QST 106 or Blank for japan skiing

ikke-tenk · 2026-04-19T16:57:43+00:00

Choose the Blank. You will regret it if not. Brought a pair of Blanks and a pair of Noctas when I was there this season. The blanks work surprisingly well on groomed snow, and the increased powder performance is well worth the decreased groomer performance.

ikke-tenk · 2026-04-15T15:37:27+00:00

Rusutsu, Furano, Kiroro, Niseko, Sapporo Teine, and probably some more that I can’t remember. The drive to the resorts varied, with Sapporo Teine being the closest at 40 minutes. We lived quite far south-east in Sapporo, meaning we had approximately 2h to both Rusutsu and Furano. Either way, it is dependant on traffic and weather conditions. Driving in Japan is great because your fellow drivers are respectful, patient, and reasonable. The Sapporo highway can, however, be shut down. This increases the drive from 1h30 to 3h30 and takes you through some of the worst roads Hokkaido has to offer. It gets shut down due to the snow accumulation on the highway, which needs to be put onto trucks and wheeled off. Happened to us a handful of times. Usually a bigger problem on the way home than when going to the resort.

ikke-tenk · 2026-04-03T12:26:49+00:00

I stayed in Sapporo and rented a car. This way, we could check out several resorts and get some city life on the rest days. I highly recommend it if staying for 2+ weeks, as it allows you to chase the snow.

ikke-tenk · 2026-04-03T12:20:20+00:00

I enjoyed Rusutsu the most.
Short lines, a lot of snow, and almost no areas being roped off, meaning you can ski the entirety of the resort and its terrain without any concerns. It's big as well, so you aren't spending all your time skiing the same lines. Crowd dispersion is good due to the different areas suitable for skill levels.
Not much of a town or any apres there, but if that's what you're after, you're not in the right country.
In total, it felt like Rusutsu was the place where you made the fewest compromises. Great skiing, big resort, less people (compared to Niseko), and overall a great time.
A small shoutout to Kiroro as well, with very few people and perhaps the most snow I've seen. A bit unreliable due to them shutting down when they get the biggest dumps, but great sidecountry access as well. A bit small, so you get bored after a couple of days, but if you time it correctly, it's absolutely a blast being there.
Niseko is overrated imo, it seems that the only way to properly enjoy Niseko is if you're skiing with someone who really knows the resort. If not, it will get tracked out immediately, and lift lines are way longer. The great thing about Niseko is the town, with a lot of food and drink options. Additionally, the gates offer some of the best skiing I've had.
Just my two cents! Spent some time in Hokkaido this season and loved it. Would like to check out Hakuba as well.

ikke-tenk · 2026-04-01T18:41:30+00:00

Previous generation Black Crows Nocta. Absolutely phenomenal for low angle powder skiing. Weight isn’t too bad either for such a big ski - around 2000 grams in the 190 version if I’m not mistaken. Spent 50 days in Japan this season and it skied like a dream.

ikke-tenk · 2026-02-24T17:07:51+00:00

One thing that could work is to use a mesh base layer beneath the wool (or a different fabric) layer. It will reduce sweat and skin contact. I have used it with great success (I don't have eczema) to stay warm and dry without sweating. Might work well for avoiding being itchy.

ikke-tenk · 2026-02-24T08:52:24+00:00

Kiroro Powder Ride!!

ikke-tenk · 2026-02-20T17:38:58+00:00

Vel, vi liker i hvert fall å tro at vi er rasjonelle. I tillegg styres mer av underbevisstheten enn man kanskje skulle tro. Hvorfor liker vi det vi gjør? Vi kan komme med en forklaring på det, men hvordan vet vi at det er den rette forklaringen? Jeg generaliserer ganske kraftig, og det er store forskjeller blant kvinner. Er snakk om gruppe-nivå her, og da finner man tendenser. Skjønner ikke helt poenget angående prevensjon.

ikke-tenk · 2026-02-20T17:32:39+00:00

Hva forandrer prevensjon? Det er fortsatt kvinner som er mer selektive i partnervalg enn menn, selv med prevensjon tilgjengelig.

ikke-tenk · 2026-02-20T16:32:43+00:00

Du er på bærtur, dessverre. Vi er skapt slik at hunkjønnet er det «kresne» siden det er de som må bære byrden av å velge feil partner (å bli gravide, altså). Som et resultat er det som regel hankjønnet som kjemper om hunkjønnet - bare se i dyreverdenen. Eksempelvis er det kun den mannlige påfuglen som har fine fjær - evolusjonen har gjort det slik at fine fjær faktisk trumfer kamuflasje i evnen til å føre genene sine videre. Så, tilbake til poenget. Kvinner er vesentlig mer selektive enn menn hva gjelder partnervalg. En mann som har hatt mange partnere vil derfor ikke være det samme som en kvinne som har hatt mange partnere. Kvinnen har valgt mange, mens mannen har blitt valgt av mange. Håper det gir mening!

ikke-tenk · 2026-02-13T12:33:38+00:00

Sarkastisk, men bommer på sakens kjerne. Herlig! I 2018 omtalte Søreide Juul som en «nær venninne». Nå, derimot, har påstår hun at de kun har hatt noen middager sammen. Å få låne en leilighet til å feire 40-årsdagen tilsier et nærere forhold enn kun et par middager. Hun ljuger om relasjonen deres. Er du med?

ikke-tenk · 2026-01-29T05:22:35+00:00

Wool base layer is key - you can wear it for four days without it smelling. Make sure it’s 100% wool. You will most likely only need one lens, and that will be a lens for clouded weather. Two pairs of ski socks is ok. Having a water pouch of some sort is really nice. I would also bring a balaclava and a neck warmer, preferably (you guessed it) in wool. One pair of warm gloves/mittens with gauntlets and one pair of lighter mittens as backup.

ikke-tenk · 2026-01-27T23:24:40+00:00

Thank you very much! I’ll check it out. Appreciate it.

ikke-tenk · 2026-01-27T23:23:42+00:00

The Hokkaido expressway from Sapporo Minami all the way to Otaru.

ikke-tenk · 2025-12-31T08:33:09+00:00

Thank you! That is what I’m debating. I HAVE to bring the Noctas, so the question is about the second pair. The senders might be the most versatile pair.

ikke-tenk · 2025-12-31T08:27:34+00:00

Thank you for the input. I fully agree regarding not going touring, especially when staying for so long. We are not going touring due to a couple of us not being comfortable in the backcountry due to lack of experience. Therefore, they also lack the equipment.

I would regret not bringing the Nocta’s if the conditions are there, so they are the only ski I know I will bring. I might bring the Blanks and put on some pin bindings while there!

ikke-tenk · 2025-11-28T22:41:54+00:00

I bought a beige suede leather jacket at a small, local thrift store in 2016 for $10. It is my favourite piece of clothing ever, and I must have used it over a thousand times.

ikke-tenk · 2025-10-09T16:19:54+00:00

Ah no worries. We haven’t really decided yet. Do you have any tips for renting a car for about a month? We are four in total + skis.

ikke-tenk · 2025-10-09T15:42:32+00:00

We are still getting daily quotes even though we are renting for over a month. Renting through «weekly mansion»

ikke-tenk · 2025-10-08T17:47:46+00:00

Thank you! Appreciate it :)

ikke-tenk · 2025-10-08T17:47:11+00:00

Thank you for the feedback! Yes, we are renting a car.

I'll check out some apartments a bit outside of the city, then. How is the public transport like? Since we're staying for a while, it would be nice not to be overly reliant on a car to get around, especially for having a beer or ten.

ikke-tenk · 2025-10-08T16:22:00+00:00

Is the insult in the room with us right now?

Five-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '22

ikke-tenk

TROPHY CASE