slalom skis, in order to achieve that depth?
I believe the last couple of years were slow to start and consider “relatively poor” by Hokkaido standards, so it looks like things are back on form.
I’ll be out for couple of weeks from mid Feb 
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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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Getting a bit excited over here 
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Niseko area had almost a week of nonstop snowfall last week.
More forecast next week.
Very good start to the season.
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You know it makes sense.
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Oh man, and I spent all my money going last year which seemed to be a terrible year for Niseko. Oh well enjoy the powder guys and gals!
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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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The Lass is there for the season working for Go Snow.
She has been there a week...a week of snow.
We had a Skype with her yesterday
"Dad, do you remember that incredible powder day last season in Verbier?"
"It is like that every day!"
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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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@kitenski, are you kidding! I'm leaving them behind and visiting Honshu with the lads. Fancy joining in?
Nine days of snow chasing (no fixed accommodation) with a local guide.
Iki ma-sho!
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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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@Mosha Marc, would love to but super skint at the moment!! enjoy and don't post too many pics!
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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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Am off in Feb for 3 weeks and can't wait!! @MikePow the same Mike I met walking up Lyn fan Fach a couple of weeks back? I was out taking pics 
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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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| danmar94 wrote: |
| Am off in Feb for 3 weeks and can't wait!! @MikePow the same Mike I met walking up Lyn fan Fach a couple of weeks back? I was out taking pics |
Yep. The very same 😀
Small world, but I wouldn't like to paint it 😉
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I got a new Dakine Fall Line Double for my skis (one pair) and will put in it all my stuff as well. Question: should I also put my skiing boots into it or take it with my as a carry-on luggage? Comfort vs risk of delayed/lost boots? One connection only at Narita (same for arriving to and leaving from) to Sapporo.
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@mooney058, How long is your stop over at Narita?
The first time I went it through Tokyo it was 1.5 hours, and everything was fine. The second time it was the same 1.5 hours, but it took 1 hour for everyone’s ski bags to appear, then security wanted every ski bag opened (not standard bags), so everyone had to run the length of the terminal to make the gate.
I guess the question is, how customised are your boots? Can you actually ski in rental boots. If your bag was delayed, you’ll have no clothing and no gear, so unless you go on a buying spree, you won’t be skiing anyway until your bag turns up.
Personally my boots are highly customised so they always go as hand luggage, otherwise I won’t be skiing.
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@PowderAdict, 1 hour 40 minutes (assuming no delays with the first leg to Tokyo). I always take my boots as hand luggage when flying in Europe. I wear my ski jacket on a flight, put some essentials into a ski bag so that I would be +/- covered.
I thought that it would be no big deal as I have never travelled that far and not sure of how terrible the jet-lag will be so could possibly live without my ski stuff for a day before I recover. Still pondering whether to risk it or not. But then again, it is the ski trip of the year, so why risk .... I know I sound crazy while talking to myself 
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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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@mooney058, boots in hand luggage, you wouldn't want a trip of a lifetime ruined by ill fitting boots. face shots fix jet lag
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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My trip to Japan in Feb was the first time I’ve left Europe, I found the jet lag got me for a good 3 or 4 days and the problem wasn’t being tired during the day so much as waking up at 2-3am starving hungry as that was my usual dinner time and not being able to get to sleep. Cue wondering over to the seicomart and buying katsu chicken curry and wine along with all the pissed aussies to try and knock myself out. I was fine after about day 5.
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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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| PowderAdict wrote: |
@mooney058, How long is your stop over at Narita?
The first time I went it through Tokyo it was 1.5 hours, and everything was fine. The second time it was the same 1.5 hours, but it took 1 hour for everyone’s ski bags to appear, then security wanted every ski bag opened (not standard bags), so everyone had to run the length of the terminal to make the gate.
I guess the question is, how customised are your boots? Can you actually ski in rental boots. If your bag was delayed, you’ll have no clothing and no gear, so unless you go on a buying spree, you won’t be skiing anyway until your bag turns up.
Personally my boots are highly customised so they always go as hand luggage, otherwise I won’t be skiing. |
??? Am I alone in flying in a lot of ski wear/in hand luggage that delayed luggage means ski hire and annoyance but not much else?
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You know it makes sense.
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Weathercam - we took ABS bags (BA and then separate internal flights with Peach Airlines) - no problem at all.
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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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Landed in Narita, collected ski bag for about 200m to Black Cat Couriers, booked bag in with return flight details, payed. Spent Chrimbo in Tokyo and then flew to Niseko were ski bag waiting at hotel. After skiing NewYear bag, as booked, collected to be waiting at Narita. Only problem with the whole experience was that BCC collection point was at the opposite end of the check in to BAs oversized baggage drop off. Over all an excellent service and hassel free, yes it costs a little but remind yourself you're on holiday.
Didn't put my boots in the bag only because, with our skis, poles gloves and goggles plus all my other kit, it would have weighed too much (+32kg).
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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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@mooney058, I seem to get jetlag worse than most. Main problem I found was feeling very spaced out and tired in the afternoons and it was almost impossible to stop myself falling asleep about 5pm after getting back from skiing (would then wake up again for dinner). I don't truly feel i'm over the jetlag for about 10 days. Since going East leads to tiredness in the evenings that means early nights and not much beer for me, although that's probably not such a bad thing!
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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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@musehead, that 5pm nap is probably not helping, go for a walk or something around that time and see if you can stay up!! I find a snack helps if feeling spaced out.
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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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| Idris wrote: |
| PowderAdict wrote: |
@mooney058, How long is your stop over at Narita?
The first time I went it through Tokyo it was 1.5 hours, and everything was fine. The second time it was the same 1.5 hours, but it took 1 hour for everyone’s ski bags to appear, then security wanted every ski bag opened (not standard bags), so everyone had to run the length of the terminal to make the gate.
I guess the question is, how customised are your boots? Can you actually ski in rental boots. If your bag was delayed, you’ll have no clothing and no gear, so unless you go on a buying spree, you won’t be skiing anyway until your bag turns up.
Personally my boots are highly customised so they always go as hand luggage, otherwise I won’t be skiing. |
??? Am I alone in flying in a lot of ski wear/in hand luggage that delayed luggage means ski hire and annoyance but not much else? |
No you are not. When I went to Sauze one year my bag did not show up in Turin with me, cue much stress and worry before it was ceremoniously dumped on the street outside my hotel by tour reps from inghams later that evening even though the rep had my phone number and I was waiting for the call to say they had it (it hadn't been loaded onto the plane and was sent later on another one). Ever since this experience I ensure I have gloves, goggles, a few snowboard socks, my snowboard pants and hat in my hand luggage and wear my snowboard jacket so that I have everything I need except for my boots and board so should they not turn up/go missing I could always hire those but have the rest. Anyway Japan, it's awesome!
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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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Dumping
In Naeba, Nigata
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hearing epic reports from Niseko ❄️❄️❄️
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@Idris, almost as much as Chamonix 😉
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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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Past the 4m mark at village level.
En route, skiing Tuesday.
Watch This Space! 😉
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@BobinCH, have you been speaking to my daughter ?!
Here she is on skype right now...report to follow
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FAQ
