Niseko Cycle Week 2010
Aug 18, 2010
Grab a bike and get into some last minute training, Niseko Cycle Week is almost upon us again! 
Now’s the time to start sweetening up the boss for some time off, getting up at dawn for secret training rides, and making up for eleven indulgent months in preparation for one of the year’s biggest events – the weeklong celebration of all things Niseko and bicycle-related that’s simply known round here as Cycle Week.
For those of you who don’t know it, NCW is as light-hearted as it is deadly earnest. The serious cyclists among us get veeeery serious while the rest of us bumble around giggling at our own ineptitude. But we still get out there and turn up for some of the fun events that range from long, timed road rides thru Bike-To-Work and social events, to MTB huckarounds. It really doesn’t matter what you get involved in – so long as you’re involved somehow.
This year will also see Hokkaido’s biggest pro cycling race roll into Niseko as the Tour de Hokkaido visits town on September 18. If you haven’t experienced the power of 200+ pro riders at race pace then definitely make sure you check this out. They truly motor!
Soooo. Do what you feel you must: train, or moan about your lack thereof, but get yourself registered for this year’s Niseko Cycle Week. They’ll also be looking for volunteers soon, and for any generous local companies it’s a great way to get your company name out in front of people! Check it out at: www.nisekocycleweek.com
See you there… (I’ll be the one walking his bike up the hills!)
Posted by: Chris | category: Food, Green Season, Out there..., Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Luck of the Irish…
Aug 06, 2010
A new summer and a new chef, but Paddy’s is still serving up plateloads of value.
Popped into Paddy McGinty’s the other day to sample their new summer nmenu and was treated to the great little Chicken & Plate shown above. There’s lots to like about flavoursome chicken bites with rice, salad, and a drink for only 850 yen! I’m usually not such a huge pickle fan but these were very good.
Be among the lucky ones to grab a one of Paddy’s lunch specials, or wait for the sun to wester & stroll in for a Guinness or Kilkenny…
De wa… Itadaki-masu!
Posted by: Chris | category: Food, Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
NPB Korean Marketing update
Jun 30, 2010
Korean Ladies Club Meeting
In keeping with NPB’s mandate to promote to both the international & domestic markets, staff member Hong-san recently spent the day flying the Niseko flag at a meeting of 200 Koreans resident in Japan. Hong-san is justifiably proud of her Korean culture and is relishing her work promoting Niseko to both the “zai-nichi” Korean population and also the Korean market proper. Hong-san is heading down to Sendai where there is a sizeable Korean population to attend a soccer game between Sendai’s J-League soccer team Vegalta and Korean “K-League” pro team Pohan Steelers.
While in town Hong-san will be interviewed regarding her role with the NPB for the region’s largest newspaper, the Kahoku Shimpo.
Posted by: Chris | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Citi sells Niseko Village to Malaysian group YTL
Mar 11, 2010
Malaysian group YTL officially confirmed its purchase of blue-chip Niseko investment, Niseko Village. The YTL group is one of Malaysia’s largest with close to $10 billion in combined market capitalization. YTL has a long relationship with Japan, and was the first non-Japanese Asian company to be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. YTL’s main business lines include property ownership, development, construction, utilities, facility management, and hotels.
Hotels Magazine reported “To enhance the extraordinary summer season in Niseko, the company is already formulating plans for it to have an appeal beyond just the powder and greens crowd. We want to launch an International Food Festival that will attract chefs and gourmands from around the world, with the Pacific Ocean only 30 minutes away, offering some of the worlds best seafood and given Hokkaido’s reputation for being the bread basket of Japan says Sarah Cairns, YTLs Executive Vice President for Marketing and Communications.”
No doubt the new owners will be adding their already successful imprint to the international mix here in Niseko. It is expected that the increased global focus and investment they will bring will have significant flow on benefits for the overall area.
Posted by: Chris | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Snow playground now open at SunSportsLand !
Feb 18, 2010
Come try the snow slide and snow boat/ tube rides in a play ground at SunSportsLand in Hirafu !! Traditional Japanese and western snowshoes are also available.
The playground is open to everyone, locals and tourists, for free !!
No on-site staff stationed in the ground. Children under 6 yrs-old must be attended by adult.
Date : until 28th March, 2010
Time : 9:00 ~ 16:00
Admission : Free
* we do not prepare any skiJK, pants and gloves,, etc. Please come in with warm clothes.
Inquiry : Niseko Promotion Board (SunSportsLand) tel 0136-21-3232
Posted by: makiko | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Snowboards as Art
Feb 08, 2010
Over at Moiwa’s Kanronomori Hotel you’ll find this gorgeous installation of snowboards displayed as art.
If you haven’t been over that way, Kanronomori is worth a trip. Spend an afternoon sliding Moiwa’s powdery and deserted slopes, then nip down to Kanronomori hotel for an onsen and a good meal, before you take in the live music (nightly from 7.30) Buses run regularly, check with your accommodation service for details.
Posted by: Chris | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Ainu Cultural Event
Jan 27, 2010
Close to 200 people enjoyed a great evening at the Ainu cultural event at the Kogen Hotel last night.
The event included displays of traditional arts and crafts, but most attention was giving to the traditional prayers, music and dance of Hokkaido’s native inhabitants. The very multi-cultural crowd was on its feet by the end of the night, joining in the dances as the tempo climbed.
The Ainu, like so many traditional cultures around the world, have fought a long battle for recognition for their unique and proud culture, and the participants were very happy to be able to share their culture with such an international crowd.
Posted by: Chris | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
If you were on the mountain today…
Jan 17, 2010
You know what I am talking about.
If not,
Today was one of those Niseko specials- the one`s that people can`t stop thinking about.
The ones where people just want to experience that feeling they felt today, out floating on that absolute cream, over and over and over again.
The ones where people grasp for words to describe how they felt, what they saw, the emotions they absorbed.
Man I love living here sometimes.
Posted by: Derek | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Dogs and Cats live together in harmony…
Jan 13, 2010
`cuz Cui san got it!
This is Cui san in the morning before the lesson. She was pretty anxious to get out there, well at least for a dude who finished work at 2 am and was still in his pajyamas.Cui san on the other hand, was sitting on our couch in full gear ( including neckwarmer, googles and mitts) and kept telling me ” osoii (slow!) ” and ” hyayaku ni nasai! ( hurry up!) . Finally, after a coffee and a reaffirmation of my ability to do this, we headed to the family course.
I wish I could tell you I had pictures of this first run, but I was too busy pulling Cui san out of the penguin area to stop and take a photo.
From there it got worse. Despite having had a lesson only two days before, Cui appeared to have forgot whatever she had learned and was reverting back into ” go straight, try a turn, scream, then fall or hit something to stop my momentum” mode. I managed to snap this shot at the bottom after she took out a kid skier and his older sister with one backslide kareem through the pair-
that picture is right side up, by the way.
At this point, I will admit I had to close my eyes and take a breath. Time to start from scratch.
At the top I broke it down again and got her to focus on two things-
1-keeping your body centred on the board
2- where you look is where you go
and for what ever reason- something clicked. The run started slowly and cautiously, and I followed behind , cooing encouragement like a father watching his babies first intrepid steps. as she made it farther down the run she gained confidence , until we had this-
IMG_5133[1
Afterwards Cui was super stoked on the lift, as you can clearly see-
the next run she top to bottomed the beginner slope and even rode the banks on the side. She rode all day and is up again for the nighter.
Mission Accomplished!
Posted by: Derek | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
The Haiying Cui Challenge.
Jan 12, 2010
This is Cui san.
She is our Chinese translator/guide and has been working and living in Niseko since May of 2009, having moved over from Sapporo. Cui san is very genki (energetic and happy) and is doing great work for us to help spread the word of Niseko to the Chinese speaking market.
She is also quite possibly, the worst snowboarder on the planet.
Cui san wakes up every day early so she can get in a couple of runs on the family course before work, rides every day off she can, studies videos on Youtube about snowboarding and has had a half dozen lesson so far from various instructors.
Cui san has still not left the beginner slope. Cui san still cannot turn.
well actually that is a bit misleading. Cui san can turn, sort of. And stop, sort of. What she can`t do is control where and when she is doing either of them.
She has had the entire process broken down many times (many many many many many MANY times) but because she in her words “no sports my life” her muscle memory seems somewhat non existent. She is strong and healthy, and being 4 foot and change, she bounces up from each spectacular wipeout ready to go again, but still the three linked turns remain elusive. Very elusive. Like trying to teach Woodley algebra level elusive.
I`m telling all this because tomorrow , I have agreed to try and teach her again. She is so eager to learn and wants to snowboard so badly ( she can get around on skis but is determined to crack snowboarding) that I am going to give it one more whack before I admit defeat, something I have never done before with a student. I have been snowboard instructing some 15 years now and used to be like the Wolf from Pulp Fiction back in my Whistler days- the guy they sent in when the situation seemed hopeless. Heck , I once taught Sylvester Stallone 4 year old and how to turn down blue runs ! I was short listed to teach Prince Harry to ride ! ( His father decided against letting the boys snowboard in the end) I`ve had 300 pound men turning within the first hour!
But Cui san is the Mount Everest of snowboard students.
It probably doesn`t help that we have to use a shared non-native language ( Japanese) or that Cui san sits down everytime another skier/boarder comes within 3 metres of her. Or that she has trouble remembering her front foot. Or that her perferred snowboard stance resembles a stunned starfish- each limb perfectly straight and motionless. Or that…
no, no stop! You can do this! Tomorrow she gets it! You are a super instructor! She`ll be doing backside 5s by Friday. This is dead easy, no problemo, you have the skills! C`mon Derek- teach boy teach!
Rising up, back on the streets, feel the fight, feed the fire…Dan ! Dan DAN Dun!
Will post tomorrow with the results.
Posted by: Derek | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
