JAPAN GRABS - Hakuba Blog 2013 / 2014

Call the FBI!

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Happo Banks

It was a bluebird day at Happo and after blasting through some resort runs, we headed to the Happo Banks park.
It seemed the good weather was making everyone’s riding heat up and there were slashes going off here, there and everywhere.
I finally found a line that tickled my fancy and it went : frontside layback on the first big bank, then over to the manual pad where I got a open 1 to nose butter to switch back 1 off (I’m sure there’s an easier way to describe it. Anyways, it sounds way more tech than it really is), then a backside slash on the next bank to a method airing out of the next one, then some mini carves before a back 1 melon air out of the final bank. Oh and go down past the lift line to the pile of snow at the back and do a pathetic tail block attempt.
So, as you can see, there’s loads you can do in one run.

These photos, however, are just slashes.

Airplane slash (with mandatory vroooooooom noises)

This guy was a ripper, on a tiny swallowtail

Gettin’ low, low, low

No mellow in this yellow

Double Slasheroo to end this post!

Hi Marc,

I was going to PM you but I’d thought I’d show the love publicly. The boys and I had an epic time in Hakuba, it took a few days (and even those days were sick) but we got what we came for! I just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to share your local knowledge, it came in handy.

P.S, stay away from the sake at Penke!

Thanks Unremarkable!  Glad you had a great trip!

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1st Annual Gokurakuzaka Banked Slalom

After seeing the success of banked slalom contests at neighbouring ski resorts last year, local ripper couple, Daisuke and Saori ‘Sabo’ Mizuma organized one for us at our local resort here in Toyama.
There was a huge turnout with over 120 riders taking part, which made it a big success, especially for the first year. The pressure was high as nearly everyone knew each other, and nobody wanted to lose to their rival, or look bad in front of their friends. The course, while well-built,  was icy and challenging, and lots of riders felt its wrath on the corners, spectacularly crashing out. Much to my chagrin, I was one of the unfortunate victims and will have to wait til next year to somehow restore my dignity. Being bounced out did give me time to get some nice shots in the bag though.
The final was heated with some fine displays of next level shredding, but no one could top Shuichi Kumaki, who won by a 4 second margin.
Check out the shots!

The drop in

Check out the photog in the power lunge shooting pose

There was even a jump lower down

Followed by a tight slalom section

The stoke was high

Organizer and Moss Snowstick pro Daisuke Mizuma on his way to snagging 3rd place

Yuuhei Shimada laying down a nice toe side

My good friend Marbo framing himself nicely

Tsubasa killed it in qualifying but crashed out in the final. A split second before he went flying out:

Masato Morikawa destroyed the top half of the course in the final but got bogged down lower down and finished 6th

Mitsuru Nashiki was the fastest in qualifying but ended up 4th in the final

Organizer Saori Mizuma came first in the women’s field and scored some new Deeluxe boots

If you want to try your hand in a Japanese Banked Slalom contest, head to Japan in March, which is when most of the races happen. It’s a great way to mix up your riding when the warm temps cause havoc with the snow level and quality. Oh, and it’s super fun too

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Lady, Shreddy, Go! at Happo Banks

Last Saturday we got lucky and had bluebird skies and warm temps for the ladies’ event at
Happo Banks.

There were some big name pros on hand:
Haruna Kito (Gentemstick, Patagonia Ambassador)
Tomomi “Sheesa” Kuwahara (Gentemstick, Hestra, Poc)
Maiko Matsumoto (TJ Brand snowboards, Deeluxe)
Yoko Nakamura (Salomon, Green Clothing - and fresh off her win at the Tenjin Banked Slalom the week before)

and two others who were introduced last and I missed their names.
Anyways, there was a big turnout of ladies, and Haruna and Sheesa dropped in first.

Haruna took the inside line of the spine

Meanwhile, Sheesa took the looker’s right big banks line

Back to Haruna. This is one of my favourite photos from the day.

Yoko’s turn

and boom! method off the hip

Maiko comes up fast

...and slashes hard on the bottom bank

Those two other pros

I really should find out their names as that’s a nice method

Besides the Gentem demo, TJ Brand snowboards had their women’s line on hand

My favourite tent was the Clif Bar tent!

Free Clif Bars make for a great day!

Meanwhile, Bubbles was keepin’ it real

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The Board Ridaz Contest

This is a unique “3S” contest coming up next weekend (surf, skate & snow), with the combined winner being crowned the “King of Nature”.

The contest begins on Saturday, March 29th at Momokawa beach in Niigata, followed by the skate comp that evening at True Players Skate Park in Hakuba.
Then, Sunday morning will see Happo Banks hosting the snow comp.
Entry is 7000 yen for two events or 10,000 yen for all three. To enter contact the Board Ridaz Committee at 0466-24-0800 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Note: Happo Banks will be closed for public riding until 12 noon on March 30th, however it should be fun to come and watch the event. Pro tip: riding the chair lift will offer the best view of the action.

For event times and other info (in Japanese), check here

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Snow Banks Camp presented by Patagonia Hakuba & Happo Banks

Patagonia Hakuba and Happo Banks will be hosting the Snow Banks Camp on April 4th and 5th.
Patagonia Ambassadors and Gentemstick pro riders, Hayato “Bubbles” Maruyama and Haruna Kito will provide all day coaching to a small group
covering everything from edge control to technical banks riding. At 2pm, the group will move to the Patagonia store in Hakuba for a one hour video critique session, from footage of the group filmed that day.
The groups are a maximum of 10 riders per day, with five guys being coached by Bubbles, and five ladies riding with Haruna.
It is 12,000yen for the day (includes travel insurance but does not include the lift ticket).
Check here for the time schedule and for the online entry form (the purple button at the bottom):

http://slopeplanning.com/archives/5960

in other news, Happo One lift tickets have now gone down to spring pricing, which makes a day at Happo Banks all the more worthwhile.

Awesome, mate. Loving the updated. That Banks Camp would be sick!

I’m pretty sure there’s still time for a jet-setter like you to make it over here

Haha I wish.

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Running into Hotham local, Luke Krause

Hey Luke, what up?

So last Saturday was bluebird and I was doing laps at Happo Banks, and trying to learn handplants. Now, the perfect spot for them is at the bottom of the park next to the lift, but it does get congested with other riders hitting it and people with no clue standing around.
I came in fast and the guy in front of me did a plant and was coming back down. Long story short, I thought he was going to go left but he went right, and we collided pretty hard, with a solid shoulder (mine) to his head
And that’s how I met Luke! Hailing from Melbourne, he came over in early March to shred in Hakuba. It turns out that he’s part of the Powderpak family and he was in a video that was posted on BW before! (I’ll stick it at the bottom of this post to refresh your memories). Anyways, he’s not bad at playing snowboards and definitely deserves a high five if you see him at Hotham this So.He. winter.

Anyhoo, the next day was bluebird again and we shot together for a couple of runs. Check out the photos!

This is what it looked like just before we crashed into each other

Back 1 method

Layback

Spray-tastic

Shifty mute

Don’t know what this is, but it looks alright

stalefish on the hip

Second try’s a charm for airing the GoPro sign over the middle spine

...still flying

Here’s the Powderpak video

Interesting way to meet someone!  I’ll see if I recognise him at Hotham this year.

This is awesome!