 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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| rayscoops wrote: |
right, that is it, I am heading out to Japan  ..... when does the season finish ? |
First week in May for the resort.
Mid-March for pow.
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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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Linds, If you are in touch with them, tell them 'Recuperating Knee Boy in Guernsey' says hello to Olly, Big John and Jules I'm sure they will have come across them by now and none of the F*ckers have replied to my texts probably cos they are having too much fun!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Blimey, that powder looks superb!!!
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The pics and footage on the blog IS NOT THE EXCEPTION 
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We're now back, but I'm absolutely knackered. Full(ish) report to follow when I find where the camera ended up.
Gsyfreerider, Olly, Jules and John were in my group at the WSA; I've got to say we had a ball - never stopped laughing, drinking, taking face shots. You'd have hated it.
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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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Awesome powder for nine consecutive days.
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spyderjon, Mosha Marc excellent. Glad you had an awesome time. How's Warren?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Mosha Marc, you poor b*gger being stuck with those muppets for ten days, they are over this weekend for my 40th bash so I'm sure I'll get the lowdown on the trip. From what I saw on the video blogs it looked awful so I'm glad I didn't go, just the nine days of powder, I think I'd be asking for a refund....
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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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rob@rar, lets just say he's changing his user name to archilles
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Mosha Marc, tendon or fracture?
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You know it makes sense.
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rob@rar, I'm afraid it's the tendon. Pesky bushes.
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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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| Mosha Marc wrote: |
| rob@rar, I'm afraid it's the tendon. |
Oh dear! 
Indeed. I got intimate with one earlier this season although not quite with such unfortunate consequences.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Taking measurements from Niseko Now, as of 01 March 2010 Hirafu is up to 13.1m of snowfall at village level so far this season.
The February snowfall was a decent 2.6m  even with a week of no snow at the end of the month.
The 20cm that fell on St David's Day (today, the national day of Wales) could be the start of a massive March in the Niseko Resort Area.
Fingers crossed.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Taking measurements from Niseko Now, as of 14 March 2010 Hirafu has hit its 'average' with snowfall at village level of 14.1m so far this season.
A metre has fallen in the first two weeks of March, with more forecast.
A 15m winter is a distinct possibility 
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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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Hi Mike,
What days are you going out next year, and where would you recommend staying for the the best deal?
Thanks
George
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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.
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Elliot_Simcock, the condtions look totally amazing. Does it ever stop snowing up there? Do you ever get any sun or is it constant whiteout?
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bobinch, March gets a few more days of sun compared to Dec Jan & Feb, there is never really a whiteout as such (definition on the slope is great 99% of the time), just cloudy and lots of snow.
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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 picking up where Mike Pow left off, great to see some videos too!
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Elliot_Simcock, didn't you see the big "No Skiing" sign when you ducked the ropes under that chair?
Me neither
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for the videos and the photos. Every time I look at this thread I'm on the verge of booking flights. Maybe next season if I can find two or three people to travel out with...
One thing which has struck me in these photos is the relative lack of very steep terrain (a good thing in my book). How does the terrain in Niseko compare to a typical Euro resort? Are there lots of steeps but they don't get into these photos, or is the terrain a bit gentler on average?
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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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rob@rar, For the 20th or so of January Ben @ Japan Ski Experience made me up a package for £1500 inc flights from Scotland, transfers, accommodation (of a decent standard) and a lift pass. Just so happens that I couldn't make it due to other commitments and other peoples other commitments but I think that is a fantastic deal. If you are looking in to it then I would give him an email (I can dig out the quote etc if you want it).
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rob@rar, the other thing I have noticed is lots of tree's not many big open bowls/faces like you can find in many European resorts for long off piste descents....
I'm not sure one trip to Japan would be better than 2 or 3 trips to Europe (complete guess on costs).......
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You know it makes sense.
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| kitenski wrote: |
| rob@rar, the other thing I have noticed is lots of tree's not many big open bowls/faces like you can find in many European resorts for long off piste descents.... |
Agreed, although I think snow quality would make up for it (assuming typical conditions) the lack of long descents.
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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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arv, could you PM me the quote? Idle curiosity at the moment, but interesting to look at.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| kitenski wrote: |
| rob@rar, the other thing I have noticed is lots of tree's not many big open bowls/faces like you can find in many European resorts for long off piste descents.... |
Agreed, although I think snow quality would make up for it (assuming typical conditions) the lack of long descents. |
Playing devils advocate, and IIRC Mike and Elliots reports from the previous years they do get some time with rain/no new snow......
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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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| kitenski wrote: |
| Playing devils advocate, and IIRC Mike and Elliots reports from the previous years they do get some time with rain/no new snow...... |
Of course. Same with all resorts though. You gratefully accept whatever the snowgods dole out. I think the odds of getting decent snow in Niseko are better than Europe if you look at the snow record, although I agree that past performance is no guarantee of future results.
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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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rob@rar, terrain is not a steep as Europe in general but there are some steep shorter pitches to be found if you know where to look.
as for flights i fly Cathay Pacific £520 return from Heathrow --> Hong Kong (3hr stop over) --> Sapporo (1hr 20mins from resort).
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Wed 24-03-10 16:31; edited 1 time in total
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Elliot_Simcock, thanks, and please keep posting photos and videos. You've almost got me arranging a trip ...
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Mosha Marc, it was under the lift that connects the right and left side of Furano, yeah if we had got caught we would have been in a bit of trouble.
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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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Elliot
Furano looks rubbish
rob@rar
| Quote: |
| One thing which has struck me in these photos is the relative lack of very steep terrain (a good thing in my book). How does the terrain in Niseko compare to a typical Euro resort? Are there lots of steeps but they don't get into these photos, or is the terrain a bit gentler on average? |
Most of the Hokkaido resorts are comparable to the lower lying Austrian and Bavarian resorts in my experience.
500-800m of vert, mostly treed, up to mid 30s in pitch, with the odd open bowl. There is steeper terrain - even in Niseko - but not for extended vert.
But because the snow is so light you don't need a steep pitch to ski the depth of snow that Hokkaido consistetly gets. In the past 4 winters that I've been living there / watching the season develop, the lowest annual snowfall has been 12.1m
Yes the resorts get rain. More than Vail, not as much as Whistler. But it normally lasts a day and within a couple of days you wouldn't know it had rained.
This season, the longest dry spell since mid-November has been 7 days.
There is more challenging skiing north of Niseko in Kurodake, Asahidake and Tokachidake.
kitenski
| Quote: |
| I'm not sure one trip to Japan would be better than 2 or 3 trips to Europe (complete guess on costs)....... |
I've skied a little in Europe, S America and NZ and extensively in the fabled powder resorts of Utah, Colorado, Montana, Washington and British Columbia and Hokkaido wins hands down in quality, quantity and consistency.
If you're looking for the best powder then head to Hokkaido.
If you're looking for great powder and steeps, then head to Nagano or Niigata.
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
kitenski
| Quote: |
| I'm not sure one trip to Japan would be better than 2 or 3 trips to Europe (complete guess on costs)....... |
I've skied a little in Europe, S America and NZ and extensively in the fabled powder resorts of Utah, Colorado, Montana, Washington and British Columbia and Hokkaido wins hands down in quality, quantity and consistency.
If you're looking for the best powder then head to Hokkaido.
If you're looking for great powder and steeps, then head to Nagano or Niigata. |
no, no I am trying to convince myself I really don't need to go
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