Official Equipment Pondering Thread

For some reason evo.com is selling 2013 holden coaches for 160 instead of 200. only the black and the red one though.

Im determined on 40+ days this season. And anything over twenty you might as well pick up a pass (japan season passes are 15-20 days full cost usually). 

Myoko; nozawa; one of the hakuba ones; the JTB pass; or even shiga kogen.

Realistically its between myoko and nozawa since hakuba is way too expensive for one of happo or goryu/47. And shiga kogen is really an ordeal to get to without a car. The JTB pass looks alright with ryuoo, xjam, iizuna, kurohime and a fair chunk of hakuba (but not the big two). But realistically i cant see myself wanting to hit up any of those all that much. Really i like the big 4 from the area (hakuba, myoko, shiga, nozawa). 

So as i say, it comes down to myoko versus nozawa. 

Transport: Myoko wins slightly on transport (more simple - train---train---bus (few changes or waits); nozawa is train---15 minutes longer train---15 minute wait---bus---15 minite walk up to the resort or 10 mibute wait for shuttle bus.

1-0 Myoko.

Area: Myoko gets more. You have akakan, suginohara, and ikenotaira on the pass. Nozawa is just nozawa. 

2-0 to Myoko.

Powder: Myoko wins on powder in peak season, but after peak season myoko powder turns to shit. Nozawa gets great powder too. But after the peak it also has elevation at the top of yamabiko. The powder last year there was awesome and really thats the clincher. Roughly the same peak season, bit more in myokos favor, but nozawa stays better quality for longer. 

2-1

In bounds: Akakan is a nice day out. Ikenotaira makes a nice half day and suginohara makes a nice half day. Nozawa is a good solid few days of fun. Pretty much matched. I guess chances are though ill get bored with nozawa faster since i dont have that many escape options to switch it up. Still, since i can only ride one, and since im kinda bored of myoko, it has to go to nozawa.

2-2.

Slackcountry: plenty of trees on myoko to skid through. Brilliant place for intermediate slackcountry, but without a hike if youre advanced it gets a bit dull eventually. If you hike though myoko takes it hands down. But i dont... so its myoko tree runs and general lift accessed trails versus nozawas beast of a slackountry ride. And Thats the only one i know about, im pretty sure with three ridge lines coming off it, theres more out there. Im excited to explore nozawa, im less excited to explore myko since i feel like ive found the best lines already that dont involve a hike. 

2-3 to Nozawa.

Season Pass: 50,000 to myoko; 60,000 to nozawa

3-3. 

Other:

I bought a myoko season pass in 2008/2009. I enjoyed riding it, but by around day 8 it felt like an albatross around my neck. I hadnt ever ridden shiga kogen or nozawa by then though so really that was the cause of my itchy feet. 

Ive been to nozawa a few times now. Im still not really that bored of it. In fact the last time i went was a massive discovery day. Im keen to find out more about the place. Basically i feel like id wake up to ride nozawa whereas i might think "bleh, ill skip this weekend/holiday and get drunk instead in myoko". For me myoko slightly edges out nozawa as a three resort option, but theres no link up and you will literally have to get a bus (and pay for it and waste massive amounts of time) to switch resorts. Nozawa is all youve got, but then again its all there. Nozawa versus any of the three is an easy nozawa win. Even suginohara, great fun as it is, is still a bit flat ultimately (and had the soul ripped out of it when they pulled out one of its most important lifts). 

So...

4-3 to Nozawa i think. 

I think though the question "which one do i want to explore and will actually get out of bed to ride? should really be worth a bit more points. :) I have a feeling its nozawa. Assuming the expected storm doesnt hit (it was supposed to come this afternoon, but theres no sign of it yet and reports suggest its not really happening), ill head that way tomorrow and see how it goes. If its not too much of a pain to get to, then itll be nozawa. If it is, its back to the myoko/nozawa debate/ponder. 

ETA: bus timetable for my reference more than anything else: http://www.vill.nozawaonsen.nagano.jp/gyosei/bus_jikoku/English.pdf 

Can you link me too? I am pondering a nice pair of Khaki pants. (or cords like buron bulge)

I neeeeed to find some grey skinny snowpants for less than 130$ As I've said before, the holdens sold out after I bought them errr something. I need size medium. Need to be rad. Help.

Check out this thread for the 30% off coupon for Thrive:

I purchased the Renegade (Reg. $550) for $385.  Purchase includes their $80 board bag for FREE, and if you're lucky, they'll throw in your FREE level upgrade t-shirt (Reg. $25) with the shipment too.  Plus FREE shipping.  It may not mean much to you but living in Canada, I was prepared to pay customs and brokerage at the door but to my pleasant surprise, didn't have to pay anything when my parcel arrived.  FAST shipping too.

Now that's DEFINITELY better than a decent sale! (IMHO)