Yesterday the snow bucketed down onto Grand Hirafu with such fury that we all knew today was going to be one of those epic powder days that you talk about for a long time to come. We didn’t even need to read the snow report and find out that there was a fresh 40cm of fluffy goodness just waiting for us to carve it up.
The town was awake and heading up towards the gondola bright and early, and for the first time in a long while, I was there for first chair.
We were all up bright and early, eager to get into the 40cm of fresh pow
Do you remember being a kid, and taking part in a treasure hunt, the kind where someone had stashed lollies all over the backyard? As soon as they said ‘go’, you would tear off, intent on getting the biggest haul of goodies, friends be damned. It was a bit like that this morning, and that’s why I don’t have any awesome pictures for you.
Everyone was quiet and focused, fumbling with their bindings in an effort to strap in and get into that magical whiteness as quickly as possible. The mountain didn’t disappoint, not that it ever does out here. The snow was light and deep, the groomers were softly covered, and off-piste was like Disneyland.
We headed straight up Swinging Monkey and cut an incredible line down to the Hooded Triple, from where we tore up the ungroomed powder to each side of Jumbo quite a few times. True to Niseko form, we were able to ride over and over our tracks without them freezing up and getting lumpy, the beautifully soft snow providing a rolling ride that felt a lot like surfing.
I am truly jealous of those who got to go night riding tonight; but we all know there will be more snow tomorrow, and the next day, because that is why we are here.
All i have to say is OOOOHHHHHHH YYYEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!
Hope i get a day of the powder goodness when I’m in town in feb. Congrates to you!
If you weren’t someone else would.