Japan Stoke Thread 2023
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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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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It's been snowing pretty hard all afternoon/evening. Another good day coming up tomorrow.
Cold walk back from the SkateBar Second which has been our go to before crashing, great crowd in there.
Waist deep in some places, Japow is on!
Unfortunately a few of the upper lifts are closed as they dig them out.
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![Snow Sports equipment Slope Building Recreation]()
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Unfortunately a few of the upper lifts are closed as they dig them out.
Spot on, floats well but today I wish I had a bit more setback on it but apart from the real deep stuff it's great to ride, got a real Surfy feel to it through the powder. There were so many riders that couldn't make or were struggling to make some of the flatter sections on the runs and cat tracks through powder but the Dada just flew past them, the only issue I had was when I ventured off the lift area and hit the waist powder with little speed and stopped. Didn't need to unclip though, just a few pushes forward and I was away again.Looks like you have timed your trip to perfection!
How is the float on the Dada? I have the Amplid Pillowtalk which was the previous version of the Dada and found it required some back leg to keep the nose up, not too bad though.
I think my Korua Dart will be perfect for those conditions.
Kanko didn't even open today, we cut morning laps over what was open around Onsen but we're going to call it quits after 4 hours and head over to one of the bars that's running a JJJ Hot 100 party all day 🍻
Great powder conditions but because there was so much snow and still falling hard, half the lifts couldn't open, wish that had lift status boardsat the ticket office.
I've booked Sugi again, hoping that'll be great again after a big dump and either way the Gondola should run.
So blessed to get these conditions and experience a true Japow winter trip.
Riding buddy left today so headed out solo. Headed over towards Kanko in the morning for some steep powder runs, they're a massive workout on my legs so after decided to head back towards the far west area of Onsen. Found some really cruisy mellow powder runs which kept me occupied for a few hours before heading back for an early Onsen.
Great day, although I'm not sure if I'm a fan of riding solo much.
Had the Surfari out, handles the powder so well and is a dream to ride through those heavy powder lines. In fact it might be sold so may not even bring the board back to Aus.
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Great day, although I'm not sure if I'm a fan of riding solo much.
Had the Surfari out, handles the powder so well and is a dream to ride through those heavy powder lines. In fact it might be sold so may not even bring the board back to Aus.
Bruising starting to come up now, painful and uncomfortable to ride with. On day 1 of all days.
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Probably one of the best days I've ever had, wasn't super deep but good powder all day. Long runs at Suginohara, vis was down as it was dumping but felt like the Surfari was right at home in those conditions today, there's a confidnence of riding that board when Vis is down in that it handles chopped out terrain so well.
Still dumping, last day tomorrow and tossing up between Kanko, Ikenotaira or possibly Sugi again as I'm falling in love with those long runs.
Today my body loosened up and let me use the hips more and wasn't as stiff and as upright as I'd been for the last couple.
1 day left riding 😭😭
![Snow Building Slope Window Freezing]()
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Still dumping, last day tomorrow and tossing up between Kanko, Ikenotaira or possibly Sugi again as I'm falling in love with those long runs.
Today my body loosened up and let me use the hips more and wasn't as stiff and as upright as I'd been for the last couple.
1 day left riding 😭😭
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]()
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.
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