Japan Stoke Thread 2023

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Sorry to bring down the stoke in this thread but today was a bad day. It started off great but just before lunch I made a big mistake and hit an unmarked cat track at full speed.
Snow patrol took me down in a sled and then I went to the small local hospital. X-rays revealed my knee was dislocated and lower leg is fractured. I'm in a full leg cast and flying home tomorrow, I need surgery as soon as possible.

Getting off the hill was one thing, no green whistles. Then they refused an ambulance so my hotel kindly came to get me and they lifted me into the back floor of his van and he took me to what they called the hospital but really it was a small medical centre with one doctor.
After an x-ray they told me the joint was dislocated and fractured and would need to drain some fluid from the joint and then manipulate it back in place. I asked if they would give pain relief before this but they didn't really understand English and next thing I know they have stuck a giant needle into the side of my knee to suck out blood caused by a hematoma I think it was called.
They gave me a tablet of some Japanese type of ibuprofen and 10 minutes later while 3 nurses held me down under the x-ray machine the doctor and another nurse twisted and pulled on my leg trying to get it back to the correct position. I was basically screaming for them to stop and eventually they did. They took more x-rays and told me that the manipulation was only partially successful and I need surgery as soon as possible. They then put me in a cast from my toes to my groin and loaded me back into the hotel van with enough of their ibuprofen pills to get me back to Australia.
So the crash was Saturday just before lunch, we were out of the "hospital" by about 5pm. At 10am the next day we got in a door to door taxi shuttle which took about 5 hours from Hakuba to Haneda airport. My flight departed around 7pm that night and landed in Sydney at 6:30am Monday morning and I went directly from the airport to the hospital emergency department.

First surgery completed this morning. I'm feeling ok all things considered.
The tibia has smashed into the femur in the impact of the crash so I have a pin system holding everything apart in the correct position until the swelling goes down and they can do a second operation in a week or so to repair the damaged bones.

I just spoke with the surgeons this morning and they think the second surgery will be next week if the swelling goes down enough.
After the second surgery they think I will go home the next day but it will be 6 weeks before I can put weight on it so I will be on crutches.
They estimate a full recovery in 3 months from the second surgery so I am optimistic for our Aussie snow season.

Here is a little diagram I drew for my friends to explain how the accident happened.

It's important to note that I was going "Le fast"