2008/2009 here we go!!!

The season has begun.

Well winter is here in Hakuba Japan. After watching the snow fall for 3 to 4 days, it was time to hit Happo for the opening day. Woke up early, packed the car and got to Happo. We were 4th in line not bad really until, we figured out that Ben forgot his boots! I got back into the car and back to the house. Luckily this being Japan and all, our spots in line were saved.

The Gondola opens and the first 4 people walk into the second gondola! So Ben and I walked right into the first gondola and up we went. Got to the quad and within 5 minutes where Marc (noboard in hand) Joined us and the lift spun up and took us up. I love catching the first chairs of the season. It is something that is just so important to me! You get this special feeling and you can feel the envy and energy from everyone. Knowing the snow would be deep I pointed it straight off of the lift. Down the groomed and into the main pitch. Perfect powder, on a really supportive bottomless base. The Chairlift screaming and cheering as I do the Hollywood line under the chair. Big turns but not super fast, I wanted to enjoy my first run! Man it was fun 35 degrees bottomless blower.

Up the lift for round 2 and we are wondering “where is Marc”? We look over and see that he had No-boarded Kurobishi. Now that was a something to see. We had already told Marc that we were going to hit that second run. So it worked out perfectly. He was pretty stoked at the bottom. On to the skyline and ski the face. Not so deep here but wide open and fresh. Cut around to the lower half that always fills in and it is thigh deep heaven again. Get to the bottom so charged up and see just my own single line. Marc comes ripping on the no-board and looks solid. Half way down he pops a small air and cant hold it together. No problem right??? Wrong he forgot to leash the board. The board makes 3 perfect ghost ridden turns, catches major air then nose dives into the pow close to me. Marc stands up and the snow is at his waist. So for the next 10 minutes Marc rolls down the hill. Lesson learned It think.

After waiting for 10 minutes a few skiers came down. I had a plan to get first tracks top to bottom and I wasn’t going to be snaked. So I ditched Marc and headed to Sakka. Thigh deep and a nice pitch playing with the natural features that were still around. Got to the bottom satisfied the terrain wasn’t big or crazy just somehow the moment was perfect!