REPORT

The Yuzawa-area slope reports have kicked off with Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort, which reached “Fully Open” status (80%+ terrain available) on 12/28 (Sun.). Riding the High-Speed Mountaintop Lift (pictured) with me this morning was a man from Shizuoka, who said, “I came up on the Joetsu Shinkansen, and using the shuttle bus makes it easy to access other ski resorts as well. Oh, and I’m glad the light rain from earlier in the morning has stopped.”
[High-Speed Mountaintop Lift]

The Summit Slope (pictured; max 35°, average 15°, 900 m) was groomed firm with well-set moist snow, letting me set my edges confidently and build speed with ease. The groomed bypass, the Fairy Tale Course (max 20°, average 14°, 1,000 m), had similarly well-compacted moist snow, with fast glide and smooth, forgiving turns.
[Summit Slope]

But more than anything, the views of the Uonuma Plain (pictured) from the lift felt refreshing. Staring on 12/28 (Sun.), the connecting run on the summit opened, allowing riders to travel back and forth to GALA Yuzawa, and on 12/29 (Mon.) the Snow Park opened. In addition, starting today, 12/30 (Tue.), night skiing begins on three courses—Omaruyama, Paradise, and Green—along the Tourism Express No. 3 lift.
[Central High-Speed Triple Lift]

Early in the morning, many guests warmed up with runs lapping the Green Lift before boarding the No. 3 Express, which starts operating at 9:00, and heading for the summit. With the year-end and New Year holidays underway, the Sunrise Express unloading area was bustling with families and groups of younger skiers and riders. Later, three visitors from Kanagawa whom I met on the Ginza Slope told me, “There are so many courses open—it’s incredibly fun!”
[Sunrise Express Unloading Area]

　
[Ishiuchi Maruyama Details on 12/30 (Tue.)]
＊All Courses are OPEN (Exept for Lowe Sunrise Line, Hoppichler, Sportsman, Devil Down, Dynamic A & B, Gengoro, Giant, Hatsuka Bypass, Tree area)
＊Operating Lifts … Sunrise Express and totally 13 lifts
＊Fee … 1-Day Pass Adult JPY7,900, 6 to 15 y/o JPY4,200, 4 to 6 y/o JPY1,500, Over 60 yp/o JPY6,700　※Free admission for one child aged 3 or under per adult.　

＊Request for the original data of our photographs
　
reported by Snownavi