New Year Skiing and Snowboarding

A few years ago we started a new tradition of going to the mountains for new years. We weren't able to book the hotel for New Years Eve so we headed up New Years day. Got the train to the slopes and went straight out on the snow.

Unfortunately, we didn't have the best weather. It reminded me a lot of skiing in Avimore, Scotland - nearly zero visibility in places! At least it didn't have the Scottish ice patches.

Hubby was a bit nervous at first since our last trip to the mountains ended up with him in cast, breaking his arm! But there is nothing like getting back on the horse as they say - most people thought I was insane going skiing again after my accident ( broke my tib and fib, was in cast for 6 months or more and on crutches for a year, fun times! They also had to re-break my leg and gave me no kind of pain killer when they did it, so I suppose technically I have broken my leg twice...)

Anyway, at least it wasn't too busy at Yuzawa Nakazato which is where we were for day one and day 3. I have given up trying to video Ebi-kun on the slopes, he goes to fast and I can't safely ski after him, keep up and film at the same time, I think we need to invest in a Go-Pro camera!

Day 2 the weather forecast for Nakazato wasn't good so we thought we would try out a different place. Nakazato is a family resort so there are fewer idiots on the slopes, you just have to keep an eye out for pint-sized maniacs.

I don't remember the name of the other place but it was young, hip, snowboarder dude, heaven. I don't have anything against snowboarders - since I live with two of them but... some of them as right fricken idiots and shouldn't be allowed out unsupervised.

And what is with sitting in the middle of the bloody slope? Like I said, idiots!

Totally different feel to the place, much busier, much faster paced and much 'cooler' than Nakazato. Maybe I would have different views if I were 20 years younger and hadn't had a bad accident under my belt!

This place did have a practice area for rails and jumps etc. The boys had a go, tried a few times and decided it was way to painful, so we hit the slopes again. I did struggle this day with the old break giving me gyp, I think because I was worrying about being hit, I was manifesting the pain. It was suddenly OK again the next day.

All in all it was a fun few days. The last day I have no photos, it was heavy snow and we were soaked by lunchtime. We needed to catch the train by 4pm so we all had to get completely changed before we could do so, normally we just travel back in our snow gear!

Already looking forward to the next trip...

And another breaks an arm...

Here's the tale...

Last Saturday (yes I know I'm behind, deal with it, I am!) So, Last Saturday we went off to Yuzawa Nakazato for skiing/snowboarding for the day. The weather was clear and the snow was good, we did quite a few runs then had a break for lunch.

After lnch we headed back to the far side of the mountain - our prefered runs are that side, Ebi-kun was getting the hand of the jumps...

And Yasutoki too. Until he wasn't.

I usually head down first then wait by the jumps to take photos, this run I was waiting for ages, thinking that they had got stuck behind a group of beginners. Eventually Ebi-kun comes down, clears the jump. I wait a bit long to see Yasutoki sliding down, holding onto his arm.

He managed to make it to the bottom, but he was white as a sheet and in agony. We went to the rest area and I had a look at the arm in questions, it wasn't looking good, no broken skin but it was turning a funny colour and he was obviously in a lot of pain.

The next predictiment was how to get back to the main station, we were on the far side of the mountain. So Ebi-kun and I went to the lift bloke and explained what had happened and as I hoped, they sent for a snowmobile! *phew*

Yasutoki went back on that with his snowboard tucked in the back. We said we would meet him there, it was then a matter of how Ebi-kun and I would get back, we decided it would be quicked to go up the lift and ski back down the other side that it would to yomp over by foot.

We made it to the first aid cabin, they gave us the number for the local taxi and hospital. Ebi-kun and I ran in and handed out rented bits back and got changed into our own boots, packed everything up and then met the taxi to the hospital, well it was really a clinic, and full of people who had had accidents on the slopes!

So yes, he had broken his arm and the Dr had to pull it out to get it straight again and put on a temporary cast. Luckily we weren't too far from the station and made it back just in time to catch the train that we had booked tickets on!

Ahhh but there lay another problem! 

We had driven to the station and Yasutoki had packed the car at the department store but there was no way he could drive back, (I don't drive!)

Luckily we live in Japan and they have this amazing service (usually people who have had too much to drink use it). It is like a taxi service but they bring their own car and an extra driver, the driver takes your care and the service car follows.

So we got home and the car and I had dibber in the pot ready for when we got in.

Not quite the adventure we set out for. He had to go back to our local clinic the next day to get a proper cast set, looks like he will be in it for a minimum of 4 weeks. Not fun. And yes, it is his right arm, the one he writes with, should make working interesting!

That looks like the end of our snowboarding/skiing for the season :(

New years Skiing In Yuzawa Nakazato

It has become our tradition to go to the mountains for New Years. A few days skiing/snowboarding seems like the perfect way to bring in the new year!

We have started to get a season pass for this place, the slopes are great for Ebi-kun and it's family friendly. We were a bit worried there wouldn't any snow as they only opened the slopes a few days before we got there, but the snow gods were kind. It wasn't fantastic skiing but it wasn't like trying to ski in Scotland either (believe me, not good!)

Ebi-kun had a new snowboard outfit from Santa, we did manage to make the other one last 3 seasons! Hopefully we can make this last just as long....

We have decided that private lessons are the way to go, he learns so much more when it's 1:1, we just put him in for an hour this time but it really  helped his turns....

There will be no more videos of me following down the hill theses days, he is too quick and I can't safely film and keep up! So pics of him stuck in snow drifts will have to do!

It's so beautiful up here, I could definitely move to the mountains - as long as I had a chap to come and clear the snow off the drive for me! Stunning.

But nature likes to remind us who is in charge and the weather can change so quickly. I'm thankful for all the mountaineering training I did back in the scouts, respect for the mountain, always comes first.

We have a few weekends booked in so I will be back to bore you with more mountain pictures soon, until then, alien Jo over and out...

Another Day On The Slopes

Last Wednesday was a national holiday, so we headed for the mountains. The weather was perfect and the skiing was great!

We headed out to the snowboard park again, the snow wasn't powdery so a bit more painful when you fall! Didn't stop the boy...

I don't know if this is one of those Only In Japan things but I have seen a lot of kids strapped onto their mom or dad and whizzing down the slope, that is not a backpack, it's a small child! I've also seen snowboarders doing the same. Considering I broke my leg skiing, I know how dangerous a sport it, this just seems insane!

There is nothing more scary is than watching your child go whizzing off down a steep slope! The upside is that I forget to worry about killing myself lol!

And then he wanted to try the big boys jumps! Is there no stopping him?

Of course daddy wanted to get into the action too...

I love this place, it's so pretty - especially when the weather is nice! I'm hoping we can squeeze in another trip this season.

Forget the nursery slopes, where is the half pipe?

Yes, day 3 we ventured over to the far side of the resort to a few runs that we hadn't tried before, one of which was the snowboarders assault course (unofficial name), it has some jumps, box, half pipe, rail all that jazz. Of course Ebi-kun was straight down there! And on his arse quite a lot but he just kept getting up and giving it another go.

One section from the lift to this run is fairly steep which was playing havoc with my ski boot, one kept coming undone - not the safest way to ski, so I gave up for the last few runs since the ski centre to get it looked out was miles away. Meant I got to take photos instead.

It was hysterical waiting for them to come down, there was a tiny tot, a girl I think, about 3 years old, went flying over a jump and straight into a big powder snowdrift and got stuck. Mom followed he down and found her but had to take off her snowboard and use that to dig her out. Eventually she pulls little on out and mom gets busy putting he board back on but before she had even got one boot on, kid was racing down the hill flying over the other jumps! I bet she is hard work at home.

Although the weather wasn't great, very snowy and cold, we had a great time. We have also discovered that there is a more direct train, which is a bit slower but a whole lot cheaper, so we are planning to try that out and just go up for the day. Looking forward to it. 

Yuzawa Nakazato

Our second day was much better, the weather was lovely, the sun was out and there was 30cm of fresh powder snow to play in! The mountain really is stunning...

It wasn't very busy either, which was great for me, I hate it iwhen it gets busy - still a tad nervous on the slopes (for those who don't know, I broke my leg, badly, skiing when I was 17, I was told I would never walk without a limp - that they got wrong but I never regained the kamikaze type confidence I had before!)

Ebi-kun came on in leaps and bounds, it was pretty impossible for me to keep up and video him at the same time...

Quick break of hot chocolate, I see myself in him so much, he keeps on going even when he is exhausted, not a good trait to have picked up!

Just outside the guest house... just a bit of snow!

And the view from our room...

Another great but exhausting day!

Happy New Year 2015

I know, a bit late, but better late than never hey?

We headed up to Yuzawa Nakazato for a few days, it's a great family resort and we have been a couple of times before so we were familiar with how everything worked this time.

The weather the first day wasn't great, once we had hired skis and board we did a couple of runs down and decided to book Ebi-kun in for a lesson after lunch.

He has a private lesson and me and the hub managed to get a few runs in before the time was up. Hubby snowboards but he and Ebi-kun were at logged heads, the instructor could spot where Ebi-kun was going wrong straight away and sorted him out, best ¥6000 yen spent! After and hour Ebi-kun was sorted and we could get on and enjoy ourselves.

Visibility wasn't great and it was cold but I learned to ski in Avimore in Scotland and a view like this would have been considered pretty clear lol!

One of the reasons I like this place is because of the convenience. When you get off the train, you go over the train lines and you are in the ski centre where all the ski hire and lockers are and you literally walk out the door and you are on the slopes. The shot above was taken from just outside the ski centre and the people are queuing for the lift.

We were booked in at a BandB type of place, they will come and pick you up from the slopes. The rooms are small but cosy and the whole floor is heated, if anything it gets a bit too warm in the night! It's called Guest House Vingt-Neuf , the owners speak English and are lovely. The meals are set menu, so for example, the first night we had mixed plate of salami, cheeses, squid and some fishy thing and some spinach, followed by veg soup and then a delicious slow cooked beef dish with rice and kaki ice-cream for dessert. The second night we had ham salad, clam chowder, grilled chicken with mash and rice and chocolate mousse. 

Breakfast is a buffet, both days there were a variety of Japanese dishes, pickles, rice, miso soup with that on the first day was sausage, poached eggs, toast and fresh fruit and the second day a mix of sandwiches. Plus drinks of course. Even though I don't eat fish, I still had plenty to eat, I think if you have a special dietary need you need to contact them before you book.

Needless to say we were all shattered so after a hot bath and dinner we all collapsed into bed!

Last minute trip to the mountains…

It was a long weekend here this last weekend, so Friday we went to watch the new Hobbit film  LOVED it. Half expected Ebi-kun to have orc related nightmares but all was good! Then Saturday, we checked the weather and decided to sneak in another day of snowboarding!

When we got there, the weather was glorious…

We had hoped to book Ebi-kun in for a private lesson but they didn't have one available so it was down to daddy to do the teaching…

We headed up the gentle slope for the first couple of runs, it is wide and not so crowded, perfect for beginners and there are also some small side runs for those wanting to go a bit faster or harder!

We saw loads of little kids out, all about 3 or 4 years old, having 1:1 lessons. I would say, the first time we went up, 90% of these kids were bawling. Screaming, I don't want to, I'm tired, no, no, no! It looked like the same group of kids still at it in the afternoon but by that time they were all just glazed over. A few of them did actually look like they were enjoying it but I would say the majority were just resigned to the fact that this is what they had to do. Poor things!

Brief break to top up on energy - which was an extremely over priced cup of hot chocolate with about 5 tsps of sugar in it! I love this picture of Ebi-kun, I can see him hanging out with his mates in another 10 years time, with a flock of girls swoon after them!

All in all and excellent day, we left the house at 7am and got back around 8.30pm, absolutely shattered! I doubt we will be able to make it up again as it is near the end of the season, but now we know it is doable in a day, we will plan more for next season!

Spring break starts on Thursday so we will be able to get some serious crafting and exploring done! That said, he is off today and only at school for half days on Tuesday and Wednesday. We also have to go through all his school stuff, make sure everything still has its name on it, change all the class labels and all that jazz! And then he will be a third grader!

 

Snowboarding Fun…

We had planned to go to the mountains with friends a couple of weeks ago but we had to pull out but we all still wanted to go, so just the three of us went this last weekend. We are lucky where we live, it takes about an hour and half to get to the mountain but we have to use the shinkansen (bullet train) which means the train costs are expensive, if it wasn't for that we would certainly be going more often.

This time we tried a new resort, Yuzawa Nakazato and I have to say, it is our favourite resort so far! It is aimed at families, so there is loads to do even if the kids are not skiing/snowboarding yet. They have kids rooms to hang out in, plenty of sledging places. A great mini slope for absolute teeny beginners and plenty of green beginner slopes that are wide and gentle.

In the morning we didn't get there in time for Ebi-kun to join snowboard school so Yasutoki showed him the ropes, the basics and I had a bit of free skiing time. For those who don't know, when I was 17 I had a bad skiing accident where I broke my leg (some bloke skied into me on a black run, then he got up and left me lying there!) I was on crutches for almost a year and told that I would never walk without a limp - luckily they were wrong about that! This means that I really don't like skiing if it is crowded, that is one of the reason why I liked this place so much!

In the afternoon, Ebi-kun joined snowboard school and Yasutoki (who is a snowboarder) and I got to go and have some free ski/board time. When I lived in Iwate, I tried snowboarding but at the end of the day I just didn't 'get it', ski's suit me better, maybe because I learn't to ski at a young age?

After the first lesson, which was a big group, he had only been down the slope a couple of times and not been on the lift but he has already got the basics down…

We finished at 4.30pm and got picked up by the owner of the B&B we were staying at. The train station is literally at the bottom of the ski slopes which is perfect to get there and back and there is a free shuttle bus that goes to the shinkansen station. We stayed at Vingt Neuf which was lovely, the owners speak English, they have a super cute dog which is always a bonus and the food was great! It is a set evening meal and a buffet style breakfast.

Sunday morning we put Ebi-kun into school again, this time he was in one group but they moved him to another, so he was in a group of 3, the smaller group made a huge difference, he also got to use the lift. We met up for lunch then in the afternoon we took him to the top of the mountain. Even though we were using the beginner runs they have little offshoots, like the one through the woods…

And they have a slalom run - where I fell, first time since the leg breaking incident, it was kind of good to fall again, it of quashed that niggle that if I fell again it would end in disaster! 

Sunday was absolutely beautiful, perfect skiing conditions, the boys on the lift…

Oh to be 8 years old again, he picked it up so quickly, unlike skiing that he tried last time, he belongs on a board…

Proud mama moment, he rocked!

And yes, he crashed in style too! We were all shattered at the end of the day but it was so much fun, can't wait to go again!

I also tried my hand at filming when skiing, not the easiest thing to do and it is a bit jumpy in places but at least it didn't end up with someone in an ambulance…

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