REPORT

Takao Maruyama (pictured, front rown center), a five-time winner of the All Japan Ski Technical Championships, including three consecutive victories from 2010 to 2012, held the first of several “Special Lessons” to commemorate his retirement as a National Demonstrator. Maruyama is an impressive figure with a tanned face and brilliant white teeth. The four lessons, which will be held stating today, 3/20 (Mon.), sold out within 15 minutes of the start of the application process.
[Usagidaira Slope]

The group gathered at the Usagidaira Terrace Ski School reception desk at 9:15 a.m. before boarding the Alpen Quad, heading towards the area along the Kurobishi 2 Quad, and listening attentively to Maruyama’s instruction. The morning session focuses on long carving turns (pictured), and the afternoon session will focus on short turns and moguls.
[Kurobishi Slope]

This morning, the sky was overcast with low-level clouds around the base area, and although the temperature was high, it felt chilly. I broke through above the clouds around the landing point of the Alpen Quad (pictured), but as the day progressed and the temperature rose, the clouds moved higher and visibility took a turn for the worse once again.
[Riesen Grat Course]

The groomed Panorama Course had a moderately packed, granular snow surface around 8:00. Usagidaira was also groomed, but had a thick outermost layer of soft granular snow at 8:30, while the north-facing Kurobishi Slope (pictured) had a similar but thinner loose layer of groomed granular snow. Conditions were comfortable on these three slopes, but after 10:00 a.m. the loose granular snow on Riesen Slalom had a high moisture content, which caused friction that made it somewhat difficult for my skis to slide across the surface.
[Kurobishi Slope]

　　
[Happo-One Opening Information for 3/17 (Fri.)]
*Almost All Areas Available (Except for Central, Olympic Ⅰ & Ⅱ, Kitaone, Sakka, Kokusai, Panorama Cat Track, OMUSUBI, Nakiyama North & Kabe)
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00 a.m.-), totally 13 lifts
*Fees … From 3/13 Spring Discount Adult JPY5,500, 6-17 y/o JPY2,500

*Printable Rental Discount Coupons!
Carving Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY3,000 / Outerwear JPY2,500!
Carving Ski・Snowboard High Performance Model Rental JPY500 OFF!
Kid’s Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY2,500 / Outerwear JPY1,500!

*Click here to purchase photos found in this report

reported by Snownavi