REPORT

Most visitors getting off the Nagasaka Gondola first thing this morning headed straight for the Yamabiko Slope. However, I decided to start on the gentle Uenotaira Slope (pictured), which was groomed incredibly smoothly. My skis ran well on both the first half, which had a firmly compacted powder surface, and the second half, which had moist snow that still felt powdery. Each let me carve exactly the lines I wanted into their pristine surfaces.
[Uenotaira Slope]

The Paradise Slope also featured well-packed, groomed moist with a powdery feel. Carrying speed, I passed through the Rinkan Course, which had moderately compacted, moist groomed snow, and dropped into the Utopia B Course (pictured). The sharp scraping sound of edges cutting into the firm, moist groomed snow on the steep Challenge Course (pictured, background) echoed across the slopes.
[Utopia B Course]

For brunch, I headed to Rest House Yamabiko, and tried the chef’s recommended “Spicy Cheese Pork Nozawana Rice” (¥1,900). The dish featured seasoned pork belly and cheese baked on top of rice mixed with nozawana pickles. It takes about 6 to 7 minutes to prepare, but since it’s made to order, it was served piping hot. (The moderately spicy soy-based sauce paired perfectly with the savory, toasted cheese).
[Rest House Yamabiko]

After my meal, I cruised down the Hikage Slope (pictured) on the well-packed, moist groomed snow, making relaxed, wide turns. “Expectations are high for the cold wave starting tomorrow,” was the comment from a skier I met. I later headed to the Nagasaka Connector Course, where the groomed surface had softened into coarse spring-like snow, and returned to the Nagasaka Gondola base station.
[Hikage Slope]

　
＊On 1/24 (Sat.) and 1/25 (Sun.), a Cardiff Snowcraft demo event will be held.
＊“THIS IS LIVING FIRST TRACKS” events will also be held on 1/21 (Wed.), 2/11 (Wed.), 2/15 (Sun.), 2/19 (Thu.), 3/4 (Wed.), and 3/8 (Sun.).
　
[Nozawa Onsen Details on 1/19 (Mon.)]
*Fully OPEN (Except for KANDAHAR WEST & EAST, MUKOBAYASHI, HACHIMAN)
*Operating Lifts … Nagasaka Gondola (8:30～) and totally 12 lifts
*Fees … Adult JPY7,500, Under 15 y/o JPY4,500, Over 60 y/o JPY6,000
　　
＊Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi