REPORT

This morning, I met a snowboarder from Itoigawa City in Niigata Prefecture (pictured, left) who told me, “You took my photo here a few seasons ago, too! The grooming is always so clean here that whenever I feel like laying down some carving turns, I come to Hakuba Sanosaka.” His friend (pictured, right) added, “It’s my first time at Sanosaka. If he speaks this highly of it, I’m excited, haha.” With it being Valentine’s Day, the two looked like a couple for an instant (both are men).
[Carving Slope]

It was a perfect day for skiing with clear skies and no wind. On Paradise (pictured), the fine granular snow had been groomed into a firm surface, allowing my edges to bite solidly and my skis to accelerate smoothly. I kept lapping the 2nd Quad and enjoyed several runs on the nearly empty, freshly groomed slope right after opening, skiing it top to bottom without stopping.
[Paradise]

As the temperature rose quickly, my usual layers started to feel too warm, so around 9 a.m. I fully opened the ventilation on my outerwear. Lake Down (pictured) through Lake View offered moderately firm machine-groomed wet snow. Many visitors getting off the 3rd Quad paused to take in the scenery or snap photos before heading down.
[Lake Down]

Due to certification testing, the mid to lower section along the 5th Pair lift will be closed today and tomorrow. I met a skier at the top of Paradise (pictured), who has been coming here for over 40 years, and he greeted me with, “Happy Valentine’s Day!” Following the unexpected chocolate I received during my 2/2 (Mon.) visit, I was once again given chocolate this morning—three pieces this time.
[Paradise]

　
[Hakuba Sanosaka Details on 2/14 (Sat.)]
*Fully OPEN!
*Operating Lifts … No. 2 Quad (8:00～) and totally 4 lifts
*Fees … 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY5,400, Elementary School Students JPY1,000,

*Advance Discount Lift Tickets (*Available 12/1 to 3/22)
Adult 1-Day Pass JPY5,400 → JPY4,900!

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi