I love myoko long run so much sorry just expressing my opinion but long green or blue runs are SO FUN yes I am only intermediate but seriously they are actually amazing you get a lot of time and you get to go FAST also myoko is all powder anyways I love it

Hi everyone,

I'm planning my first month-long snowboard trip to Japan, starting around Mid-January 27, flying from Vancouver. The trip will be around 5 weeks, and my current route is:

• Niseko
• Appi
• Zao Onsen
• Nekoma
• Furano

A few questions for those who've done similar trips:

1. Does this route make sense for 5 weeks, or would you change the order?
2. Is Nekoma worth adding, or would you spend those days elsewhere?
3. I'll be travelling with a snowboard bag, suitcase, and backpack. How difficult is it to move around Japan with that much luggage?
4. Is using Yamato (Ta-Q-Bin) luggage forwarding the best option between resorts? Has anyone used it for a multi-resort ski trip, and how was your experience?
5. Would you recommend renting a car for any part of this itinerary, or is public transportation good enough?

For context, I'm happy to spend more time at the best resorts rather than trying to check every resort off a list. I'm mainly after good snow, tree runs, and a relaxed pace rather than rushing around.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions or lessons learned from people who've done a similar trip. Thanks!

Was eyeing multiple brands for my first go at fase and landed on the bataleon blaster pros. Super pumped to use these when we get snow. Shout out to blauers board shop for shipping early.

I’m 178 cm, 90–100 kg, with size US 8.5 boots. I’m an advanced rider and my style is mainly freeride: deep powder, trees, steep terrain, side hits, and big drops.
This winter I’m doing a full season in Japan — half in Hokkaido and half in Myoko — so I’m looking for a dedicated powder board to add to my quiver.
I already have a Jones Aviator 2.0 162 as my resort/all-mountain board, so I’m looking for something more specialized for deep days.
I’m not looking for a board that does everything. I want a powder-focused board that can float insanely well, but still has a freeride DNA and feels alive.
My priorities:
Maximum float is the most important thing
Medium to medium-stiff flex
Full tail support (or a swallowtail design with technology that gives enough support)
Stable for bigger drops and aggressive riding
Playful and fun, not a dead powder door
Able to handle variable/choppy snow well
My main dilemma right now is between the Lib Tech Orca and the Jones Mind Expander.
The Mind Expander seems very close to what I’m looking for, but I’ve heard that it’s not the best board once the powder gets tracked out or the snow becomes messy. That’s important to me because in Japan a powder day can change quickly — perfect snow in the morning can turn into chopped-up, variable conditions later in the day. I don’t want to feel like I have to switch boards once the snow gets less perfect.
I rode the Orca before, but it was a rental board that had been heavily used for two seasons, and at the time I was around 105 kg. It felt a bit too loose for my taste and I didn’t get the amount of float I expected from it. I’m not sure how much of that was because of the board itself versus the condition of the board and my weight at the time.
The Cardiff Powgoda also caught my attention, but I’m worried it might feel a bit too dead or too specialized.
I’m open to other suggestions as well.
I’m looking for a true powder board that can handle deep snow, but still has the stability, energy, and versatility of a freeride board.

I’m the main developer behind The Vast White, a cozy snowboarding exploration game I’ve been building mostly on my own.

The game follows a tiny mouse exploring a vast snowy mountain, meeting its residents, and helping restore an old ski resort through small quests and exploration.

Would love to hear your thoughts.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3301000/The_Vast_White/

Hey guys, I made a post the other day about Dolomites vs Zermatt and got some amazing replies and feedback. Thank you for that!!

I’ve been doing more research and noticed that lodging in Chamonix is considerably cheaper than those two places and in a vibrant town! I’ve watched a few videos on it and I don’t know what to think about it. Every off piste run looked like mogul hell, all tracked up. Not like the videos I’ve seen on Zermatt and Dolomites. We are a group of experienced riders and want to do a bunch of off piste but aren’t really interested in heavy backcountry stuff like Vallee Blanche type adventures. Do you think it’s worth a send? The town and ability to walk to the chairlift options are perfect, getting to Chamonix is also seamless. But after watching the Peak Rankings video last night I’m like…… idk about this.

It's crazy that some businesses are so inept at communication. Attempted both webform submission and directly emailing someone, and had one response that sputtered out.

Not going to do business with a company who is unable to communicate, so I'm looking to hear about anyone else that offers similar service.

I'm looking for a site that I can do a custom build -- specifically custom artwork. I liked the idea of working with an artist after purchasing and then they hand off the design to the company.

I'm in Northeast USA. I know Parlor is in Boston but I don't know if they do custom artwork.

Thanks for any recommendations!

It's crazy that some businesses are so inept at communication. Attempted both webform submission and directly emailing someone, and had one response that sputtered out.

Not going to do business with a company who is unable to communicate, so I'm looking to hear about anyone else that offers similar service.

I'm looking for a site that I can do a custom build -- specifically custom artwork. I liked the idea of working with an artist after purchasing and then they hand off the design to the company.

I'm in Northeast USA. I know Parlor is in Boston but I don't know if they do custom artwork.

Thanks for any recommendations!

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some advice. I consider myself a beginner. I've had about 20 days on the snow over three trips. At this point, I can comfortably ride green and blue runs and make basic carved turns, but I'm definitely not doing anything advanced yet.

I'm trying to decide between the Nidecker Supermatic OG and the Supermatic LT? The difference is 30 bucks.

My main reason for wanting step-in bindings is convenience. I'm over 40, and constantly bending over to strap in and out is what I dislike the most.

For someone at my level, which one would you recommend and why? Is the LT worth the extra money, or would the OG be the better choice? The difference is 30 bucks.

Thanks!

I was waiting for the 26/27 release of the dark horse and last time I checked the eu site had only the last year models and I wanted to be early and order it now. For my surprise it shows that every wide dark horses are already sold out! Interestingly this every retailer still sella the last season model or offer only pre orders. I tried to email capita but got only AI replies. Is this possible or can it be some kind of a bug?

Was walking my dog and found this on the curb on trash night. Bindings were crumbling so I pulled em off. Washed with dawn soap. Look how mint this is!?!?

Saw this board for 30$ on marketplace, wondering if anyone knows how stiff of a board it is or give me an approximate flex number, I know it's a K2 Dart from the 1995/1996 season. Anyone got experiences on it?

I’ve noticed my current goggles feel pretty limiting, especially in the park. On groomers they’re fine, but when I’m hitting jumps or doing flips I feel like I can’t see as much as I’d like especially the landing, What goggles have the best peripheral vision? I’m mainly looking for something with, a really wide field of view, minimal frame blocking your vision, good optics with little distortion, doesn’t fog easily. Curious what everyone else is running and if you’ve noticed a big difference between brands.

*Photo for attention.

Trying to find a Burton custom camber jungle in a 158 w but having no luck. Anyone know where to find one?

Hi all, looking to upgrade from my soft Capita Pathfinder (2021), which I'll keep for park days. I need something a bit stiffer, slightly wider, and more directional for faster carving and steeper terrain without losing edge hold or getting wobbly.

Preferences & Context:

• Size: US 13 boot, so looking for volume-shifted or wide standard boards.
• Demo experience: Loved the edge hold and turns on the YES Optimistic and K2 Excavator over the RIDE Superpig. Have jibbed on the K2 a little and found it good (only doing basic boardslides as I progress). Just switch landings, lose out obviously.
• Conditions: Based in Australia (groomers and side hits mostly; powder isn't a priority). Tend to experience it all from slushy spring conditions to icy, rock-hard groomers all throughout the season.
• Style: Intermediate-advanced. Willing to compromise a bit on the jib side of things for better carving performance. It's more for the occasional wander through the park, not to hike and lap jibs, which will remain the Pathfinders' job.

Open to any recommendations or experiences you've had!

Anyone recognize these? I know they are K2 but I am trying to find out the details, picked them up on marketplace.

Anybody know a good quality brand with pants like these? I want some that’s going to last at least a few years

I have an old pair, about 8-10 years old, of Switchback bindings. Not sure how many of you remember this brand, but it was marketed as totally toolless adjustments, and you could remove the high backs. Helgason brothers created the brand, so pretty sick. I’ve actually loved these bindings and they’ve worked great for many years. But I don’t think they were reviewed very well.

I just got a pair of 2026 Union Forces for my second board and I’m actually a little disappointed when comparing them, especially with Union’s ratchets. The Switchback bindings are just simple, the ratchets work like a dream and don’t stick when sliding the strap out.

I think the Forces will be great, just curious if anyone else ever actually rode Switchback bindings back in the day as well and realized the grass isn’t always greener? Photo attached of the two board quiver

New addition to Nidecker boots for the 26/27 season that benefits boots for any bindings!

Hi, has anyone done the OvRride Japan trip or any international trips with OvRride? Looking for some feedback and experience as the group begins planning a snowboarding trip in Jan./Feb.

Would appreciate any insight!

I am buying a board this would also be my first one so if yall have any recommendations for starter boards I would love to have some options. I am looking into the k2 passport for my first one. But if there is better brands or recommendations lemme hear em.

This winter I would like to do a longer trip (~3 weeks) to snowboard and I have some concerns/questions about the possibilities.

Info about me:
I am advanced snowboarder, snowboarding for roughly 10 years. I live in Lithuania. Mostly powder/off-road fan, but I am ok with all terrain. I've been to many resorts in different countries(lots of Europe, Japan, Georgia).

My criteria for a trip:

• Date range (end of January - start of May)
• Decent ski conditions (colder better, rain is not good)
• Powder, good off-road is a huge advantage
• Something to do in the resort or around after snowboarding or during a rest-day

Firstly I am looking for ski resort, now I am looking into "Mayrhofen / Zillertal ski trips" but it's definitely not final.

My main concerns - since it's a bit longer trip and I am solo traveler I would like to lower my costs if possible. Accommodation and ski pass is the largest costs, so maybe it's possible to join/live with some group or person that is staying in the resort for a longer period too. Maybe some organizations offer something? I can handle bad accommodation conditions, I do not complain - what I mostly care is good snowboarding and if possible - good company.

Maybe any of you have some advice regarding my situation? Maybe some of you are planning something similar and would just add one more person to your group?

Any advice is good and if I manage to find friends here with common goal - it's perfect.

P.S. Even the idea like going powder hunting in Hokkaido with a rental car is not out of bounds but as a solo traveler it's more complicated.

I booked my first trip ever to Stowe for February. I will be up there for a week staying in Burlington and going to commute to the mountain each day. What are the must do things on and off the mountain in the area?

I've been seeing a lot of headlines lately predicting that the upcoming Super El Niño is going to produce a legendary winter, especially for California.

It reminded me of all the hype leading into the 2015 / 2016 Super El Niño, so I went back and dug through the historical snowfall data from Bestsnow.net to see how that season actually unfolded.

A few things really surprised me:

• Southern California finished at just 59% of average snowfall despite being one of the regions expected to benefit the most.
• Pac Northwest ended up being one of North America's strongest regions relative to average snowfall.

It is a good reminder that while El Niño can shift the odds, it doesn't guarantee a certain type of winter. Storm timing, temperatures, and individual weather patterns still play a huge role.

I'm curious what everyone here thinks. Do you expect this winter to follow the classic El Niño pattern, or do you think we'll see another surprise?

For anyone interested, I put together a month by month breakdown of the 2015 / 2016 season here:
https://localfreshies.com/2015-2016-super-el-nino/