Asahikawa trip for Snowboarding

Hi, I went to Asahikawa Hokkaido(Nothearn big island of Japan) with my snowboarding friends on 16th to 19th Feb.

Day 1 (16th, Feb)
Wake up at 3:30 in early morning. My friend picked me and other friends up at 4:15, after that we went to Haneda airport.

We took our flight on 7:25 heading to Asahikawa. It was full seated!!
On 9:15, landed to Asahikawa safely. It was below -10C and lot of snow!!

We did rent a car for moving in Hokkaido.

One hour later, we arrived Pippu ski area.

Position of Pippu ski area

We met some friends who came from other area of Hokkaido!!


Today' special gear is these!!

We can see two strange board in above picture. Center and left side, right one is normal alpine snowboard.
These are Mono-ski!! My Hokkaido friend has.

Center one is special for powder carving that has so big split tail!!

So, slope condition was so good! No people and enough cold temperature and so fine sky!!

After snowboarding, we had drinking and dinner till midnight. Below picture is my friends sings KARA(Korean girls group) song, he is 50 yrs old!!

Day2 (17th, Feb)

Wake up on 7:00. Outside temperature is -16C!! And fine sky again. Take photo from my hotel rooms window.

We go to Pippu ski area again. Today is also no people!!

We had vey good snowboarding time!!
I feel pain on my legs and back.

Of course we did take some foods and lot of drink!! till midnight too!!

Day 3 and 4 will be wrote next Blog!!

Got new toy for active sports!

Hi,

Long time did not wright this blog. Because I was very busy for my business.

So, I got a new toy for active sports on last December that is High definition movie camera.

This is GoPro HD Hero2. It has full HD record and very wide angle lens.
I purchased with some attachments for bicycle mount and snowboarding.

At first, I try to shoot with road bike.

This photo, GoPro on right side of front axle center!

Check test shoot with bike.

Go to Youtube

Next is with snowboard!!

Keep fun!

Virus UFC163 Impression

I purchased Virus UFC (Ultimate Free Carving) 163 snowboard, but I could not ride in last season due to big earthquake.

Finally, I did ride UFC 163 on last December.

Basic Specifications:
Overall length: 1630mm
Effective edge length: N/A my measurement is 1500mm?
Side cut radius: N/A combination some size radius.
Board center width: 208mm
Other: Reinforced by Titanium and Carbon finer on Top.

My stance setting is same as previous board setting is;
Stanse width; 540mm
Angle front/rear; 55/50 degree
Canting: Side direction of feet: No, Axial direction of feet(Toe up and heel up) 7deg (possible to highest by Catek binding system)
In my case, stance width is decided by Amount of Toe and Heel up.

And I putted plastic plate (2mm) between binding and top of the board, because protect from scratch by binding plate edge. It was made by myself.

Riding impression:
I felt little bit soft about this board bending stiffness by hand in house when I got this.
I had different feeling in actual riding on snow. It has so enough stiffness in turn and very high stability. Like a over 1700mm one,

I guess torsional stiffness was good tuned by titanium and carbon fiber of top sheet.

In turn, it is very good performance for me. Then I stand board hardly, no problem, UFC nose has turned to in side very quickly. After that I could make hard carving on snow.

So, I think board control is more easier than same length SL board. Because side cut radius is little bit large and bending response is not so quick!!

This season, It is too much snow in Japan. Every time I ride on fresh snow. Finally, last week could ride on hard pack (ice) snow.

I changed stance setting after ride on hard pack snow. Wanna more edge grip and wider board compare with previous one.

Rear angle --> 45deg
Stance width--> 520mm
No change other setting parameter.

My feel was it's better, but heel side turn edge grip is not so enough.

I think toe and heel lift is too much? And is stance width too wide?
Generally,
*Too much heel lift of rear foot will be loose grip in heel side turn.
*Wide stance will be twist board by knee movement.

Many years ago, when I start to ride with hard boots. My stance width was 460mm and lift is below 10mm.

I will try follow stance setting;
Stance width: 495mm
Angle Front/Rear: 55/45 deg
Canting of side direction of foot: No
Lift of toe and heel: below 10mm
Decided by more comfortable movement.

Focus to just put load on the board. Not twist. More simple movement!
Into the turn, I have to;
1. Stand board hardly quickly
2. Just load

Looking forward to riding soon!!

Keep Fun Riding!!

Memories of Snowboarding

Lot of Moments of Carving of my snowboarding friends.

Got new weapon, but....

It is still critical situation in Japan. But I have to do to my life and work possible normally.

Anyway, today's topic is my new weapon of snowboard.
Got new snowboard from Virus Snowboards Germany. It is Ultimate Free Carving 163.

163cm board is shorter than current my main board is 180cm GS board.

Before parchase, I did contact to Frank Dietzel is CEO of Virus Snowboards. Because it was difficult to choose length for me.
I got advise from him.
He said, UFC is very very fast board. If you want deferent feeling to current board. 163cm is better for you.

I decided to parchase to 163cm.
UFC has been arrived my home on 28/Feb from Germany, when I was in Germany for business!! It's funny....

I opened the box after Euro trip.
It's so nice snowboard!! Deck is Titanium and Carbon!!

I checked stiffness of bending and torsion. I think it is little bit soft compare with my current and past used boards.
UFC has so big side cut radius, therefore it is little bit soft. Rider have to more stand angle at into turn situation for same radius of SL boards.

Nose of this board is "hammer head" and "rocker" shape. They are strong effect to into turn situation and stability. But I have to arrange riding little bit for this may be.

I did set up binding and edge tune and waxing.

My stance setting is follows;
Stance width: 540mm (possible wider)
Front angle:55 degree
Rear angle:50 degree
Side cant : No
Toe and heel lift: higher as possible
(my stance width depends on amount of lift)

I planed to go to test ride on 12th/March.
But as you know, Japan had hard attack by terrible earthquake on 11th/March. I could not go.

At the moment (end of March), perhaps I am not sure go to ride to mountain in this season. If I can go to there, I will report to impression of this board!!

I am looking forward to riding UFC soon.

Bye!!

Snowboarding part3

So cool snowboard!!

Virus snowboards UFC (Ultimate Free Carving) 163.

Will I get this?

Snowboarding part2

Snowboarding day2 at Hakuba Norikura.

Still snow in morning. Powder!!!

We enjoyed so much!!!!
Thanx to many friends!!

Snowboarding

Hi,

Now I am in Norikura Onsen ski area for snowboarding with my company friend and Osaka company guys.

7:00 this morning, we arrived here. We saw lot of snow!! Weather was heavy snow and cold, but snow condition is very good!! It's fresh powder!!

For me, this time is first snowboarding this winter!! I am stoked!!
Ride ride ride and ride!!

I ride with Donek GS180 board. It's very strong grip and very good flex. I love it.

Today I did ride very carefully because could not see to detail of surface of snow due to heavy snow and wind.

After 2hour from start, we had "beer break". We had some beer and food. Yaaaaaaammmmmmyyy.

After that, snow was more heavy and decrease temperature!!
We enjoyed still powder riding!!!
We return to hotel on 15:00 (little bit early...cold)


After snowboarding,
Beer beer beer!! Drunk so much!! It's party time.

Now party is still continued.....
I hope tomorrow will be fine!!

Keep fun ride!!