Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is located in Otari Village in the northern part of HAKUBA VALLEY. The ski resort stretches north and south, but each course is not long, but there is a reason why it attracts core skiers. Let's ask Takuma Oike and Arata Suzumura, who continue to ski based here, about the appeal of the ski resort, and guide them to their favorite courses.
Photo/ Go Ito
What kind of place is Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort?
Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort (Hakunori) is located in the northern part of HAKUBA VALLEY in the northwestern part of Nagano Prefecture. As the name suggests, there is Wakakuri Onsen right at the foot of the ski resort, and the high temperature, brown water will soothe your body after slipping.
Otari Village has a particularly high amount of snowfall even within HAKUBA VALLEY, with an average annual cumulative snowfall exceeding 6m, and it is a heavy snowfall area where it can fall more than 50cm in a day. The cold air that often flows from the Sea of Japan during the season crosses over the Northern Alps, and in this area, the northernmost village of Otari is often the first place to drop snow. This location, with the Sea of Japan about 20km north, is similar to Myoko, a region of heavy snowfall, which is about the same distance to the Sea of Japan. As a result, snowfall often increases by 10 to 20 cm compared to other ski resorts in HAKUBA VALLEY.
The Otarimura part starts around 3:00. Enjoy the abundant snowfall
Therefore, it is very popular with skiers aiming for powder. Because it is connected to Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort on the north side, the area where you can ski using both ski resorts is one of the largest in Japan. Before Corona, Kai Peterson used Hakunori as a base for filming for the Canadian movie production "MSP", and snowboarding Jones team is planning to shoot here again this season, attracting enthusiasts from home and abroad. attracting.
Takuma Oike, who continues to ski in Hakuba Norikura, guides the ski resort
Two people, Takuma Oike and Arata Suzumura, moved to the foot of the mountain from another area, attracted by this area and the ski resort. Both of them have continued to express skating while skating in mountains both in Japan and abroad, leaving works such as photographs and videos. There must be a good reason to base yourself in Hakunori rather than in other areas of HAKUBA VALLEY. We asked them to talk about ski resorts from their respective perspectives. First, the first part, skier Takuma Oike. Let's check it out together with the image video that focuses on the two.
It depicts how skis, snowboards, snowboards, snowskates and all kinds of equipment for gliding on the snow are used to slide on Hakunori.
Q. Please tell us about the characteristics of Hakunori in Takuma's words.
A.The entire ski resort is wide horizontally, with slopes on the north and south sides of three ridges extending east from the east-facing slope. So, you can choose the slope according to the conditions. If it's a hard day, the south slope will be loose and slippery, and if it's a cold day, the north-facing slope will have good snow conditions even if it's not raining.
This ski resort is just the right size for a full day of skiing. It's not too wide or too narrow, so it's hard to get tired. At large ski resorts, the length of each course is long, so if you ski, your legs will be swollen, but at Hakunori, each course is short, so you can take a break before your legs get tired. The tempo is just right, so you can enjoy the mountain evenly.
What's more, each course has few flat tracks by cutting the terrain, leaving undulating terrain in various places. Even on gentle slopes, there are subtle undulations all over the place, so you can enjoy skiing while picking up such terrain. I don't think it's possible to find a course with such open terrain on medium to gentle slopes.
Even people who don't really understand the fun of Hakunori can learn how to find terrain and how to ski by following them, and they will notice how fun it is. It looks like this.
Q. What is the weather, snowfall, and snow quality like?
A.When there is a lot of dust, it can pile up to 1m in a single night. I think the snow quality is the best in HAKUBA VALLEY. In particular, the forest on the north slope, which can be accessed from the new lift line 11, is shaded by trees and is easy to preserve good snow conditions. Moreover, snow clouds tend to accumulate in this place, so there is a lot of snowfall. In addition, since the altitude is about 1200m, there is little effect of wind, and lifts are less likely to be suspended. High season for powder is January and February as well. It usually snows three or four times in March. There are once or twice in April. In the second half of the season, the quality of the snow is kept only in the morning, so the expiration date is short, but you can enjoy the powder for a long time.
Q. Please list your three favorite courses.
The blue part is the tree area course. You should notice that there are many places where you can slip unexpectedly
A. One is the Satomi Chuo Slope. Right in front of my house, lol. The slope is very gentle and it is a so-called course for beginners and families. However, the slopes just around the border with Cortina were untracked until I got off the lift and got on. This lift is OK for snowboards, so I just ski on snowboards. In addition, the topography of the pipe site remains as it is, so if you ski with a snowboard, snowboard, or snowskate, you can pick up small terrain sensitively and enjoy it very much.
The interesting thing about this course is that although it has a gentle slope, the uncompacted snow is wider than the compacted snow slope. Don't you think it's rare? Especially this winter, I often see people who are new to powder skiing on thick skis practicing on this lift.
Right in front of the inn we run. Enjoy using snowboards on gentle slopes
A course with gentle slopes and fine undulations can be enjoyed even at low speeds
Even if it's a gentle slope, if you find a place and guess it, you can taste the powder as you can see.
The second is commonly known as “rice balls”. It refers to the area where you can slide from the detour course of the highway course to the Wakaguri Chuo slope. Here is a layout that allows you to fly from a step to land on the north slope after flying over a small hill-like terrain. Even after a few days have passed since the snowfall, the snow is soft and fluffy because it faces north. It's perfect for practicing because you can fly with a little effort. It's not an artificially made kicker, but the natural terrain is also a point. The exit is slanted, so it's more difficult, and there are bumps of various sizes in front of it, so it's not easy to fly. However, there is no easy place to fly over such natural terrain, so Coco is very valuable. You can jump from anywhere on the detour course, so I think it's good to try out various things and play.
The scenery is good, so it feels good to fly
Because the snow is soft and the burden on the body is small, it is easy to try even new tricks.
The third is commonly known as "Galaxy". This is the tree area to the right after getting off the Alps No. 3 high-speed pair lift. This is a ski area, but it is not a controlled area. Keep in mind that this is the same place as the backcountry, so bring your avalanche gear. In addition, it is also important to complete training such as how to use gear and self-rescue in case of emergency.
This is a steep slope on top of the north slope. The spacing between the trees is just right, and the mash is scattered. I love that there is a big mash in the middle of the midsection so you can practice your jumps.
Good snow conditions are easily preserved at low temperatures, so depending on the location, you may be covered with fresh snow that covers your body.
Q. Please tell me about the newly established 11-line lift.
A.Because it is a mountain sightseeing lift, there are several steps to get on. Submit a climbing plan (or sign the 11th pair lift disclaimer agreement), bring avalanche gear, wear armbands and return them after the ride. This means that the area you are riding is a complete backcountry area.
There are various risks in skiing. Of course, this is true of an avalanche, but if you take the wrong route, you can get lost and get lost, there is a danger of colliding with standing trees and rocks, you can step through the snow and fall into a stream, or you can be incapacitated by a sudden change in weather. There is also Although it is accessible by lift, it is important to fully understand that it is a place where such various risks exist.
The 11 pair lift is just down from the 5th high-speed pair lift. Raise the altitude at once along the mountain range and proceed
There are many warning signs at the lift platform. If you do not have any tools or application, you can ride with the sliding gear on.
From the top of the lift, you can see the mountains of the Northern Alps, and when the weather is clear, you can enjoy the superb view.
You can also fill out the consent form at the lift station
After skiing, return the armband, which is a mark of permission, to the return box next to the patrol hut.
The slippery slope is the northern slope, and there is a forest on topography where ridges and valleys continue. The terrain is swampy to the bottom of the slope, and there are almost no flat areas. The lower the ridge branches, the more complicated the terrain becomes, and there are waterfalls and deeper streams. Therefore, even if we are not slipping, if an avalanche occurs at the top, the snow will be sucked toward the bottom and there will be no escape. In particular, the lower part is so deep that you cannot see the ridge even if you look up from below, so be careful when passing.
The steep swamp topography is lined with huge trees, so the sun doesn't shine much, and the snow quality doesn't change much. This is one of the reasons why we are able to maintain high-quality snow, but don't forget that it makes it difficult to eliminate conditions that are prone to avalanches.
Cortina's backcountry area "Ura Col", which is a comparison target, has trees growing on the southern slope where a gentle ridge-like terrain spreads. There is a common item called tree run, but it is completely different from the slope going from line 11.
In the woods on the northern slopes accessible from the 11 line lift. I fully understand that it is a backcountry area, and I want to prepare and enjoy it.
If it's your first time riding the 11 line and skiing this place, I highly recommend skiing with a guide. You can suggest interesting places according to the level, and it reduces dangerous risks such as avalanches.
<The person who taught me>
Takuma Oike
While experiencing various ski scenes such as basic skiing, moguls, and freeriding, he currently spends his days skiing in the mountains of Hakuba. Based in Otari Village, he works diligently on photography while running "Lodge Chamingo" at the foot of Hakuba Norikura Ski Resort. On the other hand, he presides over freeride competitions, conveys the joy of skating, and carefully nurtures the community of skaters born there.
Born in 1984 Born in Hokkaido / Lives in Otari Village
Instagram: takuma84.ooike
Part 2 / Continuing with Suzumura New Edition
Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort
〒399-9422 Hakuba Norikura Highlands, Otari Village, Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano Prefecture
Official Website: https://www.hakunori.com/
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