REPORT

The “2nd Annual Zurutube Cup Ski Technique Championship” took place on the lower section of the Expert Course (pictured) at Okushiga Kogen Ski Area. One competitor wearing a sake costume (pictured, lefthand side) said, “My bib number is ‘sake,’ haha.” Another competitor said, “The pre-event party at the Okushiga Kogen Hotel last night was really lively and a lot of fun!”
[Okushiga Kogen・Expert Course]

I spoke with a staff member from Okushiga Kogen Resort who told me, “This event is basically all about the pre-party—it really gets crazy! For everyone who follows Snownavi, we’ll have great prizes ready again next season.” Dense fog moved in early, and the competition was later canceled, with all participants declared winners.
[Okushiga Kogen・Expert Course]

Early morning operations started at Okushiga Kogen on 4/4 (Sat.). From 6:30 a.m., the Expert Course, the Forest Course, and the 1st Slope along the 2nd High-Speed Pair were open. Because the Expert Course was reserved for the event today, the 3rd High-Speed Pair also ran, opening up the 3rd Slope (pictured). The 3rd Slope was groomed with firm granular snow, and the surface had begun to soften slightly, allowing my skis to run well.
[Okushiga Kogen・No. 3 Slope]

I met a couple from Tokushima Prefecture who told me, “We always check your reports. We often come to ski Shiga Kogen in April. The staff at our inn in Yudanaka Onsen told us yesterday that 4/4 (Sat.) would be icy, so we were worried, but today it’s skiing well. Visibility is still poor, though.” The Forest Course (pictured) and the 1st Slope also had groomed granular snow that had started to soften, and the skis were running well there too.
[Okushiga Kogen・Forest Course]

　　　　　　
*Starting 4/1 (Wed.), the Nagano Prefecture 150th Anniversary “Shinshu Experience Discount” will offer 50% off one-day lift tickets for residents of Nagano and 20% off for visitors from outside the prefecture.
*The base depth at the top of this report reflects the maximum snow depth across all of Shiga Kogen. Currently, the highest recorded depth of 140 cm is shared by Ichinose Family, Ichinose Diamond, and Shibutoge, while Okushiga is reporting 120 cm.
　　　
[Shiga Kogen Details on 4/5 (Sun.)]
*OPEN Courses … (OKUSHIGA) Fully OPEN, (YAKEBITAIYAMA) Panorama, Panorama In, Okushiga Connection, Giant Slalom, Gondola Connection, Gondola Detour, South, East Connection, Okushiga – Yakebitai Connection, (ICHINOSE FAMILY) Front, Tengu, Panorama, Perfecter, (KUMANOYU) 1st A, 1st Mogul, 2nd Shirakaba, 2nd A, 2nd Beginner, 3rd A, 3rd Rinkan, 3rd Biginner, 4th A, 4th Beginner, 4th Event, Umanose , (YOKOTEYAMA) 1st, 2nd, Kaiwa, Jumbo, King, (SHIBUTOGE) Gemute, Weber
*Operating Lifts … OKUSHIGA No.2 pair (6:30～) and totally 16 lifts
*Fees … 1 Day Pass Spring Discount from 4/1: Adult JPY7,000, Middle & High school students JPY6,500, Under 12 y/o JPY3,500, over 60 y/o JPY6,500

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi