As I frequently find myself asking, what the fuck are you blathering about???Quote:
Originally Posted by XXX-er
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As I frequently find myself asking, what the fuck are you blathering about???Quote:
Originally Posted by XXX-er
He traveled Japan with his tamagotchi pet. And also I believe the man has smoked some weed.Quote:
Originally Posted by rudy
Try to keep up, plz.
makeyour wife carry the gear and itdidnt seem to matter what anyone was sliding on should be your takawayQuote:
Originally Posted by rudy
try to follow along rudy
Go FR110.Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW Lifer
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
OK, I'll play.Quote:
Originally Posted by gaijin
Since 2006 (minus 4 seasons for family reasons and COVID) I've spent my winters on Hokkaido teaching primarily desk jockey, recreational skiers to enjoy the mixed conditions which any resort serves up over the course of a ski vacation.
Thankfully the Niseko Resort Area ski areas (Niseko United and Niseko Moiwa); Rusutsu; and Kiroro [my workplace & playground] deliver a consistent soft snow experience for most of December, January and February - the prime ski vacation time.
I've had most of the same customers for most of that time and taken them from exclusively skiing the piste to enjoying all that Hokkaido has to offer within the resort area boundaries.
Over my professional career I've skied on and taught on slalom skis, mid fat skis, powder skis, twin tip skis, cambered, rockered, narrow waisted (65mm), wide waisted (120mm), short (170cm), and long (198cm).
I choose to ski on a 177cm long 115-84-106 twin tip freestyle ski which is centre mounted with a Dynafit touring binding wearing Dynafit Touring Boots, an older TLT5 model which has a flex of around 95-100.
I've come to this set up over many years of trial & error because it gives ME the feel I'm looking for both on-piste and off-piste.
It's light. It's manoeuvrable. It floats if I ski fast enough. It dives in the best snow conditions (Hokkaido) which gives me the immersive powder experience I enjoy and actively seek.
And I've worked hard at refining my technique and skills to perform more efficiently and smoother each and every season.
I honestly believe that for most skiers a centre mounted twin tip ski is the perfect ski for most of their needs.
In the dimensions I ski?
Absolutely NOT.
I recommend the ski which I feel is best suited to the current ability level of my students and the type of terrain & snow conditions they aspire to ski safely and well.
I ski with them and know what will work best for them for that particular holiday. It changes.
When skiers come on a thread such as this sight unseen and ask for recommendations for which ski to bring / hire when they come to Hokkaido my first recommendation is always to bring/hire the ski you normally ski on.
That's one less thing to think about when you're in new terrain and possibly snow conditions which you've never experienced before.
I'm 58 and wear a medical brace to protect my bum left knee (rugby injury) and I don't jump off shit. So I don't need a longer, wider waisted ski to give me a greater margin of error when I come back down to earth.
But if that is what someone is looking for on a run then I have and would absolutely recommend seeking out a longer length, wider waisted ski with tip & tail rocker.
Similarly if someone wants to ski fast and "slarve a high speed turn and kick your skis out sideways?" then yes bring/hire a longer length, wider waisted ski with full rocker.
However, taking the statements @gaijin made
"Knock it off. People spend thousands of dollars for their bucket list ski trip...They’re spending $10k just to ski for a bit. You think they won’t drop cash on a real ski?...Be honest. They’re asking what ski they should buy for their dream trip to Hokkaido. To suggest anything other than a legit pow ski is absolute BS."
may I posit an alternative view.
The snow, the terrain, the trees, and length of powder run on Hokkaido - especially within the resort area boundaries - is very different from what most people visiting will have experienced before.
They'll normally have skied heavier powder snow on steeper terrain, possibly with wider spaced trees, and the runs will be longer. Much longer.
And they'll want to bring/use the tool which they're used to and ski they way they always have in this new environment.
Hokkaido powder snow is the easiest powder snow in the world to ski in my opinion.
On a trip to Hokkaido you'd have to be very unlucky not to ski the lightest, deepest, most consistent, best powder snow of your life.
The trees can get tight - and that's where a lighter, possibly shorter running length, more agile ski is a better choice.
It's as light as a feather and you don't have to ski steep terrain to get through it.
That's why people come here, and pay handsomely for it.
It's hero snow.
So why for the most part would you 'surf' the top 10-30cm like you do at your hometown hill when you can be 'baptised', enveloped, each and every run, practically each and every turn?
You're spending a lot of money to ski arguably the world's best snow on your dream, bucket list ski trip.
Ski it!
That's cool.Quote:
Originally Posted by zion zig zag
In fairness, the guides at Hokkaido Backcountry Club's cat ski operation out of Shimamkai gave me the same disparaging look when I rocked up with my skis ;)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwMbvllFnkN/
Just make sure your 'guide' is a certified guide with local knowledge and experience and the skills to get you in and out of potentially dangerous terrain and conditions safely and not just a second-year previously employed ski instructor who just wants to get first tracks every run.
It's physics.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustonen
If you're my body weight skiing on groomed slopes where there is no resistance to the skis, boots, legs, waist and if you're very lucky chest from the snow then to manage the momentum from gravity's pull you either have to forcefully push the ski edges into the groomed slopes and skid turns to control your speed or shape the turn to completion with a blend of pivoting and edging skills.
If you're my body weight skiing on a narrow platform then you will sink below the snow surface in powder snow as light and as consistent as found on Hokkaido.
As light as the snow is it will still create resistance against the skier (me) to varying degrees depending on the depth of immersion/snow penetration which will negate the need for pronounced turn shapes to complete the turn.
What you've interpreted as
"leaning back and taking the straightest line through low angle pow to maintain speed, which is what you see in the video, doesn’t look like reaching the highest potential of that snow condition. For me."
is in fact me being tall, relaxed and centred over my skis with enough shape in the turn to maintain momentum and flow during the run maximising and embracing every flake
Perhaps the non-POV footage in this video will demonstrate this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA_Nd3VCSJw
This footage is from the Dolomites
The snow isn't as deep so perhaps you can see more of the turn shape
Skinny skis work in Italy too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjnHUzOHGbo
You’re doing great, Mike! I don’t have a problem with anything you’re doing or saying.
I was reading through this thread and recpro started saying some weird stuff without any context and I was just trying to clarify if folk actually meant you should size down for Japan.
Your style and vibe is similar to many ski instructors. Not my cup of tea, but happy to see you out enjoying the snow and helping others do the same.
I picked on your skiing not because I don’t think it’s good skiing, but because it LOOKS like you’re skiing deep snow on a smaller ski than I might choose. It’s great validation for “ski the ski you like and are comfortable with.” Not great validation for “ski short 84mm wide skis in Japan.”
Look... bro... you and I got into this more than a decade ago and we got nowhere. I have since laid off asking you to try modern shapes. I've literally ignored you for more than a decade. You're stubborn. I get it. You've found your market, and I applaud it because you're enjoying yourself. And that's all legit, human, good shit. Keep it up.
But a bum knee with a brace might be just enough reason as to why you should learn (not just try) to ride a modern powder ski.
/over-and-out. Carry on doing what you're doing. Just make sure that everyone who is booking their trips to Hokkaido, spending their cash for their bucket list trip knows who they're hiring.
100%Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustonen
Although I would give a narrower platform than you're used to a whirl on Hokkaido
You may find you like the experience better
Or not :)
A metric ass ton of weed. Luv ya AlQuote:
Originally Posted by Mustonen
Good/excellent discussion between MikePow, Gaijin, Mustonen. Even polite! Very unTGR.
Shows different strokes for different folks
That's absolutely hilarious. Good to see you haven't changed.Quote:
Originally Posted by gaijin
You obviously chose not to read what I wrote in reply to your thinly veiled dig at my opinions and thoughts on skiing and skis for Hokkaido.
We have different opinions. I get it. I got it a decade ago.
I'm not trying to convince you or anyone else that 'my way' is the only way. That's your department.
I've tried modern skis and modern shapes. I enjoyed them. It was a fun, easier ride, much easier, but it's not the feeling I'm looking for. You knew that then. You know it now.
I am genuinely curious as to what one needs to 'learn' about a modern powder ski as opposed to trying it on demo though.
If I was looking for a different experience and outcome I'd absolutely be on a different ski. I'm not sponsored. I've got no dog in the game. Who the fuck would pay me to pimp their skis when you can't see what the hell I'm skiing on 95% of the time?
We ski in different places, in different ways, and we want different outcomes from our time on snow.
I've recommended modern skis and modern shapes to my students and forum members alike. They've enjoyed them and thanked me.
None of my students ski on the platform I'm on.
One or two ski a similar shape but in a wider platform with the latest technology. The rest ski the latest modern skis with the latest modern technology you can get from the various Niseko hire shops best suited to their ability and the outcomes they're trying to achieve. They're not my acolytes :)
Powder skis were invented as a crutch to maximise recreational skiers' time and enjoyment whilst heliskiing.
Those initial 'fence posts' have evolved to very sophisticated tools with which to enjoy the whole mountain and without them skiing would be dying on its arse. More power / powder to them!
I've interpreted the requests on this thread from those who intend to ski on Hokkaido as :
This is what I normally ski on where I normally ski, will it be suitable for Hokkaido?
Do I need something longer and/or wider? Do I need a different type of ski (e.g. full rocker) to make the most of the conditions and the investment I'm making in leaving my regular patch to travel half way round the world?
The easiest thing in the world would be to say bring/buy/hire the biggest, most modern powder ski you can find and have at it.
But as I wrote in my previous reply my honest take is if you're looking to experience the full wonder of Hokkaido powder I would posit that being 'in it' as well as 'on it' is key.
Pros can literally ski with two doors below their feet and still get 'in it'. If you're that person fan-fucking-tastic.
For mere mortals, who can already ski powder but who don't ski at 'Mach 1' and who can't flip their skis sideways and ride through the powder explosion then maybe, just maybe they might want to consider skiing on a modern ski with modern technology that's a little bit narrower than they're used to which will keep them 'on the snow' when conditions are mixed and funky (i.e. what they're used to) and also allow them to be 'in the snow' in what is normal low-density Hokkaido powder snow.
There are plenty of skis out there which will enable you to have the best of both worlds.
As to your overt and obnoxious end to your reply questioning my professional capabilities you've let yourself down there and made yourself look like a dick.
Don’t want to get in the middle of beef w/ gaijin but… your central thesis here seems to be that beaters should ski beater boards in Japan. That’s fine. If you’re reading this thread and you spend your snow time making PSIA turns on a system binding, vaya con dios. SkiTalk is right over there ->Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
Re: “in it” vs “on it”… I could give a fuck about the snow tickling my dick, I’m skiing japow for a feeling in my feet that I can’t get that bottom feeding on center mounted park skis. Try reframing to “against it” vs “with it” - and I think most mags rocking up in this thread are looking for advice on gear for a Japan trip that lets them flow with it, surf and slarve. Not perfect their dolphin turn.
/sigh... It's getting quite painful.
Quoting for posterity--
I can assure you that at least half of my posts on TGR will make me look like a dick. Everyone knows I'm a dick. That's kind of my game around here. Most understand that it's textual comedy. It's TGR. We're just throwing feces around here. It's funny, or it hurts. That's just kind of the nature of this format.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
But I also assure you that my post to you, about you finding your niche in Hokkaido, being happy, and that the world should know who they're hiring as a guide, was not me being a dick. That was me being polite. I'm legit stoked for you finding your business model and capitalizing on it.
You had to go and say something, eh?Quote:
Originally Posted by LeeLau
I was gonna tell Lee to shut his WhoreMouth and go back to WhoreIsland.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustonen
But then Mike decided to graffiti our wall with his text about how he thinks this is all real.
Very unTGR.
I was gonna tell him to eat a bag of dicks. But then I had to go to work and pretend to be an adult.
I didn’t find the trees where I skied (Rusutsu, Niseko) to be tight compared to east coast trees
Absolutely not.Quote:
Originally Posted by shank
My 'central thesis' which I've tried - and obviously failed - to explain on more than one occasion is choose the skis which are going to give YOU the greatest enjoyment.
Dedicated powder skis will give what you call 'beaters' a leg up in the powder AND they'll allow very good skiers to go balls to the wall, slarve, surf and jump off shit. Both things can be true at the same time.
You've described what you are looking for on a trip to Japan and that's why it would be fruitless to suggest anything that will take you away from what you want.
Others on this thread might be undecided or curious to try something different.
That's why TGR and the the like are called forums not soap boxes.
And am I correct in thinking that by your classification I'm 'with it' in terms of my relationship with the powder?
Thanks for clarifying, my misunderstanding.Quote:
Originally Posted by gaijin
My apologies.
Sigh. Well can't hurt for trying. I mean... I'm even semi polite in the BTC threadQuote:
Originally Posted by Mustonen
No they can be very similarQuote:
Originally Posted by half-fast
I can’t believe I wasted five minutes reading all of these arguments about skinny vs fat skis in powder.
I mean…
I get the impression that the super narrow trees I saw untracked in Japan days after a storm are what Mike and his skis can navigate and shred. To me those are trees I'd avoid skiing anywhere in the world as I'd rather ski cut up pow, groomers, moguls, etc. after the pow is tracked in all the nearby "wide" tree skiing, than ski that narrow of a line. But that's me and a choice mainly made by my skis, I def can't ski those trees on my 118's even if I wanted to. So I do see why a 105 would be nice over there, you'd get into more little pockets here and there.
Yup same ^^ I'm used to ridiculously tight Balsam stands, I've never skied deciduous before but I found it was all pretty open and bamboo tops were way easier than willowQuote:
Originally Posted by half-fast
and the shorter 120's ( I own both) can be slarved anywhere but YMMV eh
I think this would be a perfect app for Rax
FKNAQuote:
Originally Posted by XXX-er
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Agreed. The videos he posted look like the area between Needles and Strawberry at the bottom third of the mountain. Low angle choked with scrub/Gamble oak.Quote:
Originally Posted by muted reborn
All of you dumb bastards are completely wrong anyway.
You want a snowboard for Japan. :biggrin:
them trees seemed pretty well spaced to me… lot thinner than upstates woods. plenty ‘o room to turn a pair of 196.
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and them 120 waisted skis went deep enough for my needs… pretty sure i was in that shit.
Attachment 503156
fact.
they sure were a lot of kids there that agreed with you. however, it’s not the place you ever wanna end up stopped on teh flats. you’d better have some snow shoes with you iffn you’re planning on unbucklin’ and steppin’ out in that sweet sweet powder. these guys couldn’t hack it on the flat ski track out of the woods and spent a couple hours trying to hike up a small rise at the bottom of the hill back to the lift. they were fucking exhausted…Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzzworthy
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Fact.
I debated what to bring and in the end brought Ripstick tour (104) and Lotus 120s. Only time I woulda wanted the Ripsticks was when briefly skiing out the resort at the end of the day - they spent the whole trip in my bag (this was in Hakuba in late January) https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8e9f379ea1.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...1b52200e6b.jpg
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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4837f0b80f.jpg
Flats are what makes or breaks a snowboarder. They can be absolutely demoralizing.
https://gentemstick.com/Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzzworthy
The hot local brand is the GENTEMSTICK, the local we rode with had a couple of his own models and buddy was really smooth
this is what i been trying to say ^^ , I'm a huge lotus 120 fanboi so thats all I took altho I did take a spare RAD heelpieceQuote:
Originally Posted by bennymac
And they make every shape I see. They have some fun looking boards for sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by XXX-er
Lotsa models & apparently the Gentemsticks are REALLY expensive, I don't snow board myself
I toured with a couple of assitant guides who did fine on boards
before the hard boot was more common in the BC the one guy was on some ancient AT boots that were really soft and he claimed to have a stock of them in his basement, he was on bishop bomber bindings set at 45degree, ( I assume poles work better at 45 ? ) he carried poles and they were out all the time
Vids posted are from KiroroQuote:
Originally Posted by zion zig zag
Great Scott; those vision one eighteens are amazing skis!! Mounted with Duke pt. Skied whistler today. So freaking easy and actually very stable in chop. No doubt they’re gonna be awesome in niseko rusutsu in a couple of weeks. Tally ho
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
do you know where to demo one of these boards in japan or US?Quote:
Originally Posted by XXX-er