World Snow Day 2024 — Introducing the Next Generation to Snow Sports There are two types of people in this world—those who love winter and everyone else. If you’re reading this, chances are you fall into the first category. You eagerly await the season’s first snowfall and dream of exploring a winter wonderland. For people like my wife, however, who fall into the second category, winter means cold hands and feet and […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | January 21, 2024 0 Comments
With the Yen at Multi-Decade Lows, Now is the Time to Book a Ski Trip to Japan Monetary policy and weakening currencies aren’t usually how I decide where to take my next ski trip. But, this year, the weak yen keeps coming up. At ¥141 to $1, the cost of a trip to Japan is at an all-time low. The cost savings are significant! Japan is a bucket list destination. Social media would have you believe there […] Mike Humphrey | January 8, 2024 0 Comments
These Smart Gloves Adjust Temperature Based on How Cold Your Hands Are Are cold hands and skiing a thing of the past? Gordini hopes so. Its new Forge Heated Gloves may be the answer to frozen fingers on the slopes. Companies are throwing batteries into everything these days. Every new piece of gear is getting a digital upgrade, from heated socks and vests to goggles with fans. If you’re a chronic hand […] Mike Humphrey | January 5, 2024 0 Comments
Hakuba Valley, Japan, Opens for the 2023/24 Ski Season Japan and specifically the Hakuba Valley have had significant snowfalls within the past week, with some resorts reporting over 20 inches (50cm) of snow in a 24-hour period. With the falling snow, resorts have been working hard to open. Since Thursday, November 30, four of Hakuba Valley’s 10 resorts have announced the start of operations and officially opened the Hakuba […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | December 3, 2023 0 Comments
Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort in Nagano, Japan, Opening This Weekend The Yokoteyama ski area, part of the interconnected Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort near Nagano, Japan, has announced its official opening day. Yokoteyama will have a ‘pre-open’ for this weekend on November 18 and 19, 2023, then will shut for a couple of days before officially re-opening for the season on November 23, 2023. Shiga Kogen is in Yamanouchi in […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | November 17, 2023 0 Comments
Karuizawa Nagano, Japan, Report: Manmade Snow and Smiles Report from Wednesday, November 5, 2023 Last week, my feed started blowing up about ski resorts opening in Japan. While I couldn’t make it to Fujiyama Snow Sports Yeti (the four-hour drive is a little too far for me, no matter how ski-crazed I may be), when I heard that Karuizawa Nagano was open, I decided it was time to […] Conditions Report Mike Humphrey | November 14, 2023 0 Comments
Canada’s 2023/2024 Ski Season Kicks Off in Banff Banff’s highly anticipated ski season has officially started. On Friday, November 3rd, Mount Norquay and Lake Louise Ski Resort officially opened for the 2023/2024 winter. The combination of cold temperatures, early snow, and help from the snowguns have built enough of a base for Banff’s ski resorts to start turning the lifts. With 13″ (35cm) of snow in the last […] Mike Humphrey | November 3, 2023 0 Comments
Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti First to Open in Japan For 25th Consecutive Year On October 20, 2023, Japan kicked off its winter season. Continuing its 25-year-long streak, Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti was the first ski resort to open in Japan. The resort’s early start is no accident. The management team prides itself on its snowmaking ability. Each year, to retain its crown, the resort blows just enough snow to make a single […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | October 30, 2023 0 Comments
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