KOALA Cottage owner Mark France bumped into some Finnish skiers the other day who’d ridden in Alta, Utah, often touted as having the best powder in the world. When asked how Niseko compared they said: “…if you want powder, come to Niseko.”
EVER think Niseko’s powder looks good enough to eat? Go outside and grab a big bowl full of fresh powder. Sit with a group of friends around the bowl, fill your glass with powder then add a splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream. Stir with a teaspoon, eat, and repeat. You’ll be surprised how fast a bottle disappears!
FOR those who want to enjoy the Niseko snow by riding powder, not eating it, there are a few places around town to hire powder boards. You can ride a latest model Gentemstick from the local showroom just outside of the village for a whole day for ¥1500. Full Note lodge also hires Burton Fish for ¥2500, and The Powder Company rents out 23 different kinds of the locally-made Gentemstick for ¥2500 a day.
SPEAKING of Gentemsticks, they’re generally the board of choice for the skilful riders in the Hokkaido-made Car Danchi snowboarding films. Filmmaker Neil Hartmann has three copies of the Car Danchi 4 Rent DVDs that Neil has graciously offered us to give away.
To win one of the DVDs all you need to do is email [email protected] and tell us the meaning of the word ‘Danchi’.
HARTMANN cracked his knee cap in a freak accident while snowmobiling (unfortunately this may delay the making of Car Danchi V!). Now he’s got lots of time on his hands to spend the winter at home chilling with his family, and working on a short edit of the Car Danchi series for Niseko’s upcoming Flake Film Festival. Hartmann’s entry could mean there is some stiff competition at this year’s event.
FLAKE Film Festival director ‘Chook’ is calling for all entries to the March 10 event at the Après Bar. The entries must be up to eight minutes long, and don’t even have to be snow films – they can be comedy, drama, animation, documentary, mockumentary, sport… All films welcome. Email ‘Chook’ at [email protected].
IN the last edition of Powderlife, we told you about the secret late-night munchie food, Lawson’s Juicy-Fried Chicken. Well, after chatting with a night manager we found out that on Australia Day Lawson sold roughly 300 pieces of ‘JFC’ – that’s 140 more than a usual winter’s day. Seems the secret is already out! FYI: We hear their fries are pretty good too…
FOR a taste of traditional Japan, every Sunday during winter Java Bar displays products from souvenir store Cocoroya, including kimonos, small gift items and antique furniture. It’s held between 7pm-9pm. The aforementioned taste of traditional Japan also includes a sake tasting experience.
POWDERLIFE is now selling its new ‘Niseko Super Dry shirts’, the perfect souvenir after soaking up the super dry beer and even drier powder in Niseko. They’re ¥3000 at the Powderlife office opposite Seicomart, but we’re giving away five to the first five readers who email
[email protected] to claim their prize. It’s first in best dressed – literally!
TO finish on a good note, chances are after a long day of riding powder you’ll have worked up quite the thirst, and you’ll be after a beer that towers above the rest.
Voting starts for Niseko’s greatest hits
THE votes are rolling in for Powderlife’s Best of Niseko. And there have already been a few early favourites – especially in the popular restaurant category.
Now in its third year, Best of Niseko is an opportunity to give a pat on the back to those little businesses that make Niseko such a great place.
To vote, visit our website at www.powderlife.com/best-of-niseko-2010.
To give you a better idea, last season’s Best of Niseko winners were… Restaurant – Sekka; Izakaya – Rin; Bar – Yuki Bar; Onsen – Hilton; Café – Downtown Café; Convenience store – Lawson; Souvenir shop – Sakura; Resort – Niseko Village; Activity – Snowmobiling. But don’t let these influence your vote, because there are plenty of new businesses in town this season doing a fantastic job!
Everyone who votes will go in the running to win a pair of the ultimate Niseko powder ski – a set of Armada ARGs thanks to Rhythm :)