An ordeal

Sat morning everyone was all packed up ready to go, half the crew were on a 9 am bus to Sapporo to meet flights and half at 10am. Half of the first crew were going to Tokyo for a few days and half thru to Aus or NZ, same in the 2nd crew. It was still snowing heavily and the wind was blowing hard with most of the lifts on hold. The 2 hr bus ride was slowing going with the conditions, and one car that attempted to overtake our bus spun out and off the road into a snow bank right in front of us. We arrived at the airport and checked in to find out that most of the first crew had got out on the last flight before the weather window had closed. Pete was the only one left from that crew who was on a different flight, which had been cancelled. the rest of us were on a JAL flight to Tokyo. We boarded the plane fairly late, then sat on the tarmac with snow dumping down. I was keen to get on our way, but was a little worried about the weather. After an hour or so, they pulled us off the plane. we had to wait at the gate, as the flight was delayed, not cancelled. After waiting for 3 hours with out eh flight being cancelled, the call was finally made. During this time we had been desperately trying to find hotel rooms, with no luck, the whole place was booked out due to flights being cancelled all day. It looked like we wouldn't get out till Monday. So, we heard from the crew who made it to Tokyo that Pete had booked on the train to Tokyo, sweet. We get down to the station and get tickets and wait. The station is actually closed due to the snow so there loads of people piling up in the station. When they opened the platform we all rush down and cram onto a commuter train to get to Sapporo station to get the first train of our journey. We stand on that train for an hr or more, waiting for snow to be cleared. we end up making it to the next station where we can meet our train. That train gets cancelled, but another train comes thru that some Japaneses people tell us is going half way to where we want to go, so rather then get stuck in this freezing train station we go for it. Stomping thru 3 feet of snow on the platform we jump on the train. It's full, fi and i manage to score seats at the very back of the train, the boys , Adam, Tom and Pete are in the compartments between carriages. We go about 4-5kms and stop. And there we stay, for 13hrs. No food, no water. 20 below outside, the wind rocking the train side to side( it was a tilt train) we all spent the night sleeping fitfullly and dreaming of food and moving trains only to wake up and find ourselves hungry and in the same spot. We finally moved at around midday on Sunday, 20mins later we stopped again, for an hour. Eventually we got moving and got out of the wind that had kept us stuck for so long. At a station and hour or so along they loaded on a pile of drinks and started handing them out along with space food stick type snack bars. When we got to the trains final stop, we had 5 mins to make our next connection, there were TV crews on the platform trying to interview people as they came off. The crazy thing was none of the Japanese complained, on the train or to the TV crews. If it had happened in a western country, there would have been a riot on that train, for sure. So we make the next train, but still no food, we get drinks from a cart on the train and some snack foods. After another 3 hours or so( lost sense of time along here somewhere) we change trains again, only just making it to meet a Shinkansen( bullet train) for the final leg to Tokyo. Pete points out after 1 1/2 hours that we had already traveled further then we had to meet this train, it did go over 350Kms/hr. After what seemed like eternity we arrived in Tokyo at 11.30 pm Sunday night. We had left Niseko at 10 am Saturday morning, so we had been going for 37 1/2 hours, and it had been 34 hrs since we had eaten a proper meal.
We all took cabs to our hotels and crashed out. Lesson learned, be careful what you wish for, more snow can be great while you're on the hill, but once you start traveling it can shut down your whole world.

Back to Wanaka tomrrow, looking forward to my own bed.

Matt

The last days of shredding

Well thursday last week dawned as a good powder day, but turned out to be quite heavy going with wettish snow about 20-30cms deep. But as the temp dropped during the day the snow actually got much better, drying out and getting lighter. So the arvo runs were great, with good lines to be had thru the trees out wide off the gondy of goodness. There were good sections of untracked snow down low and we all made the most of them. Friday was a funny day, with anyone riding up high playing snowboarding gorillas in the mist. Suffice to say the vis was craptastic, at times down to 3 or 4 meters. But most soldiered on, it being the last day, so after an early lunch, we pushed out a bunch of runs off the gondola as the fog moved up high with the trees adding to the better vis. Thankfully the snow was holding up and there was plenty of soft chopped up pow to play in. As we arrived back at the chalet, the snow came in, hard. Always the way isn't it. So we made the most of it and went for an onsen(Japanese natural outdoor hotpools) with heavy snow pouring down and a cold beer in hand, it was a great way to end our time in Niseko. Then came the journey to Tokyo, which i'll get to next

Matt

Wednesday recap

Sadly no new snow on wednesday, but we did have a very nice sunny day. The snow actually held up really well, and we were able to find plenty of soft snow in the trees under the gondola.
Wee Alex had her first ever day on skis and absolutely loved it, no doubt she'll be back shredding powder with her mum and dad in years to come.
Wednesday was also Brenda's birthday, so after a great day of riding we all got together for dinner at the chalets, Brenda, Tony and Fi put together an awesome spread, with some great champagne and wine and lots of drinks. A bloody great night all round.

Matt

Let is shine

It had to stop some time, though we wish it didn't. After 6 days of constant snow the sun came out monday morning. Prue and Fi arrived Sunday night, so they were happy to have good visibility to get their bearings. The snow was actually really good, with off trail snow still soft and chalky and the groomers running like a dream. Tuesday dawned the same as Monday with blue skies and sunshine. So it was late starts for most of the crew, with a couple of us taking the day off to get over colds and have a rest after 9 straight days of riding. It was Brentski's last day so he got out there eventually. Tuesday night saw a big cook up at the chalet for everyone, which went down a treat. It's now Wednesday morning and Chris is working his breakfast magic ( he is the egg master) and the sun is out again, so it should be a nice day on the hill, foercast is for more snow tonight and tomorrow, so hopefully we'll get a couple of powder days for our last 2 days riding before we head out of Niseko. Matt

Weather is a funny thing

It can change everything very quickly. It snowed most of the night again so there was some great snow to be had, but the top chairs were all on hold due to high wind so the gondola was rammed, with a 20 min wait to get on. we blasted out as many runs as we could in the morning getting some great turns through the same spots as yesterday. Headed to A Bu cha for lunch then home to meet Fi who was turning up for the 2nd week. The arvo saw things warm up and then snow again after we had some great blue bird patches this morning, which gave us opportunity to get some good video footage earlier. Tony went for a powder skiing lesson this arvo which worked wonders, but he did notice the snow getting heavier as the day went on. It's been snowing on and off all arvo, hopefully we'll see some more freshies for tomorrow. The wee one in the pics is little Alex the trip mascot ( james and vics little girl) she has us all enchanted and is the most friendly toddler i've meet, keen to hang out and chat(baby talk only but highly entertaining) with everyone. She'll be having her first day on skis later this week hopefully, we're all rooting for her, if she's got half her dad's skills on skis she'll kill it.

Looking like a day trip to Rusutsu on tuesday, so here's hoping for more snow.

Matt

All time

It doesn't get better then this. woke up to more new snow, got an early start and hit the gondola first up with Chris, Lee, Tom and Adam. Bombed the tree lines off the gondola first up getting fresh lines thru 40-50cm of fresh untracked pow all morning. Made our way to the non mtn affiliated cafe under the gondola run by the cool old Japanese family and found some of the best lines of the day on the way there with super deep snow all the way. It was still snowing by the way, still is, hasn't stopped in 5 days. Just while we ate lunch another 15-20cms fell, it just kept snowing so hard today it was unbelievable, the hardest I've ever seen snow fall. More then 40cm would have fallen during the day easily. We were getting face shots riding the groomed trail back to the gondola! After lunch we hit the lines we found on the way to the cafe over and over in waist deep pow, then decided to venture out wide again where we'd been in the morning, and all our tracks had been filled in and there was no one out there. We had to hit it a couple of times the snow was so good, crazy dry, ridiculously deep and untracked. I had 2 of the best runs of my life after 2.30 in the arvo!!?? Nuts! By that stage we were totally thrashed, laughing and hooting all the way, half frozen and totally stoked. There's no better place to ride pow then here, period. best day riding ever.

And tomorrow?? Well it's still snowing so more of the same.... sweeet

Matt

Epic.......

The Only word for it really. Everyone got some serious goods today. As the the crew continue to relive the todays magic conditions over numerous tasty japanese ales. It's still snowing, has been for 4 days, and should continue for another few. After yesterdays closures a lot of peeps were up early to get the first gondola but there was plenty for everyone, with the trees under the gondola providing the best snow conditions of the day, easily knee to waist deep depending on the aspect. There were still fresh lines to be had even after 3 this afternoon. Only blemish on the day was a small cras i had with adam where he hit my shin with edge, 2nd or 3rd run. totally forgot about it untill taking my socks off at the end of the day and noticed blood. On closer inspection found i had a small hole in my shin, luckily we had resident ER doctor Vic on hand to put a couple of stitches in for me. very handy have a doctor in the house, especially one who brings supplies, local anesthetic included!
Sorry there's no action shots, we were too busy shredding Pow. though there will be some video of the day loaded onto the site soon.

Should be just as good tomorrow, i love japan!

Matt

Ahhh bugger

Well, hopes were high, an early start was made but the weather gods got the best of us with high winds closing all the gondolas. Only four chairs were open across the resort for most of today, all very short and down low. The snowboard boys played board luge down the streets back to the lodge, with lee boy race winner. The ski boys waited in the cafe under the gondola station hoping for it to start up to no avail. Mid arvo the ace quad opened, but at half speed, making it the slowest chairlift on the planet, and with high winds and freezing temperatures a surprising number of people were having a go. Which also meant a super long queue. Only Wayne managed some good runs but it took him 2 1/2 hrs to get 3 in. The gondola opened around 4pm but by then the crew had scattered around niseko village and kutchan town.
But all is not lost, it snowed all night and day, and is still snowing tonight. Most of the mountain was shut and the forecast is for the winds to ease, so we're looking at some seriously deep snow tomorrow. Fingers crossed the snow continues falling, but the wind stops.

Might be time to get out the snorkel.....

Matt

The Goodness Begins

It snowed...... and then it snowed some more. Plenty of freshies for all today with the whole crew getting amongst it. The gondie of goodness was prime poaching grounds for most, with the ski boys getting some good lines in stawberry fileds on hanazono side. A couple of the top chairs were closed today due to heavy snow and high winds, so tree runs were the order of the day. But will be hitting them up first thing tomorrow, a day and night of wind loading should see some waist deep pow in action.
Got most of the crew (15 of 17) to Big Cliff for dinner tonight for some super tasty yakitory, Vic and james had a babysitter for little Alex. They were both stoked to get out for the local delights.
The snow is still dumping down and we're all getting overly amped about shredding the goodness tomorrow. Check in for the pics tomorrow.

PS, my bags finally arrived today, thanks qantas..............not

matt

Delayed, Rerouted, Lost

It began well, with an easy couple of flghts up to Ak from Wanaka, then a great BBQ with Hamish on Thursday night. Then early friday morning ew headed to the airport for our flights to Japan. we met lee at the airport, checked in, then chris and Lee left me to take their airnz flight to Osaka. I boarded my qantas flight to Osaka via Sydney. Then, there was a problem, a technical problem. So we sat on the plane for 2 hrs, then we disembarked. by this stage i had missed my connecting flight in Sydney. Then we waited another 2 1/2hrs before flying off to sydney. once in Sydney i find that i have been rerouted thru singapore to Osaka, landing 1 hr before my next connection thru to sapporo. so rather then arriving at 8pm sat night and spending a night in osaka, i'm landing at 7am the next day. So i wait in Sydney for another 4 hrs before boarding my flight to singapore. I get thru Singapore smoothly, then get on my next flight to Osaka. I go to collect my bags, and...... no dice. Actually no bags. I fill out the missing bags forms and rush to meet the next flight and find Chris and Lee waiting. we get thru to sapporo easily then wait for another 1 hr before the 2 hr bus ride to Niseko. 34hrs of constant travel and i finally make it to Niseko. Despite having to rent board, boots bindings and pants, and buy everything else the whole crew, myself included have a killer day riding today, with blue bird conditions ( see right) making it easy for all to get their bearings. Forecast is for a lot of snow over the next few days.
Current baggage status is, board bag might be here tomorrow night. Suitcase is missing in action. Thank god for travel Insurance.

Matt

One more Sleep!!!

Gday Team,

well there's only one more sleep before Chris, Myself and Brentski start our journey north to the wonderful powder haven that is Niseko on the north island of Japan. Keep an eye on the blog as we will be updating daily( if not too wasted from shredding shoulder deep mega pow) and adding pics and hopefully video as well. We have a crew of 17 of us over the 2 weeks in Niseko so there should be plenty of action to report on.
We should be cutting our first turns sometime sunday morning, and should be looking a lot like this guy to the right here, but with a bigger grin.

peace
Matt

Rippon Festival delivers the goods

Hey all,

What a rippa Rippon was on saturday. The morning dawned grey and cloudy but, as usual, Wanaka turned on the glorious weather and by 2 the sun was shining and the view was as spectacular as ever.
Highlights for me were Eru Dangerspiel, Shapeshifter and Kora, but all the bands put on a great show.
The Base crew was well represented on the day, with all staff bar one getting down to the funky tunes.
Big props to all the volunteers and event crew for making the whole thing happen, especially Sam G for her tireless work.

If you missed it, make sure you get there for 2010