Living in Japan gives you very easy access to a myriad of snow fields just a couple of hours out of Tokyo on the Bus or Shinkansen. Last weekend I had my first attempt at snowboarding. Me and a mate headed up to Gala Yuzawa.

Where is GALA Yuzawa?

Gala Yuzawa is located in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture - about 200km to the north of Tokyo - and each season sees huge amounts of snowfall and excellent snow conditions. You can leave Tokyo early in the morning and actually be on the slopes riding the powder snow by 8am!

How do I get to GALA Yuzawa?
Either by the Joetsu Shinkansen direct from Tokyo or take the Kanetsu Expressway to Yuzawa I.C. GALA Yuzawa is located about 3km from Yuzawa I.C. For more information on how to get to GALA Yuzawa - including shinkansen timetables from Tokyo, click here.

Here is the Ski map

How did I perform?

While quietly confident that I would be able to maintain balance by the end of the day. Well I was surprised at how hard this sport can be. In fact it was my first attempt at doing anything on snow other than looking and touching and of course the best couch snowboarder in history.

I went with a friend who is actually pretty damn good and his method of teaching me suited my actual ability.

Paul, feet in, back to the mountain, try not to fall, if you fall get back up, don’t be a sissy… with those inspiring words in mind I hit the baby slope, 350m total length. A couple of falls on the first run and I was back up the lift for another go. Only 1 fall and back up I went… Woooohoooo!!… made it down without falling on the third run…. but getting very tired by that stage and it was time to get lunch.

Out again, fighting fit and ready for a more difficult challenge, the next run was 1600m long and a little steeper and the snow was softer, which meant front edge dig in, face plant… but persistence paid off and I was able to get down a couple of times with only minor falls.

What was the hardest part about snowboarding for the first time is waking up and trying to move the next day…….

The day finished with the customary beers and rooms full of J-babes, very nice end to the day.. I also uploaded the video from my Macbook, using the very easy “Post to You tube” function found in iMovie.

So I think I have the snowboarding bug, I am heading back up to a different mountain this weekend, Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort, should be fun and hopefully I can build upon my new found ability. Never no, maybe I will pull off a Fakie or a Backside rodeo, though I am sure both will be by accident closely followed by tears

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