REPORT

This February has brought an unusually high number of sunny days. In fact, over the past ten days Hakuba Village recorded roughly 180% of its average sunshine hours for the same period—an astonishing figure. This morning, I broke above the clouds while riding the gondola and was treated to a beautiful sea of clouds stretching out to the east. The firmly set, groomed granular snow surfaces on Usagidaira’s south side route and along the Kurobishi Quad (pictured) had began to loosen after just a few runs.
[Kurobishi Slope]

The legendary local race, the 80th Annual Riesen Slalom Competition, has been taking place yesterday and today with ideal race-day weather conditions on the Riesen Slalom Course. “There was some fog around the start area early this morning, so we were a bit concerned, but we’re glad it cleared,” a staff member told me. The competition kicked off at 9:00 a.m. with the Men’s Division 4 (ages 50–59).
[Riesen Slalom Course]

The race features a large number of entrants spanning a wide age range, competing in a large number of competition categories—from “Junior High School” all the way up to “80 and over” (there is also an Open Class with no age restriction). Each time a racer left the start gate, cheers rose from spectators lining the course.
[Riesen Slalom Course]

The detour route for general visitors on the Riesen Slalom Course had turned choppy and slushy by around 10:00 a.m. The Panorama Course (pictured) was freshly and widely groomed first thing in the morning, and offered moderately soft granular snow that allowed for confident, controlled turns early on. However, by around 10:00 a.m., this slope too had transitioned into choppy spring corn snow.
[Panorama Course]

　
＊“THE BEARS JAPAN” FIS FAR EAST CUP HAKUBA 2026 will be held on the Riesen Slalom Course from 2/28 (Sat.) to 3/5 (Thu.).
　　　　　　
[Happo-One Details on 2/27 (Thu.)]
*Fully OPEN（Except for Omusubi, Kitaone New）
*Operating Lifts … Gondola (8:00～) and totally 18 lifts
*Fees … 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY8,700, 6-17 y/o JPY4,350, Over 65 y/o JPY8,400

*Printable Rental Discount Coupons!
Carving Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY3,500 / 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!

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi