NFT - Off to Japan

[The_Ben]

Yet another overseas trip.

This time I'm off to Japan in Feb for 16 days. I'm travelling to the powder capital of the world Niseko on the island of Hokkaido where they receive on average 12-14mtrs of snow each season. I'm also spending 1 day at the nearby Annapuri resort and also 1 day at Rusutsu.

The highlight of the trip will be in Sapporo where I'm going to the Toyota Big Air competition. This event absolutely goes off the Richter scale in terms of partying and non stop action as a star studded field of the world's best snowboarders vie for US$100,000 in cash and a Toyota car in the world's richest and most prestigious urban snowboard event.

On the way back to Oz, I'm pulling by Tokyo for 2 days to stock up on the latest in electronic goods.

Looks like I'll be all sushied out by the time I get back.

 

[astrogirl]

Ben!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't hide my envy this time!!!!

I am considering a trip to Japan or Canada, the primary motivation being snow of course. Won't be until January or February though.

When are you going?

 

[The_Ben]

The tour goes from the 6th to the 22nd of Feb. Cost is $3400 which includes:

- Return flights ex Syd/Bne/Mel/Cns or Adl to Sapporo (JAL)

- 1 night Osaka stopover en-route to Niseko including accommodation in a 5 star hotel

- 14 nights accommodation Snowave Chalet Niseko

- 12 day lift pass Niseko Hirafu including unlimited night skiing

- 1 day to visit nearby Annapuri resort

- 1 onsen tour (night)

- 1 day visit to nearby Rusutsu resort including lift pass

- 1 night (final night) Sapporo Hotel after and passes to visit the Toyota Big Air including recovery breakfast the morning after

- Final night "all you can eat" traditional Japanese style dinner in Sapporo

- All transfers airport to resort, resort to Sapporo Hotel, Hotel to Big Air, Big Air to Sapporo restaurant, Hotel to Airport

- Professional & experienced snowboarder tour guide

- Backcountry day tour option to Goshiki onsen (extra)

Accommodation is on snow so no transport is required to the lifts each day.

The tour price does not include meals other than those specified above, airline taxes and travel insurance

 

[Terminator]

Good luck in the comp Ben.

 

[The_Ben]

I'm not going in the comp. The standard in this one is a bit out of my league. Besides I don't compete in Big Air I only race in BoarderX.

But it should be a brilliant comp to witness. The best riders in the world competing against each other. The tricks will be wicked.

 

[astrogirl]

Your holiday looks like it will be incredible Ben.

For the last couple of weeks I've been thinking that the best way for me to improve at skiing is to spend a season at the snow. So I am thinking Canada for 2 or 3 months next year- take annual leave or leave without pay and probably work while I'm there. Only starting to look into it so I'm not sure how much organisation something like that will involve... The only downside is that I'd miss the Aussie summer...

 

[The_Ben]

Bugger the Aussie Summer, go to Canada!

I'd say by now, you may have missed the 2003/2004 ski season in Canada work wise. It takes a while to organise working Visa's, accomodation etc.

Whistler is the easiest place to get work, but you would be either travelling heaps each day to get to work, or paying a lot to live closer to the village.

However, there are lots of other places to work like Kimberly, Lake Louise, Banff and Apex. Some of these are a bit cheaper to live and work at, but the atmosphere is just as good. Actually I think it's better cause you don't get a heap of arrogant yanks who think they are the world's best skiers like you do when in Whistler.

But the real bummer would be having to work on a day when 50cms has fallen overnight. You are stuck at work, whilst looking out the window and seeing miles of untouched powder just screaming to be ridden on.

An alternative is to spend a season in the Snowy's. Buy a season pass, stay with a heap of people in a Jindabyne house where you pay about $80 a week in rent, and just get really good here first before tackling Canada. You can still have all your friends travel down for weekends, and if you get bored you can head back up to Sydney.

 

[astrogirl]

Yeah, I know I can't get a visa till January 2004 so I wouldn't be going till November or December 2004.

I figure that before that I can go to the Snowy Mountains for a few weekends in the Australian snow season

 

[astrogirl]

Oh, and thanks for the advice : )