Japan Stoke Thread 2023

17224 Views 373 Replies 30 Participants Last post by JDA, 2 mo ago

JDA

Discussion Starter · 8 mo ago

If you didn't know, all restrictions to enter Japan have now been lifted.

Who is going?
Where are you going?
Have you been before and where?
What board/bindings are you taking?

I can't believe I'm actually going, if you asked me 4 weeks ago we were holding off until 2024 but now myself and 3 other mates have already booked our flights and accommodation for the first week of Feb 2023.

This will be my 7th time to Japan, I've been to around 30 different ski resorts already in areas such as Hakuba, Myoko, Fukushima (Bandai), Yamagata (Zao Onsen) and several resorts up on Hokkaido.

This trip I have 2 first timers coming with me and the only way I could convince them was to keep the trip reasonably short and inexpensive. So we have 7 days on snow in Hakuba Valley and we will be getting 5 consecutive days of lift tickets for free with our Epic pass. We are staying right next to the gondola at the base of Tsugaike Kogan ski resort.

I am taking my Salomon Dancehaul 152 with Now Drive bindings and my Korua Dart 156 with Ride A-10 bindings. Both boards should be good in powder with the Dancehaul having a softer more freestyle focus and the Dart will be great for carving.

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JDA

Discussion Starter · #221 · 4 mo ago

@NT.Thunder I would only go to Ikenotaira a couple of days after it has stopped snowing. It's very flat and the pow needs to settle for you to maintain any speed.

Is there still buses to Arai? That's a solid option.

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NT.Thunder

· #222 · 4 mo ago

Arai Lotte? Maybe I'll check but I've sort of resigned to going back to Sugi again which I've enjoyed, maybe Kanko.

JDA

Discussion Starter · #223 · 4 mo ago

Yes its pretty good, but yeah you can waste a lot of time figuring out new resorts so just go enjoy what you know. Sugi is awesome!

nitro91

· #224 · 4 mo ago

does anyone here use a camelbak or other backpack with reservoir in japan?
Im from aus and i use a normal camelbak but it doesnt get cold enough to freeze.

im guessing a normal one would freeze in japan niseko snow?

MountainMystic

· #225 · 4 mo ago

nitro91 said:
does anyone here use a camelbak or other backpack with reservoir in japan?
Im from aus and i use a normal camelbak but it doesnt get cold enough to freeze.

im guessing a normal one would freeze in japan niseko snow?

Not if it's filled with Vodka or Whisky

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Craig64

· #226 · 4 mo ago

nitro91 said:
does anyone here use a camelbak or other backpack with reservoir in japan?
Im from aus and i use a normal camelbak but it doesnt get cold enough to freeze.

im guessing a normal one would freeze in japan niseko snow?

You have to fight the mouth piece/hose freeze with blow back even with an insulated hose.

www.snowboardingforum.com

CamelBak Milspec Crux/Antidote Hydration Reservoir Review

❄ CamelBak Milspec Crux/Antidote Hydration Reservoir Review (part 1) ❄ Brand: CamelBak ❄ Model: Antidote / Crux, ❄ YOM: Antidote 2018 / Crux 2021, ❄ Size: Antidote 2.0 litre / Crux 1.5 litre, ❄ Price: $Au84.99 RRP, ❄ Location: Furano, Hokkaido / Perisher, NSW, ❄ Camera: Gopro Hero 7 Black...

www.snowboardingforum.com

www.snowboardingforum.com

robotfood99

· #227 · 4 mo ago

Craig64 said:
You have to fight the mouth piece/hose freeze with blow back even with an insulated hose.

Can confirm. Every previous attempt I went out with my insulated mil-spec hydration kit, the hose and valve froze up. This time I took a soft bottle in my jacket goggle pocket or a podium chill bottle in an insulating sleeve in the backpack and both worked flawlessly.

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Craig64

· #228 · 4 mo ago

robotfood99 said:
Can confirm. Every previous attempt I went out with my insulated mil-spec hydration kit, the hose and valve froze up. This time I took a soft bottle in my jacket goggle pocket or a podium chill bottle in an insulating sleeve in the backpack and both worked flawlessly.

Yep that is the best and safest option. You can get back packs as well that have small bottle pocket to the side as well.

Myoko

· #229 · 4 mo ago

If its a powder day go to Lotte Arai , vastly superior powder with no trees really. Just lean back and hang on. You will pass lots of good skiers and snowboarders who have fallen over as their board left the snow for a bit if its deep.

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Demi9OD

· #230 · 4 mo ago

robotfood99 said:
Can confirm. Every previous attempt I went out with my insulated mil-spec hydration kit, the hose and valve froze up. This time I took a soft bottle in my jacket goggle pocket or a podium chill bottle in an insulating sleeve in the backpack and both worked flawlessly.

Until this year I'd used an old Camelbak with an insulated hose that zipped into the backpack strap. Never had it freeze up on me as long as I took a sip every 45 minutes or so.

Got tired of the backpack and switched to a 500ml Hydropak flask in a chest pocket after seeing a post here. Much nicer not worrying about the bag and I didn't need 50oz of water weight with lodges for flask refills.

Doraibu

· #231 · 4 mo ago

nitro91 said:
does anyone here use a camelbak or other backpack with reservoir in japan?
Im from aus and i use a normal camelbak but it doesnt get cold enough to freeze.

im guessing a normal one would freeze in japan niseko snow?

Yea, I get very thirsty when snowboarding, easily 1.5 per day or more on a full day ride without including vending machine drinks.
the normal one is doable , just blow back. And quickly close the valve at the mouth piece.
I bought the insulated hose accessory for this trip. A bit of a mixed review. It doesn’t have a valve flip.
Still freezes a bit in hokkaido but you can kinda melt it as you crunch and suck the water.
I guess that’s why YT boarders from Canada just uses water bottle, hmm…
Will I recommend it for Japan ? Not sure
Will I stop using it for my future Japan trip? Probably not. It’s still handy for this thirsty camel.

NT.Thunder

· #232 · 4 mo ago

@JDA can't complain

Snow Automotive tire Water Freezing Tree

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JDA

Discussion Starter · #233 · 4 mo ago

Almost gone!!!

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Doraibu

· #234 · 4 mo ago

NT.Thunder said:
@JDA can't complain

View attachment 166491

Damn…. I should’ve extended my stay by a couple of days

Craig64

· #235 · 4 mo ago

NT.Thunder said:
@JDA can't complain

View attachment 166491

NT blessed with epic conditions

Reactions: 2

NT.Thunder

· #236 · 4 mo ago

Craig64 said:
NT blessed with epic conditions

Tell me about it. Was like surfing the mountain all morning, as much fun as anyone can have with their clothes on. Truly blessed.

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NT.Thunder

· #237 · 4 mo ago

That's me done for likely another 6 months but what a way to go out. Awesome day, loved the Surfari. I think with my body loosening right up after taking that hit in the upper front leg day 1 and getting to know the board in deeper powder and riding it more confidently leaning right back on that tail in steeper terrain these last 2 days have been the best fun. I love how you can just cruise down on this board and pop up into a few feet of powder and just throw a line off piste and it floats like a beast, especially when you watch others try it and go over the handle bars or just big in.

I've learned more about my own capabilities and lack thereof these few days watching seasoned riders just charge lines bombing steeps that scared the shit out of me just traversing but I know where I'm capable and know what I enjoy....... unfortunately finding the conditions is the challenge.

@JDA enjoy your trip and I hope the snow gods are kind, @Myoko enjoy the last of yr trip and thanks to all for the help and suggestions on where to go on and off snow.

Will go and find a few ales and pack in the morning.

Snow Sports equipment Window Skateboard deck Snowboarding

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Etienne

· #238 · 4 mo ago

NT.Thunder said:
I've learned more about my own capabilities and lack thereof these few days watching seasoned riders just charge lines bombing steeps that scared the shit out of me just traversing but I know where I'm capable and know what I enjoy....... unfortunately finding the conditions is the challenge.

I guess you could not go too steep either with that much snow avalanche wise, but yeah, it's crazy how fast you can go in powder. I had to follow super experienced guides pushing me to have my brain just admit it was possible to go that fast—I'm far from the maximum I colud do!

Nice report, was a bit jealous, but it was epic conditions indeed!

Myoko

· #239 · 4 mo ago

3

Yup, also difficult to tell just how fast you are going on clean powder. Even going down deep chopped up powder if its steep you are kinda committed to just holding on and getting to the end I often find. Couple of pics from the last 2 days at Shiga Kogan. I let me skier mate have a go at some deeper powder, he is not doing it anymore he reckons after finally digging himself out lol
Today I just left a run to check out some powder on the edge of a groomer that I have been bombing down for days, hit some random icy patch that kicked me right, did a tumble turn and ended up somehow hitting a tree with, fortunately, the back of my head, a full 3.5m from where I lost it. Still can't work out how I even got there. Thats twice in about 7 years I have needed a helmet btw and I have done hundreds of tight tree runs etc but shit I was lucky. Thats about how often I have needed my wrist guards also. It's not the things you do that actually are dangerous that get you I find, its pissy things you don't rate.

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NT.Thunder

· #240 · 4 mo ago

I overheard one of the guys on the snow shuttle back to Tokyo on the phone to his mate say out of their group they had one who broke a rib, another clean break of the radius bone towards the wrist and another who did a severe AC joint. I saw the ambi a few times over the week 😭

Pretty happy to come out of it with severe bruising but I tell you this bus ride isn't comfortable, dreading flying home if it's crowded.

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