REPORT

This morning, one of the terrain park diggers (pictured) told me they are working hard to keep the area in tip-top shape every day, and encouraged me to come check it out. The 2-kilometer-long Uenotaira Snow Park (pictured), which is accessed by the Uenotaira Quad Lift, currently features 11 elements. This morning, operation of the Nagasaka Gondola was delayed, so those that had been waiting in line ended up taking the Nagasaka Triple over to the Hikage Gondola.
[Uenotaira Slope]

The Kandahar Course (pictured), which is an International Ski Federation (FIS) approved course that has hosted many competitions including the All Japan Ski Championships, was opened to the public on 3/9 (Thurs.) and 3/10 (Fri.). The view from this usually-off-limits course was refreshingly different! I also really enjoyed the moderately soft surface and the undulating topography with multiple angle changes.
[FIS-Certified Kandahar Course]

The ungroomed Utopia A Course (pictured, background) had a hard-packed, granular snow surface that was shining in the direct sunlight. Skiing from Kaminodaira to Utopia B via Paradise and Rinkan, I found that my skis sled well on the groomed granular snow surfaces. The well-packed, groomed granular snow surface on Utopia B (pictured, foreground) was starting to soften up.
[Utopia B Course]

I ran into Sawayanagi-san, a former professional snowboarder, who told me he was a fan of the Snownavi site, and I was welcome to take pictures of his runs. He added, “The halfpipe here is always well maintained, and the atmosphere is also very friendly.” The halfpipe itself was groomed, with a loose granular snow surface that was slowly carved with the deep tracks of the day’s riders.
[Uenotaira Slope]

　
[Nozawa Onsen Availability Information on 3/9 (Thu.)]
*All courses are available! (Except for Yunomine A)
*Available Lifts … Nagasaka Gondola (8:30-), Hikage Gondola (8:30-) and totally 14 lifts.
*Lift Fees … Adult JPY6,000, Under 15 y/o JPY3,600, Over 60 y/o JPY4,800 (Until 4/2)

*Click here to purchase photos found in this report

reported by Snownavi