As the 23-24 season approaches, many skiers are aiming for powder this year as well. Looking around Japan, there are not only inbound skiers, but also many skiers looking for powder snow. The names of Hakuba, Nozawa, Yuzawa, Myoko, and Madarao may come up as candidates for users in the Kanto area. (Also includes Arai, Charmant, Urabandai area, etc.)
However, when it snows in these areas, users from Japan and abroad are the first to line up for the lifts, rushing to get to the first track. Sometimes the competition is exciting, but there are also times when you want to take your time and enjoy the quality powder forever. Cupid Valley makes that wish come true.
Many people may not be familiar with this ski resort, but it is located in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture. If you are accessing it from Gunma or Nagano prefectures, you will imagine that it is just a short walk from Lotte Arai, Nozawa Onsen, and the Yuzawa/Minamiuonuma area. Using Minami Uonuma as an example, the distance is the same as going from Minami Uonuma to Nozawa Onsen.
Like the nearby heavy snowfall areas, Cupid Valley is an area where water vapor from the Sea of Japan brings heavy snowfall due to winds blowing from the west.
It is located on the north side of the Sekida Mountains, where the Shinetsu Trail connects Niigata and Nagano prefectures, and all slopes face north. However, Cupid Valley has traditionally been a ski resort that attracts families from within the prefecture. This is probably why we were not familiar with it. To access it, take National Route 253, which connects Joetsu City and Minamiuonuma City, and take a side road and drive along. We headed into an area deep in the mountains that experiences heavy snowfall, and the atmosphere of the snow walls gradually getting higher on both sides made us excited and excited about the powder that awaited us.
The people who skied Cupid Valley last season were Shinji Saiki, a local who knows everything about this ski resort, and Eigo Higuchi, an ARMADA rider. Mr. Saiki invited Eigo, who wanted to ski powder, to guide him around.
From here, let's take a look at the appeal of Cupid Valley based on the stories of these two people.
To be honest, I had never heard of this ski resort before, but I was really surprised (lol)
~ Eigo Higuchi's Hanashi ~
``I wanted to ski a hidden powder spot that I don't usually ski on, so I asked Mr. Saiki to show me around Cupid Valley.It was the first time I had heard of the ski resort's name, and I was surprised to find such great skiing in such a location. I was really surprised that there was a place for it (lol). That's how good it was.
The first thing that surprised me was that compared to Nozawa Onsen, where I base my activities, there was so little competition even though it was a weekday. I stayed there for two days, and it was a powder area that I couldn't get enough of. It felt wider than it looked on the ski slope map.
Also, since I heard that it's a ski resort in Niigata, I wonder if the snow is a little heavy? That's what I thought, but I was surprised to see so much light snow falling. Last year, the surrounding area suffered from light snowfall, but since it's deep in the mountains, there was a lot of snow. It was impressive that the height of the snow wall suddenly changed on the way to Cupid Valley. At the top of the mountain early in the morning, the temperature was freezing cold and the powder was superb (lol).”
``My favorite course I skied this time was Soleil Hire.It's a steep slope that gives you speed even when there's a lot of snow, and there's still powder left even if you don't go first thing in the morning.Although it's on the slopes, I was able to ski many runs without track. I liked that. Another point that I recommend is that you can ski the long grooming course before going to Soleil Hire.
Also, the tree run area on the right side of the second quad lift is recommended because even though it's a tree run, it's an open slope with some slopes. It was a great feeling of freedom because you could skate anywhere on the open barn that spreads out all over the place.”
``Next time I come, I want to come when the powder is guaranteed.I want to bring my friends and tell them that there is a place like this.The slope food was delicious, and even beginners can enjoy the lower part of the ski resort. It's a ski resort where everyone can have fun."
"It's a waste, so I want someone to skate."
~Shinji Saiki's Hanashi~
Next, let's listen to the story of Mr. Saiki, a ``Cupid Valley connoisseur'' who guided Eigo Higuchi. Mr. Saiki usually works as the ski school principal at Maiko Snow Resort, also in Niigata Prefecture. Still, why go to the trouble of visiting Cupid Valley?
``Cupid Valley has complex terrain changes, and we create courses that take advantage of that terrain.I usually work as a school instructor at Maiko Snow Resort, and I think that it takes a lot of complicated skiing to become a good skier. The key is to ski a lot of terrain. In other words, Cupid Valley is a natural ski teacher. Just by skiing on the ski slopes, you will automatically become better. Since I am an instructor, I am a natural ski teacher
. I also need to keep honing my skiing skills.That's why I go skating to practice.You can ski in the tree run area in its natural state.The tree run area in Cupid Valley has a particularly complex natural topography. So it's perfect for improving."
``The ski resort is located in the mountains, so it snows a lot.I usually go to Cupid Valley on days when it rains.As someone who works at Maiko Snow Resort, I may be hesitant to say this, but... Since Maiko is close to the expressway interchange, the number of people coming here to try the powder has been increasing.
However, if you go to Cupid Valley from Maiko for about an hour and 30 minutes, you can ski without having to fight for powder. Or even on the second or third day of the rain, there is a good chance that there will be powder left in Cupid Valley. Even if I don't have high expectations at other ski resorts, when I come here there's usually powder, so there are many days when I think, ``I want to ski powder today.''
“First thing in the morning, I ride the second quad to the top of the mountain.To be honest, the tree run areas on both sides of the lift aren’t that competitive, so first I go to Marionette, which has uncompacted snow.I like this place the most. It's a course.If it were at any other ski resort, I wouldn't have chosen it as a course.It's so twisty and windy that the topography changes up and down and left and right.If you ski there, you don't need a ski teacher. That's about it.The mountains teach us how to ski.The terrain here is varied and perfect for practicing.
When I want to enjoy a grooming barn, I go to La Mer. Although some of the snow is uncompacted, it's refreshing as you can enjoy long runs with just the right amount of slope change. Your choice will depend on whether you want to enjoy grooming or uncompacted snow first thing in the morning, depending on your mood. When you skate Marionette or La Mer and there are a lot of people... Having said that, there aren't that many people, but it's a routine of going skating on the no-tracks in the tree run area.''
“In the morning, I ski a lot, so in the afternoon I ski a few skies rather than a lot.Of all the ski resorts, Soleil Hire is the steepest slope and you can ski at a high speed, so it's good for training. .Ettle
also has a pleasant grooming process, so it is recommended for concentrating on skiing one run.
However, in the morning, it is impossible to ski through the powder in the Marionette, La Mer, and Tree Run areas (lol) Skiing through the powder My usual pattern is to use up all my time and energy before I go.That's why there's still powder left even on the second or third day of snow.I often feel like it's a waste. hey.
I hate to say it, but sometimes I wish more people would come because it's such a waste. But I also feel like I don't want too many people to come, so it's a conflict (lol)
At the end of the day, I personally recommend trying out your skills by skiing on the slightly rough Marionette, which is a bit of a freeride slope. I was satisfied that I had gotten better and finished feeling refreshed. This is my daily routine.”
Cupid Valley is a spot only known to those in the know, but it is relatively easy to reach from ski resorts that boast heavy snowfall, such as Nozawa Onsen, Myoko, and Arai, within 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes. I recommend going skiing on a day when you can aim for powder, or the day after a snowfall when the surrounding ski resorts have already been destroyed.
cupid valley
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