REPORT

As I approached the top of the Shirakaba Capsule Pair Lift, thick fog rolled in and everything turned completely white. At times I could only hear voices around me saying things like—“Whoa, you can’t see anything!” I carefully made my way down the Lake View Course, where the groomed surface—pressed from a mix of moist snow and granular snow—had set up nicely and offered a firm, smooth ride despite the low visibility.
[Lake View Course]

On the Ikenotaira Quad, I shared a chair with a skier from Yamanashi who said, “I always read your reports. The groomers today are so good they almost fool you into thinking conditions are perfect—but with this fog, you can’t really let it rip.” The Quad Course (pictured) featured high-quality grooming. Even though the snow was moist, it still had a powdery feel, making for a really enjoyable ride.
[Quad Course]

Light snow was falling in the upper area of the resort. Along the edges of the runs, about 3 to 5cm of slightly moist fresh snow had accumulated since yesterday. The Wide Long Run Course (pictured), which dropped below the cloud layer, started with a firmly groomed surface where moist snow and granular snow had been mixed and pressed together. Lower down, the groomed surface softened into loose, granular spring snow.
[Wide Long Run Course]

A “Revival Demo Day” was taking place in the base area today. “We met up here to ride together,” said three visitors from Chiba, Tokyo, and Saitama (pictured, far right). “We didn’t even know the demo event was happening, but since it’s free we decided to join. Now we’re trying to decide which boards to test.” Later tonight, at 6:20 p.m., the Alpen Blick Midwinter Fireworks Show will light up the sky.
[Kayaba Slope Station]

　　
*The “SDS SNOW BANKED SLALOM” event will be held on 3/20 (Fri.) (*registration open until 3/15 (Sun.)).
*The “ROSSIGNOL Ski & Snowboard Demo Day” will also take place on 3/20 (Fri.) (*free to participate, no advance registration required).
*From 3/21 (Sat.) through 3/29 (Sun.), the “Final Campaign” offers discounted lift tickets: JPY3,800 for adults, JPY3,200 for junior high students and seniors, and JPY2,200 for elementary school students.

[Ikenotaira Onsen Details on 3/14 (Sat.)]
*Fully OPEN! (Except for Kayaba)
*Operating Lifts … Shirakaba Capsule Pair (8:30～) and totally 4 lifts
*Fees … 1-Day Pass Adult JPY6,900, 6 to 12 y/o JPY4,300, 13 to 15 y/o JPY5,900, Over 60 y/o JPY5,900 (Spring Discount from 3/21: Adult JPY3,800, 6 to 12 y/o JPY2,200, 13 to 15 y/o and Over 60 y/o JPY3,200)

*Advance Discount Lift Tickets (*On sale until 3/29)
Adult 1-Day Pass JPY6,900 → JPY6,000
Digital Adult 1-Day Pass JPY6,900 → JPY6,000
　
*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi