198 replies to this topic

[snowjunky]

Congrats Nerys

[MikePow]

Thanks snowjunky, passed on your congrats.


DAY 106 : WEDNESDAY 11 APRIL 2012

0 cm of new snow on the deck at MQ in Higashiyama.


A grey and misty start to the day in the Niseko Resort Area, with rain not far behind.

We don't ski in the rain, so a day trip to the port town of Iwanai was in order.

First stop the base area of the closed Niseko Iwanai ski resort. Still top to bottom coverage and a great day day out bootpacking or skinning to the summit of Iwanai-dake.

JUST BACKGROUND INFO. IT'S CLOSED.

http://www.town.iwan...p/?page_id=6534


Then just down the road to see the Picasso exhibition at the Arai Memorial Art Museum, only to find out that it's closed until May.

http://www.town.iwan...aido.jp/?p=1264


Then we tried the Kinjiro Kida Art Museum, but that doesn't reopen after refurbishment until Saturday.

http://www.town.iwan...aido.jp/?p=1262


So we drove down to the port and had a walk on the sea wall.

Nerys on the sea wall at Iwanai








When we got back to Kutchan we called in to Yotei Maru sushi train restaurant for lunch. Fabulous.

Nerys enjoying herring at Yotei Maru sushi train restaurant, Kutchan




and deep fried octopus tentacles. Get 'em while they're hot!




Tempura prawn rolls





The conveyor belt at Yotei Maru

[DoctorOctopus]

Was just looking over this last night Mike.
Great pics and stuff.
Cheers.

[SwingingSaru]

top stuff mike

[MikePow]

Thanks DoctorOctopus and SwingingSaru

[MikePow]

DAY 107 : THURSDAY 12 APRIL 2012

0 cm of new snow on the deck at MQ in Higashiyama.


THE RETURN OF THE NERI

Nerys' fifth day on snow for this trip and 14th day in total.

Another gloriously sunny Spring day at Kiroro with Nerys.

Nerys skiing the Nagamine #2-A Course (red run) at Kiroro





















Nerys skiing the Nagamine #2-A Course (red run) at Kiroro





















A quick stop for a can of coffee at the Nagamine lodge and then Nerys' first time on the steeper and longer Nagamine #2-B Course (red run). She nailed it.

Nerys skiing the Nagamine #2-B Course (red run)





















Big strides for Nerys today. Well actually lots of little steps as she deftly and progressively 'walked' down the mountain skiing parallel more consisently through the curve of the turn(s) even on the steeper sections of red runs.

Disciplined yet relaxed and far more dynamic.

[MikePow]

DAY 108 : FRIDAY 13 APRIL 2012

0 cm of new snow on the deck at MQ in Higashiyama.


Friday the 13th, keep Nerys off the slopes!

Only kidding. A grey and misty start to the day in the Niseko Resort Area, so Nerys and I took a drive over to the Lake Toya area. Thankfully the weather improved as we got nearer.

First stop The Windsor Hotel, host to the dignitaries and their spouses for the 2008 G8 Summit.

http://www.windsor-hotels.co.jp/en/


It's a magnificent hotel in a magnificent setting, Lake Toya one side and Uchiura Bay and the Pacific Ocean the other.

It even has its own ski area!

Nerys at the Windsor Snow Village
















The view down to Lake Toya





Then it was indoors for a little retail therapy and afternoon tea.

Nerys in Cafe Z, The Windsor Hotel





The cake selection for afternoon tea at Cafe Z, The Windsor Hotel





Hmm, which one?





"I'll have that one!"





Two sandwiches each (ham & cheese and tuna & tomato), coffee, tea, 1 cake, 2 macaroons (rose and violet).

Oishi - delicious.

On the way back to the van we found ourselves in our own snowglobe

[MikePow]

Then it was down to lakeside and the areas devastated by the last Mt Usu volcanic eruption













and on to the Usuzan Gondola

http://wakasaresort....n/en/index.html


Nerys Royal on the Usuzan Gondola










Mt Usu

Nerys Royal heading to the Mt Usu Outer Rim Trail viewing area

[MikePow]

Back in the Gondola base station we were treated to the Seiko Serenade








and Nerys went about making friends

[snowjunky]

Mike

You and Nerys make a handsome couple.



So when are you getting hitched?

[MikePow]

Don't think the world is ready for another "Beauty & the Beast" remake.


DAY 109 : SATURDAY 14 APRIL 2012

0 cm of new snow on the deck at MQ in Higashiyama.


THE RETURN OF THE NERI

Nerys' sixth day on snow for this trip and 15th day in total.

Another sunny Spring day at Kiroro.

The Vist skis Nerys had been using to date were out so we demoed the 2012/13 K2 Superglide in a 153cm.

The 127-80-109 profile is a little wider than the Vist in the shovel and waist by 3mm and combined with the ealy rise rocker made things much easier when the snow changed to a slurpy consistency down low.

I also tried Nerys with a longer set of poles - 115 cm instead of 110 cm - which enabled her to stand taller when she felt the slope below her with the downhill hand.

Nerys was sporting her Spring collection for the first time and there was a spring in her step as she negotiated the green, red and black runs.

Nerys skiing the Asari Dynamic Course (red run) at Kiroro





















Lap 2 on the Asari Dynamic Course (red run) at Kiroro





















A quick stop at the top gondola station for a coffee and then we were back at it













Another great day of Spring skiing on Hokkaido and another day of progress for Nerys.

[MikePow]

DAY 110 : SUNDAY 15 APRIL 2012

0 cm of new snow on the deck at MQ in Higashiyama.


THE RETURN OF THE NERI

Nerys' seventh and final day on snow for this trip and 16th day in total.

Back to Kiroro and the Spring Season Pass (Mate) paid for.

And a second day on the K2 Superglides.

Mild and sunny weather made for an excellent last day of skiing.

Nerys warming up on the Yoichi #1-B Course (green run) at Kiroro







Nerys skiing the Asari Dynamic Course (red run)







Tremendous improvement this holiday for Nerys. Both of us really looking forward to her next time on snow.

In the afternoon we met up with Ian M and his daughter Kyla (aged 7) and son Akira (aged 5) at the Kutchan driving range.

Ian M kindly gave Nerys and I an introductory lesson on his teaching method and it paid immediate dividends.

Nerys playing out of the ruff at Kutchan driving range












Time for the golfers to show us how it's done

Akira













Kyla









If you're a golfer then Hokkaido should be on your radar.

[MikePow]

DAY 111 : MONDAY 16 APRIL 2012

0 cm of new snow on the deck at MQ in Higashiyama.


Our last full day on Hokkaido so no skiing today.

Packing and cleaning my cabin was the order of the day, but we did manage a quick drive on the Niseko Panorama Line (Rt 66) to Moiwa ski area, Chisenupuri ski area, Yukichichibu Onsen and Goshiki Onsen. Setting the scene for Nerys' next visit!

Nerys Royal at Yukichichibu Onsen, Hokkaido




Nerys at Yukichichibu Onsen





The sulphur can be quite overpowering








There's still a little snow left at Yukichichibu Onsen





On the way back to MQ we called in to the Saison Club Cafe.

http://nisekolodge.s...tents/cafe.html


Great coffee, tea & cake in a very chilled setting with views of Mt Yotei.

Some very cool touches in the cafe exemplified by this front door to dining table conversion





DAY 112 : TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2012

0 cm of new snow on the deck at MQ in Higashiyama.


4.30 am start for New Chitose airport.

Ian M kindly drove Nerys and I to the airport and it was fitting that the person who picked me up on what was my best winter professionally and personally dropped me back safe & sound.

Thanks for being such a big part of my winter Ian. Already looking forward to opening day in November.

The progression Nerys has shown has exceeded my wildest expectations (hopes!!!) and she can't wait to return to Hokkaido in mid-December for more turns. Deep powder ones hopefully!

Thanks to everyone I skied with and who patiently waited for me to get photos and video clips of them.

And thanks for reading, watching and commenting.


SNOWFALL

From the day I arrived on Hokkaido last December 28th until today, 9.7 m (382") of snow has fallen at village level in the Niseko Resort Area.

Add in the November and December totals and the snowfall at village level to date is a massive 15.66 m (617").

There could well be more snowfall to come up high before the lifts stop turning but doubtful that any will stick in town to add to this total. Hope I'm proven wrong!

This has been the second snowiest winter in the six seasons I've been collecting data on the Niseko Resort Area, the 2009/10 winter dropped 15.8 m (622").

As a point of reference the average for those six winters is 13.86 m (546") with a SD of 1.61 m (63").

The 'driest' winter was 2008/09 with 12.13 m (478").

Maybe 2012/13 is the winter to visit / revisit Hokkaido.



WEDNESDAY 25 APRIL 2012


It's looking cold, wet, and stormy out of my window this morning.

Pecipitation is never a problem in this part of South Wales we just need an Arctic front to head south.

With any luck I may get late April turns or even May turns for the first time in the Brecon Beacons National Park

http://www.metoffice...t_pressure.html


SR : Wales 2011/12
http://www.snowjapan...-wales-2011-12/


Now that really would complete the circle.

[muikabochi]

Thanks Mike.

Have fun back in Wales.

[snowjunky]

Thanks Mike for great reporting, pics and vids.
Look forward to more later in the year.
Cheers.

[snowbender]

I see the UK is getting flooded now, after the droughts!

[MikePow]

Thanks muikabochi, snowjunky, and snowbender.

[alexeiw123]

I just skim read this thread front to back at work on an extended lunch (don't tell my boss) and I have to say that your commitment on keeping SJ up to date on your time in japan is superb, so many awesome photos and just looks like an all around good time!

Are you planning on going back next season Mike? I'm taking the girlfriend who is a beginner (1 week on snow) to stay in The Vale, Niseko for 9 nights in January. Maybe we will hire you to help build her confidence if you are teaching there again!?

I look forward to searching for some of the lines you've shown in here, reading this thread is going to make my 5 month wait unbearable!! aah!

[MikePow]

Thanks for reading and thanks for your kind comments FamiliaGTX.

PM on its way.