Japan First week

So a little background.

A few years ago I met a President of a ski club at a friend of a friends party.

This ski club is pretty large and is part of a bigger global club who come together every year in the Northern Hemisphere season. The purpose is racing and drinking! (I was warned about the drinking but didn't think it was be as big as it was - their here to race supposedly)

Day 1

We arrive at Tokyo Narita a little blurry eyes and start to run into a few of the group who had spent some time in Tokyo during the week. Reports were in that their were a few sore heads as they had been out til 4am!

We arrive in Sapporo and not long after the other flight from Haneda also showed up. The plan was to catch the train into Sapporo and walk the short couple of blocks to the Hotel. Some bright spark had heard there was a bus that dropped us off at the Hotel (so we didn't have to walk) the majority chose the bus. So we got on the bus. It turns out to be the bus from hell! 2.5 later we finally got to the hotel.

A quick shopping trip (back at the train station we should have gone to) and we headed off to the Sapporo Bier Hall for Korean BBQ.

Waiting for the bus

Sapporo Bier Hall

Cooking up a storm

After dinner our two buses (60 of us) was divided into party poppers and party goers. I was shamed into getting on the the party goers bus but had the last laugh when I refused to get off and made the driver take me back to the hotel! I thought it best to pace myself... pity that was the last time I had that thought for most of the trip!

Day 2

The next day we boarded the buses and headed up to Niseko after a quick stop at the supermarket in Kutchan we went to check in to the Hokkiado Tracks managed apartments at Yama Shizen, I didn't take photos of the apartment but they were really nice and HT looked after us brilliantly!

The view

We then headed out to a Wine tasting and then a Welcome from the resort.

Our buffet dinner

After dinner there was some Taiko Drumming (I have a video from this it was pretty cool and i even got to have a go!)

This was a relatively quiet one.

Oh and a funny pic from Sapporo

"Downhome food" anyone (above the second window)

Day 3

First Day on the Mountain.

I headed up with the boys and we had a great morning riding powder over at Hanazono - Mainly Strawberry Fields, man that is so over rated (IMO) got tracked out very early.

That night we had another welcome party at Wild Bills. Great food but the age old problem of their not being enough and needing to be near the kitchen.

Day 4

I took the boys to Gate 8 - there was a bit of eye rolling wondering where the girl would take them but I didn't they had a great day. I had kind of been holding off posting this TR wanting for others to post pics. I may have to wait for the reunion drink up to get some more :-(

Tonight we headed to NAC and JoJo's for a Sake breaking ceremony - after we detoured to the Ice bar before heading home.

First photo from the mtn

Ice bar

Ice bar slide

Me and a new friend

Day 5

I think it was this day that didn't start off so great when I went arse of tit in front of the building. I am still feeling the effects of that fall today.

Funniest thing was one of the older ladies was in the lift with me and for some reason made the connection that I was going up on the mountain with the 'boys', the expression on her face was priceless, she was horrified. My response was that I had being 'skiing' with the boys every day!

Day 6

Today the whole group headed to Rusutsu. One of the Niseko Photographers came along for the day and followed us around (can't wait to see some of the footage). He knew some great spots and even though we hadn't had any decent fresh snow overnight the were still a lot of freshies to be had.

Tonight was a big night. I was wearing Waldo's watch (can't remember why to be honest) and I didn't find out til the next day it was slow , not on Aus time, but slow. Anyway it seems that when I got home just after midnight (the door locks at midnight to the building but I had no key/code to get in) and found a couple of the guys in my apartment home (thank god!) that it was really after 3am!

Matty in some pow - under Swinging Monkey chair

I did hang out with girls occasionally ;-)

Trail Map at Rusutsu - Biginner runs anyone?

Here some video from the day

Day 7

The day after the night before...... it was hard to get out of bed this morning - for some reason I thought the best thing to do would be to drink the Vodka and OJ i had mixed the day before and then had a Vodka Red Bull as well! That combined with the low light meant this (Watch to the end for a wicked slowmo)

Tonight the organised a sleding comp next to Herbies. Basically you had to drink a shot of Jager run up the hill drink another and then sled down the hill. I was doing really well until the second shot and lost :-(

Today Yotei came out to play in the afternoon

Herbies Shotski

Losing with a smile on my face!

Day 8

The final day of the Pre Week - we headed to Wild Bills again for a farewell party. They gave us more food this time which was a plus but the night ended pretty messy.

Bring on Week 2!

I am not looking very sober here!