Powderlife Niseko

        Niseko music lovers party through rain
        Powderlife Niseko
        The Hanazono Kutchan Music Festival is just one of Niseko's big summer events, with plenty more still to come, next in line the Kutchan Jaga Matsuri (Potato ...

Article & Photo source Matt Barr has seen and riden his fair share of resorts and pow. Matt was once the editor of Whitelines Snowboarding Magazine and is now the man and author behind Snowboarding The World and Skiing Europe. Skiclub.co.uk caught up with Matt to grill him with a questios about his life and snowboarding around the world. When asked, “Whats your favourite ski resort and why?” Part the reply from Matt was “I always had a predictably great time in Niseko, Japan.” A big wrap for Niseko from such a widely traveled snowboarder. Read more of the Matt Barr article at skiclub.co.uk Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine.Snowboarding The World Author + Niseko Snowboarding The World Author + Niseko

POLICE believe a jogger has discovered the body of missing Australian tourist Scott McKay in a river a few hundred metres past his accommodation. Speaking on behalf of local police, Niseko-Hirafu safety liaison officer at the time of the disappearance, Derek Begley said the clothes Mr McKay was wearing when he was last seen match those on the body, which is now at Hokkaido University for identification. “The river he was found in is very close to areas that were checked repeatedly, including by police divers and on our volunteer searches,” he said. He said that the river where the body was found was “twisty, tangled and difficult with four to five switchbacks in a 10-15m area with lots of trees - a creek really, maybe knee to thigh deep at the moment and perhaps 1-2m across”. “With the snow melt and the increase in river volume, his body must have finally become more visible. ” Begley said. “He was found yesterday afternoon by a jogger, in a river on the low side of Route 343, just before Pension Asparagus, which is a few hundred metres past his accommodation.” On the night of February 19, Mr McKay left Hirafu bar Wild Bill’s at about 1.30am to return to his accommodation (about 1km away) alone, after partying with friends. His friends left the bar 15 minutes later and reported Mr McKay missing when they arrived at the accommodation and he was not there. Extensive searches, including by helicopter and of local rivers, were carried out in the week following the disappearance. Mr Begley said a local farmer had reported to police that he had seen someone walking past the Gentem Cafe, next to Mr McKay’s accommodation, late on the night of the disappearance.

Taken from the location of the body, Pension Fuu is just visible beyond the trees

Taken from the location of the body, The main road nearby with Mt Annupuri in the distance. source

Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine. Niseko - Jogger Found Scott MacKay

THE body of Australian skier Scott McKay has been located, almost two months after he went missing. Mr McKay, 27, an IT business owner from Brisbane, has been missing since February 20 this year, when he was last seen leaving a bar during a holiday at Niseko ski resort on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Details were still vague at the time Powderlife published this story, but in an email issued today by the Niseko Promotion Board, the Kutchan Tourism Organisation reported, “…that the missing Australian Scott McKay has been found in the Kabayama area, past the lodge where he was staying.” The email also stated that, “the organised community searches on April 16 and 17 have been cancelled.” Mr McKay is said to have been partying with friends at Niseko’s night time hotspot Wild Bill’s, until he was last seen leaving the bar by himself about 1.30am on Friday, February 20. Worries arose when Mr McKay did not return home, after his friends followed the same route home only 15 minutes later. Several searches by volunteers and authorities have been conducted since Mr McKay went missing, but until today came up with no clues as to his whereabouts. Article source - Powderlife Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine. Scott MacKay Found

I jumped in the plane with no idea what to expect from the snow condition in Japan this year, where i was going exactly and whom with.. all i knew was that it was dumping more then ever in europe and that i was truly looking forward to eating veggie tempura!!

Once in sapporo’s airport i met my english riding mates for this trip, Scott Mc Morris, Colum Mytton, Josh Wolf and Whiteline’s Editor Ed Blomfield. We arrived in grand heraffu at night, there wasn’t much snow but we were staying in a really cool place with an amayzing view on a beautiful Volcano as we woke up the next morning. Niseko is a volcano its self, the mountain is opened by day until 4pm and by night from 5pm to 8.30pm. most of the slopes are very well lit and it’s really cool to go night shredding there! the lifts don’t go all the way up the top as they do in europe and you ll hear all kinds of noises as soon as you’ll sit on a chairlift. Of course the chair lift person cleans up the chair with a brush, even when it’s already dry and clean. At the gondola they’ll put a condom on the nose of your board and they’ll carry it out for you! After a day foolling around and searching for shootable spots it started snowing, i mean it started DUMPING and we would never see the the sky again as it kept dumping snow flakes of the size of 2euros coins through the whole trip. We had an amazing time shredding the lightest pow in the world through majestic trees. We’ve also had an incredible deep pow night shred! it felt like being part of a video game! It was well lit even on most off slopes runs, but my brain could analyse only one image at a time, it really felt surreal! We found some sick mushrooms to hit on an other waist deep pow day.. They all had sweet flat landings.. I remember riding one where i made whole just as tall as me and got almost covered by my own sluff! This is how deep the snow was!

The japanese confusion begun as soon as i put my foot on the ground, I found my friend Matthieu Georges and as advised by the informations counter, we jumped in the bus to the other terminal as soon as we found the right bus stop (that would be after running 5 times back and forth through the whole bus terminal). arriving at the other terminal the information counter sends us back to the first terminal. once there again and the in checking counter, the very shy, very cute, very kind, very quiet, very japanese hostess tells us that snowboard bags are forbidden in the plane, and that we had to go to the other airport on the other side of tokyo about an hour away, and catch a bigger plane to Sapporo.

I still haden’t found any veggie tempura when we took off for a night in Tokyo and of course we spent it singing karaoke we were staying in a capsule hotel and i was stoked to find my funky bunk bed at the end of that long night.. the english guys left early in the morning and Matt and I spent the day shopping and walking around town. I had a lot of fun on that trip. That powder was so amayzing and the guys were really fun to hang out with. Thanks to Matt and Ed who let me tag along..

Thanks to Ben Thorpe from Japan Ski Experience - http://www.japanskiexperience.com Jessica Geldart from the local tourist board in Niseko - http://www.nisekotourism.com/en/ And thanks to Andy and Sarah from http://www.snowseasonjapan.com for all there help in Hakuba and Myoko, they’ll hook you up with japanese language course to get closer to the culture if you want to go there. http://www.japanskiexperience.com Check out Anne site - http://www.annefloremarxer.com article source Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine. Japanese Tempura

World Snow Overview Snowboard Club UK, UK In Japan Niseko ski area has announced it will stay open in to May. Looking back on the season to date the Annupuri ski centre reached a snow depth of 4.5m (15 feet) at its peak with January and February once again the country’s peak powder months with ...

Chance glance saves Aussie from icy death Lismore Northern Star, Australia NESTLED in her cosy holiday unit in the Japanese ski resort of Niseko, Ballina nurse Angie Llewellyn-Sare knew something was wrong. Peering out of the window in the early hours she saw a young man stumbling in the snow-covered street below. ...

Niseko makes in the Top 10 Adventure Resorts In Asia! Agoda.com, an online travel company specializing in discount Asia hotel bookings, unveiled its Top 10 “Adventure Resorts” in the Asia/Pacific region. The survey is a response to the emerging trend of “Adventure Tourism” which is becoming increasingly popular. Adventure travel includes physical activity, interacting with local culture, and engaging with nature. The Asian/Pacific region is an amazing place for adventure tourism because it is a vibrant and culturally rich expanse with a wealth of natural beauty. Mr. Michael Kenny, CEO of Agoda.com remarked, “In the past, adventure tourism was only for a niche group of tourist, focused mainly on the activities themselves and generally not for the faint of heart. Adventure tourism has evolved and become increasingly popular because the activities are tailored to individual needs, including luxury accommodation in remote areas.” “Present day adventure resorts strike a balance between comfort and luxury with challenging and exhilarating adventure activities. We hope Agoda’s Top 10 Adventure Resorts will provide good options for travelers that want a little more than just sitting by the pool.” Mr. Kenny added. Agoda’s Top 10 Adventure Resorts are: 1. Taj Safari Resort, Mahua Khoti, India Experience the thrill of twice-daily jungle safaris, nature walks with trained naturalists and elephant treks in India’s Bandhavargh Provincial Park, home to the highest concentration of tigers in Southeast Asia. The 12 luxurious village huts provide an ideal home base from which to explore some of India’s greatest wonders. 2. Amankora, Bhutan Aman Resorts offers five opulent lodges strategically placed for a trek through pristine and mystical Bhutan. With each lodge offering something unique, guests may choose to stay at one or all of the lodges, while trekking through some of the world’s most remote areas. Itineraries can be designed according to guest’s specifications, thus providing an endless selection of breathtaking adventures. 3. Four Seasons, Golden Triangle, Thailand Accessible only by riverboat, the Four Seasons has created 15 luxury tents in the heart of Southeast Asia. Thailand’s Golden Triangle, a remote region that borders Myanmar and Laos, is the ultimate adventure hideaway. This amazingly beautiful area offers a wealth of pulse pumping activities and experiences, including elephant treks, mountain hikes, and river tours. 4. Elephant Safari Park Lodge, Bali, Indonesia Enjoy a gourmet breakfast, complemented by the sights and sounds of elephants migrating to a lake for their morning bath. Guests are encouraged to interact with the elephants by taking treks through the Taro forests, assisting in bathing, and spending time at the feeding and petting areas, while learning more about the life of these regal pachyderms. 5. Freedom Inn Niseko, Japan This tranquil retreat, situated in the scenic countryside of Hanazono, Hokkaido, boasts views of mountains, streams, and volcanic peaks. The recently opened Hanazono 308 Base Lodge and the Niseko United Ski lifts are just a short distance away, in addition to winter activities that include skiing, snowboarding, snow trekking, snowmobiling, and horseback riding. Guests are invited to relax at the hot springs bath located on the opposite side of the mountain for a truly refreshing experience. 6. El Nido Resorts Lagen Island Palawan, Philippines Explore the 45 islands and islets that surround this beautiful tropical resort and offering endless opportunity for adventure, nature appreciation, mountain trekking, and climbing. Miniloc Island is a great place for snorkeling and getting up close and personal with schools of fish right off shore. Kayak around the big and small lagoons or venture to Cadlao Island for trekking, and a walk to the inland lagoon at Nagkalit-kalit. 7. River Kwai Jungle Raft, Kanchanaburi, Thailand Let the world’s entire worries float away on the River Kwai at this tranquil jungle raft resort. Explore nearby caves and waterfalls via canoes or elephants and enjoy the thrilling yet peaceful surroundings. Guests are encouraged to get involved with the local Mon tribes, watch ritual dances, and partake in local customs. 8. Bamurru Plains Hotel, Kakadu, Australia Hidden in the Australian savannah, nine luxury safari-tent suites provide an ideal oasis from the fast pace of modern life. With no phones or televisions, only highly attentive staff, the resort caters to those seeking to be reacquainted with nature while leaving the chaos of city life behind, if only for a short while. 9. Laos Spirit, Luang Prabang, Laos Located in the mountains of Laos along the Nam Khan River, this eco-friendly resort offers refurbished French Colonial buildings as a home base for some of the best trekking and hiking in Southeast Asia. Experience the splendor of unspoiled nature and the welcoming qualities of the local people at this majestic mountain hideaway. 10. Hin Tok River Camp @ Hell Fire Pass, Kanchanaburi, Thailand Twenty rustic, eco-style luxury tents overlooking the River Kwai offer a fulfilling change to the luxury hotels of Bangkok. Just two hours outside of Bangkok, this resort is an ideal base from which to explore the nearby Lawa Cave and a myriad of inspiring attractions. (source) Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine. Niseko Top 10 Adventure Resorts In Asia

บางกอกโพสFINE POWDERบางกอกโพส, ThailandAnd word is spreading about Niseko, a rising ski destination in Japan's northern island of Hokkaido where the most sought-after type of snow _ known as ''powder'' because it is so light, dry and soft _ can be found in great abundance. ...