WITHOUT further ado, Niseko powder season 2012/13 has begun on time and in style.
It's always nice when the traditional resort opening ceremony (see pic, right) is held amid flurries of powder flakes, unlike this day in 2010.
A snow storm blew in on Sunday and by Monday morning there was half a metre of powder on the ski hill – enough for a keen few to head up and claim first tracks for the season.
It snowed consistently all week allowing the first two lifts on schedule today – the Alpen quad and the Ace pair.
More snow forecast for the next week. Warming up a little but there should be enough up high to keep building the base.
Dust of your skis and boards – it's on.
Check out more pics at Niseko Photography's blog.