Japan Stoke Thread 2023

17242 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 · #261 · 4 mo ago

3

Alright today was awesome with the exception of one lift being closed making laps of the trees very difficult. We went to Tsugaike and the snow was very good quality, had a great time on my new Salomon Dancehaul.

Just a 30 second video
Pow laps at @tsugaike_kogen

Joel Davis on Instagram: "Pow laps at @tsugaike_kogen"

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Snow Photograph Nature Black Slope

Sky Building Cloud Snow Window

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Myoko

· #262 · 4 mo ago

I have never seen Madarao/Tangram so busy and so completely trashed EVERYWHERE as much as yesterday, in fact I will say I have never seen any mountain as trashed. Very long lift queues also, all day. All visible off piste areas (as many are now) are completely tracked out. It's a weekend, but I am seriously considering a lay day even though I have paid for my ticket and there is a fresh 15cm. Think I am getting spoiled after Shiga Kogan

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JDA

Discussion Starter · #263 · 4 mo ago

2

The forecast said six centimetres but they were wrong

Another short video from today
The forecast said six centimetres #japow #hakubavalley #tsugaikekogen #koruashapesdart

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Joel Davis on Instagram: "The forecast said six centimetres #japow #hakubavalley #tsugaikekogen #koruashapesdart"

18 likes, 0 comments - Joel Davis (@jeoldavis) on Instagram on February 5, 2023: "The forecast said six centimetres #japow #hakubavalley #tsugaikekogen #koruashapesdart"

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Back at Tsugaike both me and my mate on the Darts doing all the gates off the top chairlift, an amazing day!

Snow White Light Slope Line

Sky Cloud Water Drinkware Beer

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NT.Thunder

· #264 · 4 mo ago

Awesome pics and video, great the snow is still falling - enjoy and interested to hear your thoughts on both the Dart and Dancehaul later

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Craig64

· #265 · 4 mo ago

JD what camera are you using as it looks like it's off the shoulder or is that just the edit ability of 360?

JDA

Discussion Starter · #266 · 4 mo ago

Craig64 said:
JD what camera are you using as it looks like it's off the shoulder or is that just the edit ability of 360?

I'm using the insta360 one r with a mouth mount in this video. It's designed for surfing but I like the POV it gives much more than a helmet mount. The camera sits about 5cm under your chin, you bite down on it like a snorkel so its very quick to take out of your pocket and start recording.

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Myoko

· #267 · 4 mo ago

Sick Video JDA and thanks for sharing! Had maybe 15-20cm today at Madarao but no way could you point your board downhill like that without eating shit anywhere on the mountain. What mountain are you on?

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JDA

Discussion Starter · #268 · 4 mo ago

@Myoko thanks mate, this video is at Tsugaike, dropping in from gate 2 in the DBD zone.

JDA

Discussion Starter · #269 · 4 mo ago

2

Bluebird today, we went to Kashimiyari in the morning and Happo-One after lunch. Not many lifts were running at Kashimiyari but we were able to do a short hike and score some nice turns. Happo was pretty tracked out and full of moguls but at least the snow was nice and soft.

Sky Snow Sports equipment Natural environment Slope

Sky Mountain Snow Natural landscape Slope

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JDA

Discussion Starter · #270 · 4 mo ago

2

Another bluebird today, we went to Iwatake. One of longest runs had side hits the whole way down which was loads of fun on my Dancehaul. We really need some more powder now, I can ride groomers in Australia.

Snow Slope Outdoor recreation Terrain Glacial landform

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JDA

Discussion Starter · #271 · 4 mo ago

4

I could only describe today as a miracle. Woke up to some slightly cloudy conditions after two days without any new snow, I wasn't expecting much. The forecast said 6cm in the afternoon and another 6cm tonight so really the hope for riding some powder was tomorrow.

We went to Hakuba Cortina resort just to check it out, I've only been there once before many years ago. We rode some mellow groomers all morning looking for some side hits but they were lacking so we went in for an early lunch in the giant hotel. Not long after getting our meals it started snowing outside, just a little at first but then it really started coming down. We decided to stay in the hotel a bit longer, nice and warm with our window view of the fresh snow falling.

By the time we went back outside I'd say there was about 15cm on the ground but it was a different story up on top of the mountain. We did one run across the top and down one of the really steep open runs, I'd say it was up to my knees and all of it had fallen while we were eating lunch!

We spent the whole afternoon in the trees, lap after lap the resort was almost empty, we kept going until they shut the lift at 4pm, it was an amazing day that none of us expected and tomorrow should be just as good.

Sky Snow World Slope Building

Snow Wheel Branch Motor vehicle Tire

Snow Slope Ice cap Glacial landform Freezing

Glasses Hand Vision care Goggles Snow

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JDA

Discussion Starter · #272 · 4 mo ago

So they were only predicting another 3cm overnight which ended up being 20cm according to Tsugaike resort. I won't say it was bottomless but there was certainly some deep pockets of snow.

New video from today

Searching for fresh tracks today at #tsugaikekogen #japow #seekanddestroy

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Joel Davis on Instagram: "Searching for fresh tracks today at #tsugaikekogen #japow #seekanddestroy"

12 likes, 0 comments - Joel Davis (@jeoldavis) on Instagram on February 8, 2023: "Searching for fresh tracks today at #tsugaikekogen #japow #seekanddestroy"

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Sky Snow Slope Winter sport Tree

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Craig64

· #273 · 4 mo ago

JDA said:
So they were only predicting another 3cm overnight which ended up being 20cm according to Tsugaike resort. I won't say it was bottomless but there was certainly some deep pockets of snow.

New video from today

Searching for fresh tracks today at #tsugaikekogen #japow #seekanddestroy

Joel Davis on Instagram: "Searching for fresh tracks today at #tsugaikekogen #japow #seekanddestroy"

12 likes, 0 comments - Joel Davis (@jeoldavis) on Instagram on February 8, 2023: "Searching for fresh tracks today at #tsugaikekogen #japow #seekanddestroy"

www.instagram.com

View attachment 166758

JD...., pretty heavy tunes on the vid.

Hey, are you able to do some footage with a stick or your friend recording you rather than helmet cam. Great conditions..., so lucky..., "Seek & destroy".

JD what is all your outerwear?

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JDA

Discussion Starter · #274 · 4 mo ago

Craig64 said:
JD...., pretty heavy tunes on the vid.

Hey, are you able to do some footage with a stick or your friend recording you rather than helmet cam. Great conditions..., so lucky..., "Seek & destroy".

JD what is all your outerwear?

Hey Craig, I've been collecting a bunch of clips so I can put together a longer YouTube video when I get home. I've got some clips with the selfie stick but I do find it pretty distracting to hold when I'm dropping steep tree lines.

I'm wearing Volcom Rain Gor-Tex Bib with a Volcom BL Stretch Gor-Tex jacket.

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Craig64

· #275 · 4 mo ago

JDA said:
Hey Craig, I've been collecting a bunch of clips so I can put together a longer YouTube video when I get home. I've got some clips with the selfie stick but I do find it pretty distracting to hold when I'm dropping steep tree lines.

I'm wearing Volcom Rain Gor-Tex Bib with a Volcom BL Stretch Gor-Tex jacket.

Gloves/Goggles?

Yep I find with a action cam Pole you often get your arms a little out of shape/alignment whilst riding but the footage is worth the sacrifice. Being an Aussie with the limited time we get on the mountain, video footage is so sweet enabling reflection on great memories....., plus being able to add pics in SBF.

JDA

Discussion Starter · #276 · 4 mo ago

Craig64 said:
Gloves/Goggles?

Gloves I'm not sure the exact model but Burton leather and Gor-Tex, very warm and expensive.
Smith I/O goggles
Helmet is a Sweet Protection Grimnir made of pre-preg carbon, a very nice piece 👌

Reactions: 1

Jan

· #277 · 4 mo ago

@JDA : very curious on whether you're somehow "missing" your K2 SP in this trip with the Dancehaul and Dart.
How would you rate those three for powder vs. general resort (carving) riding?

JDA

Discussion Starter · #278 · 4 mo ago

Jan said:
@JDA : very curious on whether you're somehow "missing" your K2 SP in this trip with the Dancehaul and Dart.
How would you rate those three for powder vs. general resort (carving) riding?

I'm really enjoying the Dancehaul, it has surprised me how versatile it is.
DH 152 versus SP 151, well the DH is less stiff and has more pop. I would say DH is more freestyle friendly and has its limitations carving at higher speeds and through uneven snow. In powder the SP will have better float in deeper snow but on deeper days I have been riding the Dart anyway.
The Dart is on a completely different level. Very wide, damp, feels heavy and prefers big swooping carves ultimately at much higher speeds. Through the tighter trees it is not as agile but it will blast through any uneven terrain and is unsinkable no matter how deep the powder.

I don't think I would ever come back to Japan with just one board like I have in the past. Bringing two boards gives you more flexibility to enjoy your day, no matter what the conditions are like.

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Craig64

· #279 · 4 mo ago

JDA said:
I'm really enjoying the Dancehaul, it has surprised me how versatile it is.
DH 152 versus SP 151, well the DH is less stiff and has more pop. I would say DH is more freestyle friendly and has its limitations carving at higher speeds and through uneven snow. In powder the SP will have better float in deeper snow but on deeper days I have been riding the Dart anyway.
The Dart is on a completely different level. Very wide, damp, feels heavy and prefers big swooping carves ultimately at much higher speeds. Through the tighter trees it is not as agile but it will blast through any uneven terrain and is unsinkable no matter how deep the powder.

I don't think I would ever come back to Japan with just one board like I have in the past. Bringing two boards gives you more flexibility to enjoy your day, no matter what the conditions are like.

This would be my recommendation for taking boards to Japan:
1 board quiver: Freeride,
2 board quiver: Powder, Freeride,
3 board Quiver: AM, Powder, Freeride.

JDA

Discussion Starter · #280 · 4 mo ago

2

Today was a carbon copy of Wednesday, we went to Cortina, it started dumping from lunchtime and we rode the trees until closing time. Pretty epic conditions and we are going to score another powder day tomorrow!

Video from today

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Snow Building Sky Window Infrastructure

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