Skiing!!

Reply to Skiing!! on Fri, 15 Dec 2017 00:27:35 GMT

jedamum — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 00:27:35 GMT

Hi Hercules,

Thanks for sharing!

My boys are a pair of unique kind. I have a sporty younger one who knows his limits and a non sporty older teen who likes to try new stuff. The younger one needs encouragement and with that, can usually pick up very fast. He plays a variety of sports at beginner level. The older one surprises us with his stamina though he is not outdoorsy or has any ball/sport sense. He is the one who can walk long distance and keeps going when all of us are tired.

I used to be fearless but now not. Used to teach dh roller blading which he picked up in a day. We were below 20s then .

I will assume kiasi case scenario then and stick to 1 morning lesson and do other activities the rest of the time. On this case 2 nights stay is just about tight.

Reply to Skiing!! on Fri, 15 Dec 2017 00:27:28 GMT

lexis — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 00:27:28 GMT

jedamum:

1. Is it possible that after advance booking a 2-3 hours session in the morning and if we are keen, to have additional lessons in afternoon / night? My concern is, will it be difficult to do last minute add-on lessons?

I am unsure if any of us will be keen, so am thinking to start with a short lesson instead of committing few lessons upfront.

2. Is learning to ski, more difficult than learning to bike/roller blade?

3. What fitness level should I try to obtain before the ski trip? My husband said I should join in to learn with the kids since already all the way there. Thereafter if we are keen, then learn more next time. I am very unfit, so I probably should get into shape.

4. My husband has back injury before, should he avoid this (even if it's a good 2hour lesson)?

5. I read about 'magic carpet'. Does it mean no need to purchase lift tickets?

Thanks.

(on a separate note, anyone did snowshoe trekking before? Is it interesting? Thanks.)

2 nights for a ski holiday is quite short as it usually takes you at least 2-3 hours to reach a ski resort from an airport or city. Upon arrival, you usually check in and get your ski equipment and the day is finished. So you effectively only get 1 full day on the slopes.

If you go off peak (early- mid Dec), should be no problem adding on the ski lessons in the afternoon but it means you may not get back the same instructor. Peak period (Christmas week, CNY.) might be a bit more difficult.

It's best to be as fit as possible (haha) since lugging the skis is heavy, and you require quite a bit of core strength and leg strength. Stamina would help too! Don't have to be super fit, but if you're super unfit then would be good to get a degree of fitness before attempting to ski. It would make it more enjoyable overall! In the first few lessons, if you happen to go somewhere without a magic carpet, you'd have to climb up/down the bunny slope with skis to learn.

My experience is that if you can roller blade / skate, you will probably be able to ski cos the concept is quite similar (to me). I can't comment on back injury and skiing..with skiing (as well as many other sports), there is always the risk you land in an awkward position when you fall.

I have only used one magic carpet (at Hanazono Niseko) and that one requires a lift pass.

Reply to Skiing!! on Thu, 14 Dec 2017 18:28:41 GMT

hercules — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 18:28:41 GMT

jedamum:

Am planning an introductory (2night stay) to skiing trip for the family (2A2Teen) for next Dec and would like to find out

Share my personal experiences of bringing adults (40s) and kids (from 5 - 20) to ski resorts before.

1. Usually lessons were taken in the morning. Kids could tahan about 2 - 3 hours of lessons. My brother and sister gave up after 20 minutes (super tired and my brother was perspiring like raining). I sat at the cafe coz I was worried of injury.

2. If a child is 'sporty' type, he could ski OK after an hour lesson (my son and nephew belong to this category - fearless. These two will tag along anyone who is going for ski trips). My teenage niece couldn't make it even after a full 2 hours lesson - fearful / kiasi type even though she did sports in schools (this one now declines ski sort of 'forever').

3. After morning ski for beginners, usually whole body will ache (and so not so sure whether still can continue in the afternoon without risking can't move well the next morning).

4. For adults with 'older bones' (like me), have to be aware of injury. So best to pick softer snow (place and time) to cushion falls for people like me who are still keen to try.

5. Do ensure your travel insurance covers ski activities (one of my friends fell while learning ski last year, hit her buttock hard (she belongs to the 'heavy type' and so 'impact' was hard), and A&E to Japan hospital, then whole family (2A2C) flew back for her to ambulance to Spore hospital. Tail bone cracked and rested for a few months. All her expenses covered under travel insurance but there are some covers that exclude ski activities).

Have fun!

Reply to Skiing!! on Thu, 14 Dec 2017 17:40:33 GMT

jedamum — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 17:40:33 GMT

Found this thread to be very useful!

Am planning an introductory (2night stay) to skiing trip for the family (2A2Teen) for next Dec and would like to find out

1. Is it possible that after advance booking a 2-3 hours session in the morning and if we are keen, to have additional lessons in afternoon / night? My concern is, will it be difficult to do last minute add-on lessons?

I am unsure if any of us will be keen, so am thinking to start with a short lesson instead of committing few lessons upfront.

2. Is learning to ski, more difficult than learning to bike/roller blade?

3. What fitness level should I try to obtain before the ski trip? My husband said I should join in to learn with the kids since already all the way there. Thereafter if we are keen, then learn more next time. I am very unfit, so I probably should get into shape.

4. My husband has back injury before, should he avoid this (even if it’s a good 2hour lesson)?

5. I read about ‘magic carpet’. Does it mean no need to purchase lift tickets?

Thanks.

(on a separate note, anyone did snowshoe trekking before? Is it interesting? Thanks.)

Reply to Skiing!! on Tue, 08 Nov 2016 08:33:32 GMT

ptb7476 — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 08:33:32 GMT

choonie:
We are also planning a trip to niseko in Dec & have problem with reserving restaurants. The popular ones are fully booked like abucha.

Can anyone recommend good restaurants in hirafu village that we dun need to book in advance?

Thanks a lot!

depend on your data .. abu cha still available on 16th but i have already made reservation for another restaurant ..
guess will give it a miss

Reply to Skiing!! on Tue, 08 Nov 2016 08:24:39 GMT

lexis — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 08:24:39 GMT

If you are not particular, there are a couple of ramen shops that you’ll be able to find seats in if you go early (5-530 pm). There’s also Niseko Pizza (can order to take out), and a couple of food carts near the family slope / Seicomart car park where you can buy fish and chips etc to go. Seicomart also sells pre-packaged meals which you can grab and heat up in your apartment if you run out of ideas or places to eat.

Reply to Skiing!! on Tue, 08 Nov 2016 04:37:32 GMT

choonie — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 04:37:32 GMT

We are also planning a trip to niseko in Dec & have problem with reserving restaurants. The popular ones are fully booked like abucha.

Can anyone recommend good restaurants in hirafu village that we dun need to book in advance?

Thanks a lot!

Reply to Skiing!! on Thu, 03 Nov 2016 04:06:26 GMT

ryka — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 04:06:26 GMT

We were in niseko last year mid-Dec, there’s no problem on finding seats in the restaurant around Hirafu and Niseko area without reservations. So don’t worry too much about it.

Reply to Skiing!! on Thu, 03 Nov 2016 02:36:20 GMT

ptb7476 — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 02:36:20 GMT

will be in niseko in dec and hearsay restaurant need to be book in advance

is there any portal like CHOPE that can help us to make reservation with restaurant
most of the good makan place there dun even have website @_@ … when if have also in japanese and no email or reservation function

they do have phone number but i worry … chicken and duck talk cos i dont speak japanese

Reply to Skiing!! on Tue, 04 Oct 2016 05:39:14 GMT

djl — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 05:39:14 GMT

Hello! Has anyone skied in Furano, or stayed at the New Furano Prince Hotel in winter?

Thanks.

Reply to Skiing!! on Wed, 18 May 2016 12:19:18 GMT

Dnls_mum — Wed, 18 May 2016 12:19:18 GMT

pirated:
Going up midnite arriving 8am. Quite good

Coming back 9:30am departure

Used to be for year end period only. Is it throughout the year now? Daily?

Reply to Skiing!! on Wed, 18 May 2016 07:15:05 GMT

ptb7476 — Wed, 18 May 2016 07:15:05 GMT

pirated:
Going up midnite arriving 8am. Quite good

Coming back 9:30am departure

no idea .. i guess partly also because we want to idle awhile in tokyo bah

Reply to Skiing!! on Wed, 18 May 2016 06:56:44 GMT

pirated — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:56:44 GMT

MyPillow:
pirated:
This year SIA has introduced non stop flights to chitose

quote=\"pirated\"]Going up midnite arriving 8am. Quite good

Coming back 9:30am departure

hmm.... when was it intro?
i din rec any emails fr SIA

the going timing is good - by afternoon , can hit the slope if u got energy
but coming home at 9.30am is early[/quote]

They can't park the aircraft there not earning revenue

Reply to Skiing!! on Wed, 18 May 2016 06:43:12 GMT

MyPillow — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:43:12 GMT

pirated:
This year SIA has introduced non stop flights to chitose

quote=\"pirated\"]Going up midnite arriving 8am. Quite good

Coming back 9:30am departure[/quote]

hmm.... when was it intro?
i din rec any emails fr SIA

the going timing is good - by afternoon , can hit the slope if u got energy
but coming home at 9.30am is early

Reply to Skiing!! on Wed, 18 May 2016 06:37:05 GMT

pirated — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:37:05 GMT

Going up midnite arriving 8am. Quite good

Coming back 9:30am departure

Reply to Skiing!! on Wed, 18 May 2016 06:32:50 GMT

ptb7476 — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:32:50 GMT

pirated:
ptb7476:
[quote=\"pirated\"]This year SIA has introduced non stop flights to chitose

really :yikes:

in the past they have direct but usually are chartered and only during specific period

if they going to make it a regular normal flight i am going to :stupid:

Was able to book redemption tickets a few months back[/quote]oops .. turned out my hb and sibling all knew :rotflmao:

they dun like the timing so we go via narita :rotflmao:

Reply to Skiing!! on Wed, 18 May 2016 06:27:17 GMT

pirated — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:27:17 GMT

ptb7476:
pirated:
This year SIA has introduced non stop flights to chitose

really :yikes:

in the past they have direct but usually are chartered and only during specific period

if they going to make it a regular normal flight i am going to :stupid:

Was able to book redemption tickets a few months back

Reply to Skiing!! on Wed, 18 May 2016 06:26:13 GMT

ptb7476 — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:26:13 GMT

pirated:
This year SIA has introduced non stop flights to chitose

really :yikes:

in the past they have direct but usually are chartered and only during specific period

if they going to make it a regular normal flight i am going to :stupid:

Reply to Skiing!! on Wed, 18 May 2016 06:21:28 GMT

pirated — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:21:28 GMT

This year SIA has introduced non stop flights to chitose

Reply to Skiing!! on Wed, 18 May 2016 06:13:40 GMT

ptb7476 — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:13:40 GMT

i am currently researching on apt for hokkaido ski holiday

and i am already late !! alot of nice and reasonable priced apt are taken
and i also notice they will insist a min 5 nights rental

also i found out airline has ski package too

which include domestic flight to chitose and include accomodation but regretfully pricing and booking only start in oct 2016

Reply to Skiing!! on Wed, 06 Apr 2016 01:17:44 GMT

ptb7476 — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 01:17:44 GMT

djl:
ptb7476:
http://saraannk.com/2016/04/how-urbansk ... great-one/

this article make me feel like taking lesson here before hitting the ski resort year end
I've been curious to try out the Urban Ski facility, to see if it helps with learning to ski or improving one's skiing. However, one major difference is that a ski slope doesn't move - unlike the ski \"treadmill\" there, so I wonder how that affects the balance aspect.

One thing though - ski pants should not be tucked into ski boots. Ski pants go over the ski boots.

guess the treadmill is trying to mimic you are skiing constantly but if you can balance on a moving treadmill then on a non moving ski slope wont it be even easier ...no idea have not tried both lolz ...guess will only know when we try it

Reply to Skiing!! on Tue, 05 Apr 2016 12:17:20 GMT

djl — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 12:17:20 GMT

ptb7476:
http://saraannk.com/2016/04/how-urbansk ... great-one/

this article make me feel like taking lesson here before hitting the ski resort year end

I've been curious to try out the Urban Ski facility, to see if it helps with learning to ski or improving one's skiing. However, one major difference is that a ski slope doesn't move - unlike the ski \"treadmill\" there, so I wonder how that affects the balance aspect.

One thing though - ski pants should not be tucked into ski boots. Ski pants go over the ski boots.

Reply to Skiing!! on Mon, 04 Apr 2016 08:07:50 GMT

ptb7476 — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 08:07:50 GMT

http://saraannk.com/2016/04/how-urbansk ... great-one/

this article make me feel like taking lesson here before hitting the ski resort year end