Skiing In Japan

With some of my college mates

For someone who loves winter and snow I was never curious about skiing, snowboarding or any winter sports. When my friends wonder and want to try skiing I was totally engrossed in my fashion magazines or catalogues sometimes checking out the whats in style for the snowboarders and appreciating the colors and how hip-hop-ish they look. But that's how far I go, the thought of skiing is so foreign to me and after seeing one of my favourite celebrity getting killed while skiing I think Ill pass. 

Over looking Nagano Prefecture

Unfortunately, a weekend of skiing organised by my college is a graduating requirement. In summer we had to go camping by a lake and do water sports and every activity is graded. We were even divided into groups of 4 and  have to cook dinner  outside (nothing new to me). Anyway I try coming up with all sorts of excuse but my lecturer insisted that it is compulsory that I go on this skiing trip. He even reassure me that it would be a great experience for me. I was more scared of the cold than skiing, I went with a huge suitcase of Jackets, turtle necks, socks and couple of boots and extra blanket even though they announced that the lodge is fully furnished and the services are equivalent to hotel standard. 

We took the bullet train to myoko kogen, Nigata prefecture on the border with Nagano prefecture. We were picked up by our school driver and taken to the schools ski lodge. Early the next day we had to leave for the ski grounds with our instructors. For the next hour we learn the basics of skiing then before I had time to get use to this things attached to my feet I was sitting in the chair lift going up. 

Getting off the chair lift was tough but the view made up for that. We can see Nagano prefecture and Lake Nojiri (where we spent the last summer camping ). It was still early so the ski grounds were empty, my first attempt was surprisingly good. I  nervously made  it to the bottom sweating in my 5 layered clothing with my instructor grinning beside me. He was more proud than I was because 1. I'm the only student from a tropical country 2. I was the one who tried getting out of the ski trip 3. No one think I would survive out here. 

Wrong! wrong! wrong! I'm a natural at sports, I have really strong legs (giggle) and I love fast cars, fast bikes so going downhill in that speed is thrilling. But I was surprised, really surprised because a lot of people I told me skiing is hard and they never get the hang of it. 

By the end of the day I was more enthusiastic and looking forward to the next day. Most of my college mates couldn't take it anymore, when we return to the lodge there were a lot of groans and complains coming from all direction. Dinner was filled with people complaining about how exhausted they were. Some attempt to talk their way out of tomorrows activities, I was secretly smiling in my little corner. 

As part of the Japanese tradition, onsen (hot spring) is a must so off we went.  Theres nothing like spending time relaxing in the onsen after a long day. This is one part of Japanese culture that I will miss, onsen. 

The next day the instructor decided we should go to another ski ground, this time its rated as difficult. The slope was higher and steeper than the one we did the day before and there are more people here. Gahhh!!! This time it was scary. But when you have your graduation at  stake you gotta do it.

I fell a couple of times but that didn't dampen my spirit I am going to graduate so might as well have fun while I'm at it.  It wasn't as fun as the day before because of the level of difficulty so relaxing is not an option. And I was at this point where I didn't want to trade instructors  so I had to keep up and work my way down the slope. By mid afternoon we were exhausted so we went for a quick lunch and rest then we had to go up again. 

Once I got use to it, it was fun in a challenging way. My partner was a Korean student who confessed that despite coming from one of the coldest region in Korea she never skied in her whole life til now. 

The trip that I dreaded the most turned out to be one of the most enjoyable trip that I did with my school. I came home with no bruises no broken bones just a new love for skiing. Myoko Kogen is one of Japans popular ski area. Because of its close vicinity to Tokyo, residents usually take day trips. Leaving early in the morning by bus or private cars and returning late in the evening. There are numerous resorts and lodge close to the grounds complete with hot springs and restaurants. However early reservation is a must. 

This year I'm looking forward to another ski trip hopefully around January or February maybe in another area. Maybe even try out snowboarding, it kinda look cool and maybe I could wear those brightly colored snowboarder outfit and try to appear hip hop -ish.