Shiny new bike tools

July 15, 2008

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We have just finished building our new bike maintenance area and installed our new Park tools. While you stay at NORTHSTAR our professional bike staff can now service you Mountain or Road Bike. If you are interested in servicing your own bike we also have another stand and tool kit set aside for our guests to use. 

Troy, Welcome to NORTHSTAR

July 11, 2008

We are happy to welcome Troy V to NORTHSTAR, as Mt. Bike staff. Troy is from Canada originally but now lives in Sweden with his wife Martina who is also an avid Mt. Biker. We are stoked to have him here to help build new trails and maintain our old ones. Troy has been Mt. biking for many years and recently he has been building trails in Norway for a Ski Resort.

MTB Invitational Tour

July 11, 2008

On July 15-16th we will host a Mt. Bike tour here in Norikura and ride some of our best downhill and freeride trails with some of the biggest shop riders and owners in Japan. All this week we have been preparing trails and working on new lines to ride. It should be a great two days of riding. 

6/27 Rainy MTB Tour

June 27, 2008

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It has been long since last update. We had a MTB tour yesterday.

Since we had some beginners, we had a basic riding lesson first and head out to the trails.

Even though some of them are begginers, they are good riders and guding pace was getteing faster.

We had a lady rider. She was a beginner but her riding skill was pretty good.

It is kind of hard to see though our staff started wearing Rocky Mountain Bycicles Jersey since it is easy to see from guests.

Yes, we ride across the creek!

It was in between of rain season though we did not get much rain and had a good ride.

5/24 Super Kids Session

May 24, 2008

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We have not been able to update a while though we had “Super Kids Session” at Norikura Backcountry last weekend. It was video shooting and photo session for 14 super kids snowboarders.

This session is annual from last year and taken place by Michiyo Hashimoto, AKA Micchan (formar olympian) and her husband Hayato-san (former pro rider) who are running famous kids snowboard camp, “Kirara Kamp”.

Since the location was in the backcountry, there was no lift access but you need to hike up.

Items were a rainbow snow box, 2 down kickers and a hip over a tree.

It is important to compete each other to build up though they are encouraging each other to challenge new things.

Even though the hard hike, they made great shots. They will be the leaders of snowboarders in the future. We are hoping them to be great riders not only for their ridings but also at their heart.

5/5 Slack Line

May 5, 2008

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Do you know there is a sport(?) called “Slack Line”? It is just ropewalking but it is so hard, even to stand on the line”

You might be able to across the river like our staff, Brad does if you practice enough. Please try it when you come to NORTHSTAR.

5/4 Spring Backcountry

May 4, 2008

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The bus ride from Norikura-Kogen to Kuraigahara has started from yesterday and this morning, there were so many skiers, snowboarders and hikers packed into 6 buses to go up.

It was so good weather. We could see all Northern Japn Alps, Utsukushigahara and Matsumoto-city.

We got to see a ptarmigan!

Probably around 300 people are at the mountain. They look like ants

Tatadamidaira from the view around the peak

The snow is spring snow. It is not the best but enjoyable enough.

For now, you can ride back to the ski resort. It is hard to see though “Dirt Gap” by a staff. We are wating for you to join our Spring Backcountry Tour.

4/30 Rock Garden?

April 30, 2008

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Norikura is not so famous for rock climbing though our staff are trying to find bouldering spots

They have found some good rocks and called them “Norikura Rock Garden”.

With pre-lesson at our climbing wall and bouldering at the garden for 2000yen/half day. Please try it.

4/24 MTB Guide Tour 08

April 24, 2008

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Finally, mountain biking season has come to Norikura.

We are looking forward to having good time with you this season too.

It would be in July to open all the trails though we posted the detail of our MTB guide tour for this season. We are looking for your coming.

4/21 Krabi Climbing

April 21, 2008

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It has been a while since the last post. One of our staff visited Krabi in Thailand.

There are rocks and so many climbers from locals and all over the world.

Hiring a local guide and try to climb 5.6 to 5.10 routes.

And look this beautiful scenery. Should NORTHSTAR create a climbing tour or something?!

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