Japan Stoke Thread 2023

17253 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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NT.Thunder

· #249 · 4 mo ago

I'm in Bali right now actually transiting home, been here a dozen times but not for years and really know why I hate this place.

Cost me 500,000 and a couple of hours just to walk from the arrivals, collect my bag and check-in again and add to this another delayed Jetstar flight!

@JDA enjoy yr trip, no doubt it'll be epic. Good to see the Aussies getting plenty of the Northern hemisphere powder this season, long time overdue.

Reactions: 4

NT.Thunder

· #251 · 4 mo ago

Craig64 said:
I remember seeing a Documentary where David Attenborough said Bali was the best Country he'd ever been to back in the old days pre-commercialism and Tourism.

Well, there were plenty of animals on the red eye Bali to Darwin flight last night.

Reactions: 2

NT.Thunder

· #254 · 4 mo ago

MountainMystic said:
Were they wearing Bintang beer t-shirts or singlets? or have the current fashion-forward bali bogans moved beyond that?

Yep, you know it....these things never change.

Reactions: 2

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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NT.Thunder

· #286 · 4 mo ago

No way @JDA ! - Thank god it's not worse, sorry to hear this and safe travels home. Speedy recovery hey

Reactions: 4

NT.Thunder

· #293 · 4 mo ago

@JDA how was your flight home mate, not too uncomfortable I hope.

Reactions: 1

NT.Thunder

· #301 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

Man that sounds like a horror story. Hopefully you're on the mend and being looked after now back in Aus. Funny you mention a hematoma, I saw the doc on Friday last week as I was still in pain sitting down after hitting the tree in Japan day 1 and he mentioned that’s what I had on my glute and requested an ultrasound. He reckons it will take 2 months to clear. I fly for a living, usually 6-8 hours at a time and it’s so uncomfortable I sit on a donut cushion so everyone thinks I’ve got hemorrhoids.

Is everything sorted now you’re back in Aus? Are you booked in or have you had surgery?

Fingers crossed you’re all back and riding for the Aus/NZ season later this year.

Reactions: 2

NT.Thunder

· #305 · 3 mo ago

Holy shite!

You must've been hauling ass, did you hit anything? Did your board come out of it in better shape than you?

Hopefully it doesn't impact yr work or study or whatever else for too long. Feel for you man

Reactions: 1

NT.Thunder

· #312 · 3 mo ago

JDA said:
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"

View attachment 166928

That's pretty damn Le good - you could maybe make a t-shirt with that design

Reactions: 3

NT.Thunder

· #317 · 3 mo ago

JDA said:
I actually have the whole crash on video but I can't bring myself to watch it yet, maybe in 6 months or so.

I was going to ask but thought it might be too soon.

Craig64 said:
I wonder what backing track you'll put on it?

We could start a competition here for best backing track.

Reactions: 1

NT.Thunder

· #324 · 3 mo ago

Reactions: 1

NT.Thunder

· #326 · 3 mo ago

JDA said:
No it all happened very fast actually, it was more like turn, turn, oh shit! Splat.

Do you follow AFL or NRL?

If so get onto SuperCoach and just spend the next few weeks researching and putting together a team. Hell, I'm supposed to be working and I'm doing that anyway 😂

NT.Thunder

· #340 · 3 mo ago

JDA said:
It's great, I have seven boards in my quiver and the Dancehaul has earned its place. In fact I sold my resort/park board because the Dancehaul does it all and more. For really deep powder I would probably prefer a 157 but I have other powder boards for those days. The Dancehaul is really fun to ride, has a forgiving flex with lots of easily accessible pop, great for freestyle and carving too if you keep your speed in check.

Out of interest, what other boards are in your quiver? I know you're looking at the new Aeronaut, are you looking to flip any boards.

Reactions: 1

NT.Thunder

· #344 · 3 mo ago

JDA said:
Current quiver is:

2019 K2 Manifest 159 (for going as fast as possible)
2017 Amplid Pillowtalk 156 (powder freestyle, great in heavy slush too)
2023 Salomon Dancehaul 152 (party board, freestyle, low speed carving)
2016 Burton Skipjack Surf 148 (powder and carving, very nimble in tight trees)
2019 K2 Simple Pleasures 151 (powder and carving, going fast)
2020 Korua Dart 156 (deep powder and open high speed carving, my big fish)
2018 Endeavor Archetype 158 (carving, shallow pow, freestyle even)

Just sold my Capita Outerspace Living, I'm not sure where the Aeronaut will fit, I really want to see how stiff it actually is once they hit the stores.

Very nice - I've all but added a Niseko Pleasures I think depending on what price they come back to me with, always wanted that board. I was going to ask if you missed the SP in Japan but pretty hard to miss it when you had quality boards like the Dart and Dancehaul. Did the Korua meet your expectations?

NT.Thunder

· #349 · 3 mo ago

I got one from here SIM Card
ordered it a couple of weeks out, delivered by FedEx in around 7-day. Unlimited data, set it up in a small phone and we used it as a hotspot and worked flawlessly.

Reactions: 1

NT.Thunder

· #359 · 3 mo ago

Glad to hear it went well @JDA and you’re on the mend both mentally and physically. No doubt a long road but onwards and upwards.

Reactions: 3

NT.Thunder

· #370 · 2 mo ago

Awesome video @JDA and super stoked to hear the leg is on the mend

Reactions: 3

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