Inside Cheech’s mind

Today was EPIC! It was snowing for the last night or so and all day today.

Today was a pretty decent day in terms of snow conditions. Was pretty fast and a tad soft. Not much new snow around so we decided to hit the park in Hanazono and Kogen.

In the Pipe managed to put together an awesome run of getting out of the lip 3 times which for us beginner pipe riders is awesome. The pipe was in awesome condition with about 4-5m high walls which u could get out of easy.

After the pipe was the park and the run includes a Tabletop kicker, flat box, rainbow rail, a bigger tabletop kicker and then a spine and a rail to finish it off. So Kana and I were ripping in the park. Managed to do some good tricks off all jumps and then head over to the Kogen park which has bigger jumps to get even bigger air.

However we were suppose to meet Max, Seb, Ari and D in Kutchan at 2:30 because we wanted to enter the Kutchan Yukitopia Tube Race. Basically its similar to the wild weekend where you sit in a tube and hurl yourself down a ski run. First down the bottom wins.

The race format was basically 6 heats. Winner goes through to the final. On the Ride up the chairlift all we could think about was "that there was no way we could stop" and "who’s stupid idea was this".

But as the first few heats went through. We could see it was going to be fun. So off we went. I was called up in heat 6 and due to the great start and straight line i took. Even though half of it was backwards. I managed to blitz the field and win my way to the final.

In the final it was pretty simple way to draw lanes. Good old game of ‘Scissor, Paper, Rock. Luckily i came 2nd so managed to pick an awesome lane. From that point it was over. I got off to a slow start but after that the speed kicked in and blitzed the field again by about 10 metres to collect the first prize. Which I only found out about when I got there but it was Y20,000 ($230AUS).

By far this was one of the crazyiest things we have done but it was so fun and we wanted to do it again. D finished 3rd in her race in the final which wrapped up a great day for us all.

Thanks to Kutchan and Team Shizenkan.

First Photo is the Actual slope of the race.

Well there have been many farewell parties since we been here. But I think this one has to top it off. Todd and Rich were both leaving the next day and it was going to be crazy. Todd hurt his knee and has been in the Shizenkan Hospital for a while while Rich hurt him slightly but had been riding a bit. Both have been quiet active in around Shizenkan. So it was fitting everyone went out for a big one.

We all went out to Jam Bar to kick things off for the farewell. Pretty much the whole of Shizenkan was there. But after a few early drinks and more guests coming in. The alcohol was flowing and so were the "ichigeki’s" which means "one punch" drinks. lethal cocktails these. Matt was after a few of these and so was a few others.

Todd the farewell boy had two and was starting to feel it but Rich was taking them well. But as the night and alcohol kept disappearing Rich soon decided it was time to break out the most lethal drink in all of Niseko.

96% alochol polish vodka. ABUNAI!! This drink should be banned from everywhere. Rich polished off 2 shots off these and some of the others had 1 each.

After this the night was called at about 1:30am. The journey back home was to begin. Well everyone was walking ok, until the first corner and then a few ppl started dropping left right and centre. Unable to hold a steady straight course.

First to go down was Rich, followed by Matt who was in a world of pain at this stage. After passing out at Jam Bar. But when we finaly reached home. The worse for wears was by far Rich who proceeded to toilet hug and pass out in the kitchen sink. After a few times emptying the stomach contents into the kitchen and toilet we managed to drag him downstairs. However, he kepted saying he needed to goto the toilet. But we still dragged him downstairs. Packed his bags and got him into bed. but at this point he really needed to goto the toilet so we had to drag him back upstairs to the toilet. the Pain.

Finally we have got Rich in bed at about 3am and ready for a night rest when Room 7 opens and Matt walks out completely naked and in a dazed. After shielding our eyes. He walked right past us and into one of the locked doors and it seemed like he was looking for a toilet. The doors were locked so he walked back to the room. This was unusal but then after all the laughing had stopped I heard a sound similar to the sound of falling water. Which it was, but it was coming from inside Room 7. Now what could it be, what don’t you want it to be? You don’t want it to be Matt pissing in the corner thinking it was the toilet.

But it was. Everyone was cracking up now. But now we realised we have to clean this up and I don’t think the new customer was very impressed that someone had woken up and pissed near his stuff. But it did happen and everyone helped to clean things up. But boy was this tough.

I think the hardest part will be to wake up Rich tomorrow at 7:30 so he can get on the 8:00 bus. But that was achieved. Farewell fellas.

Today was another day at the park. Sun and warm temps have seen the snow here turn to slushy conditions. Meaning prime time for the park. Charged down the half pipe and also the hanazono park today. But after a few sketchy runs and scary moments decided to take a break and then head over to the bigger kickers and tables at the Kogen Park where we went for it.

However i got pissed off as i kept doing BS270, instead of 180s and 360s! that sucks. But the conditions was great for learning.

After this Max and I went up into the trees in Izumikyo 2 area and found a tree resembling a rainbow rail, and decided to try and slide it a few times. Now the first few runs were good, even tho we didn’t get over the apex it was fun. But after that it was pure PAIN!

Firstly, I dropped in and the speed was fine, but the execution was wrong. Straight into a front side TaCO on the tree and breaking my goggles. But the funniest was that I bounced into the tree and I was stuck in the air bouncing along with the tree!

Secondly, Max dropped in speed was definitely fine this time, entry execution was decent, however after that was "Australian Funniest Home Videos" To paint a picture it was basically straight up the tree about 1/3 of the way followed by edge going, hands out in front, grabbing the tree hanging down over him, tree recoils and BOOM! on the ground. Priceless videos to come. But it was pure carnage.

But it was fun so hopefully you all can share in our moments soon! PEACE OUT

Hajimete! 1st time!

Well it was a day to truly remember yesterday. It was a day of firsts! First time doing many things. Just to catch everyone up, the night before was snowing like crazy. The whole day, it snowed, probably about 50cms the day before and another 20cm during the night.

So there was some awesome snow ready for everyone. But the night before was awesome snowboarding. Was probably 1 of the most epic night riding sessions this season so far. Max, Kana, and I ripped up knee to thigh deep freshies from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. The liftie kept the lift door open for us to ride one last run which was awesome!

So the base for an awesome day was set. Where can we start? Hard but I will list the things we achieved.

- Kana & I were there for first lifts at 8:15am (lifts open at 8:30am)

- First time this season i had ice froze to my board underneath meaning i got stuck in the pow skating.

- We were first up down fujiwara bowl which was totally fresh and waist deep light dry stuff

- I was the first track thru banana field, about knee deep.

- First time the snow down the bottom was so slow it wasn’t funny, people were skating however the top was awesome.

- We were one of the firsts up the peak of Mt Annupurri. First few tracks down.( hiked the peak twice in a day for the second time this season) the snow was epic maybe waist deep in sections

- First time I launched off a cornice BS180 styles and stomped it. AWESOME feeling. rode out a bit and then had to go back!

So yesterday was a brilliant day of firsts and there are many more to come. Hopefully I can get some videos and pictures soon.

Niseko, the land of Deep Deep Powder! wow what more can i say about this place, but it just don’t stop snowing.

Well I have finally arrived to my home for the next 10 weeks. Staying with my friends at Shizenkan in Niseko.

Arrived here and ready to hit the slopes and get a huge powder fix. Already it has started to snow. Since we arrived at Sapporo. Well just after that when we got on the bus and started heading out to Niseko it started to snow. Hopefully It won’t stop for a while. MARCH to be exact.

It was great to see everyone back here, Hugo picked us up at the Bus stop with Bossman brand new Car. Including GPS tracker and all. As we arrived in Shizenkan, good old Kana, D, Bossman, Keiko and Hugo were there to greet us as well as Yuki who is Hugo sister.

Its great to be back where everyone is so friendly and the snow is so plentyful. Daisuke came over as well as they are got ready to take us out to welcome us back home.

Yuli was a bit tired so she went to bed, but I went out with the gang to Jam Bar to get this season started. Josh came along as well so it was everyone here minus a few who couldn’t make it.

So the party games began and there was about 8 of us playing first so basically only ordered 2 Ichi Geki’s and the rest just normal mixes. Daisuke ended up losing the first game so he basically had to drink it. After the next round was ordered Daisuke ended up losing again. Now I don’t know but a ONE PUNCH KNOCKOUT drink shouldn’t be consumed more than once. But Daisuke was the lucky loser 4 times in a row. So by that last drink he was in a world of pain. After this last drink The 8 had now become 12. And the Ichi Geki to Normal cocktail ratio was basically 8 to 4. so the chances were high.

But i think Daisuke had enough so he came up with the Black game which was basically listen to what he said and grab any drink. Damn yuki just beat me to the last cocktail so I ended up with one of the ichi gekis.