Hi all,
I'm starting to plan a snowboarding trip around late January/Feb 2014 for 10 days or so and am trying to decide where to base myself.
I am an experienced snowboarder, but would not say I am ultra-advanced. But I am experienced enough to hold my own in all conditions I have found myself in. I have been boarding around 15 years with 3-5 days per year average. I kitesurf/surf etc so my whole life is and has been based around board sports. However I have never done any serious backcountry or super steep riding. I have only really ridden in Australia, with a few days in Chile and a few days in Europe.
So basically what I am looking for is a resort that meets my list of priorities in order below. Now I know I am at the whim of nature, and nothing is guaranteed. I have traveled enough for surfing, kiting and paragliding to know you can never depend on mother nature, BUT I want to go to a place in which I am the most likely to experience the below priorities.
1) Powder. Doesn't have to be thigh (or even knee) deep powder (although that would be nice). But powder is the reason I am going to Japan. I want somewhere where I have a very high probablility of powder.
2) Untracked Off-piste. Tree runs ideally!! I am adventurous but not extreme. My ideal picture of snowboarding is through trees in powder. Nothing super steep and gnarly. I'm not looking for secluded back country boarding where no one has been before. A resort that allows me to go off piste a bit, where I don't need a beacon or need to know much about safety. I don't care if it is not new and if there are other people around, but I don't want to be confined to groomed runs, or limited to off piste that is tracked out by midday.
3) Terrain and Variety. I don't need (or want) super steep terrain, but steep enough where I can ride without having to (at least not often) unclip and walk out 500 meters. I don't need a huge resort either. I am only planning on going for 10 days max (and maybe 3 or 4 of those days I will go to smaller resorts such as Asahidake or Miowa). If I find a tree run that I can keep taking different lines to make fresh tracks, I am happy to do that same run for half the day!
5) Culture/Adventure. I know Japan has amazing culture and awesome scenery, but I spent all last year travelling for culture. This trip, I will just be here to ride!!! So if the best option is to be in a Westernised town, surrounded by other Aussies, then so be it. I don't need to venture out to see different areas/resorts and landscapes. I just want to board in un-tracked powder, everything else is secondary.
6) Location I am not afraid to get myself off the beaten track where I am not likely to find many other English speakers (if that is where I am the most likely to find a resort that meets the above priorities). BUT, I will only have around 10 days, so it must be not too far away from an airport. Ultimately I want to land at an international airport and be at my destination that same night for the next full day worth of boarding!
6) Low-Mid Budget options. A village/town where I can find a reasonably priced private room (shared bathroom ok) and cheap-ish meals. Not mad keen on dorms though, but will take them if it is a must. Hoping to spend under $1500 US not including international flights for 10 days (lift tickets, internal buses, food and accommodation). Is this doable in private rooms?
Hope you all can help me pick a resort :-) At this stage I am looking to spend the first 6-7 days at one resort, and I'm leaning towards either Niesko or Rusutsu based on the research I have done. However, I am more than open to any other options if people think there are better places that will meet my priorities above.
After the 6-7 days at the main resort, I will probably spend 3 days at smaller resorts (Miowa, Asahidake etc.) but I will post again with specific questions about that. I am just hoping for some info on the main, bigger resort that I will base myself in at the moment
Cheers,
Tom
I'm starting to plan a snowboarding trip around late January/Feb 2014 for 10 days or so and am trying to decide where to base myself.
I am an experienced snowboarder, but would not say I am ultra-advanced. But I am experienced enough to hold my own in all conditions I have found myself in. I have been boarding around 15 years with 3-5 days per year average. I kitesurf/surf etc so my whole life is and has been based around board sports. However I have never done any serious backcountry or super steep riding. I have only really ridden in Australia, with a few days in Chile and a few days in Europe.
So basically what I am looking for is a resort that meets my list of priorities in order below. Now I know I am at the whim of nature, and nothing is guaranteed. I have traveled enough for surfing, kiting and paragliding to know you can never depend on mother nature, BUT I want to go to a place in which I am the most likely to experience the below priorities.
1) Powder. Doesn't have to be thigh (or even knee) deep powder (although that would be nice). But powder is the reason I am going to Japan. I want somewhere where I have a very high probablility of powder.
2) Untracked Off-piste. Tree runs ideally!! I am adventurous but not extreme. My ideal picture of snowboarding is through trees in powder. Nothing super steep and gnarly. I'm not looking for secluded back country boarding where no one has been before. A resort that allows me to go off piste a bit, where I don't need a beacon or need to know much about safety. I don't care if it is not new and if there are other people around, but I don't want to be confined to groomed runs, or limited to off piste that is tracked out by midday.
3) Terrain and Variety. I don't need (or want) super steep terrain, but steep enough where I can ride without having to (at least not often) unclip and walk out 500 meters. I don't need a huge resort either. I am only planning on going for 10 days max (and maybe 3 or 4 of those days I will go to smaller resorts such as Asahidake or Miowa). If I find a tree run that I can keep taking different lines to make fresh tracks, I am happy to do that same run for half the day!
5) Culture/Adventure. I know Japan has amazing culture and awesome scenery, but I spent all last year travelling for culture. This trip, I will just be here to ride!!! So if the best option is to be in a Westernised town, surrounded by other Aussies, then so be it. I don't need to venture out to see different areas/resorts and landscapes. I just want to board in un-tracked powder, everything else is secondary.
6) Location I am not afraid to get myself off the beaten track where I am not likely to find many other English speakers (if that is where I am the most likely to find a resort that meets the above priorities). BUT, I will only have around 10 days, so it must be not too far away from an airport. Ultimately I want to land at an international airport and be at my destination that same night for the next full day worth of boarding!
6) Low-Mid Budget options. A village/town where I can find a reasonably priced private room (shared bathroom ok) and cheap-ish meals. Not mad keen on dorms though, but will take them if it is a must. Hoping to spend under $1500 US not including international flights for 10 days (lift tickets, internal buses, food and accommodation). Is this doable in private rooms?
Hope you all can help me pick a resort :-) At this stage I am looking to spend the first 6-7 days at one resort, and I'm leaning towards either Niesko or Rusutsu based on the research I have done. However, I am more than open to any other options if people think there are better places that will meet my priorities above.
After the 6-7 days at the main resort, I will probably spend 3 days at smaller resorts (Miowa, Asahidake etc.) but I will post again with specific questions about that. I am just hoping for some info on the main, bigger resort that I will base myself in at the moment
Cheers,
Tom