REPORT

To wrap up the season at Happo, I headed out for a run with instructors from the Hakuba Happo-One Ski & Snowboard School. The group included an impressive lineup: SAJ National Demonstrator Junya Maruyama (pictured, fourth from left), and SAJ Demonstrators Ryo Yamamoto (second from left), Keisuke Maruyama (fifth from left), and Kaede Mikasa (first on the left), among others.
[Usagidaira Slope]

Junya Maruyama (pictured) told me, “On soft, groomed snow, the position of your center of mass is critical. Spring conditions make it easier to check and refine that. It’s also a great time to work on moguls.” I watched as his skis moved smoothly through the moguls on Kurobishi, linking turns cleanly from trough to crest and back again.
[Kurobishi Slope]

The skiable areas—Panorama, Usagidaira, and Kurobishi—all had soft, loose, groomed granular conditions from the start. The course narrowed considerably near the top and bottom of the Panorama Course, as well as near the top of Usagidaira. On the mid-to-lower section of Usagidaira (pictured), where the slope was still fairly wide, there was enough space to open it up with long flowing turns.
[Usagidaira Slope]

On the west side of the Kurobishi Quad, the groomed slope was wide and skied well. Keisuke Maruyama (pictured, third from right) told me, “Happo is Japan’s No. 1 ski resort.” Oshima-san (far right) added, “The school will stay open through the final day of the season. If you read Snownavi, come out for a lesson!”
[Kurobishi Slope]

　
　　　　　　
[Happo-One Details on 4/16 (Thu.)]
*OPEN Courses … Kurobishi, Usagidaira, Panorama
*Operating Lifts … Gondola (8:00～), Kokusai 3, Panorama, Alpen Quad, Kurobishi Quad, Kurobishi 2, Grat Quad (For sightseeing only)
*Fees … 1-Day Pass Spring Discount from 3/16: Adult JPY5,500, 6-17 y/o JPY2,500, Over 65 y/o JPY5,100

*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