dreampow

This was my first trip this season so I wasn't expecting too much.
Just to get back into the swing of riding.
Until a week ago there was only 40cm of snow on the upper slopes and it wasn't looking good. Then it started to dump we had 80cm a few nights before my trip and while I was there another 80~100cm of fresh pow.

The first two days it never stopped snowing. Also because these were week days at the start of the season there was hardly anyone there. You can see from the pics it was just empty.

Still not quite deep enough to get into the real side country around the resort as it needs 2 meters plus of solid snow before you can get in there without worrying about the smaller trees and bushes.

On the first and second day there was 10~20cm of fresh on all the pistes anyway so I just played around there getting back into the feel of riding. They also have a number of designated natural powder areas where they cut down the vegetation like a regular piste, but they never pack down the snow with any machinery.

First two days it was light and fluffy and the 3rd day the sun came out and it started to get a bit heavy and sticky. The only footage I got was when it got a little sticky and mogulled out towards the end of the last day.
Just can't be bothered to take videos when the pow is so epic.



I was riding my Ride Highlife (158 2011) with 2011 Burton cartels. I had my bindings set back one notch from centered.
I bought the board at the end of last season and I am really enjoying it. It kills the pow even with a tiny setback. Its also stiff enough to stay in control at high speed down some pretty steep mogully terrain. On the other hand its pretty versatile and playful compared to a pow stick. You can spin and grab easily because its light and has a low swing weight, presses take some effort but can be done. It has good pop of natural features if you know how to get it.
Riding switch is easy once you get used to it (its a directional twin) and I do so on the easier and intermediate terrain to give my body a rounded work out and take some strain of my rear leg.

A friend of mine came on the trip and boarded for the first time. I taught him and he was doing turns by the end of the first day. Pretty smooth down beginner slopes after 3 days.

This is my fourth season on a board and I would welcome advice or tips on how to improve my riding.

Sudden_Death

I have no real advice to you, just wanted to say how awesome that looks. And not running over the fresh snow with heavy machines? That's the kind of thinking we need around here.

dreampow

Its an awesome place and gets pretty regular powder through the next two to three months. I have my season pass and will be heading up as much as I can. They groom most of the pistes, but they have a few designated that they leave alone. They are also the steeper areas. They also leave nice strips of pow at the sides of the pistes which is great.

WasatchMan

that 3rd pic from the bottom looks really fun right now!

killclimbz

Looks pretty damn fine DP! You should get yourself some helmet cam just to make it easier to get some footy on those days when you don't really want to stop to film. Japan seems to be the place to be this season for sure.