Itineratus 0 Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Hi all, I'll be skiing the niseko area in January and will be bringing 2 or 3 sets of skis. I've not been able to find answers to these questions via search: 1. Is there on-mountain storage or check-in/valet for skis? I'd like to be able to bring 2 set of skis onto the mountain in the morning and swap out of skis during the day depending on conditions and the group I'm skiing with. 2. Is there an open/recreational race course on mountain if I want to hit some gates, and if so when is it open and what kind of course is it? I'm not familiar with course standards in japan. Thanks!! Link to post Share on other sites
teikiatsulover 6 Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 You could lock up a pair at the base where the ski rack is in front of lifts and restaurants. It wouldn't be an issue. Typically, I've not heard of skis or boards being stolen like back home as much here. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Skis and snowboards definitely do get stolen. I've personally had one stolen and a friend had a near miss when he actually caught the thief red-handed. If you are going to leave them anywhere make sure you lock them up well. Link to post Share on other sites
KlingKlang 1 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Is that in Niseko, Black Mountain? Can't say I have ever heard of gear being stolen here in Japan. Not saying it doesn't happen... Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Both incidents were in Hakuba actually. I'm sure it's a pretty rare occasion but when it happened to me it totally ruined my entire trip. I could have saved myself a lot of grief and money by buying a 1500¥ lock! Link to post Share on other sites
KlingKlang 1 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Was the thief Japanese? Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Word out there has been incidents this season in Niseko. I haven't locked yet, but I rarely leave it for long. If I were storing a quiver at the base, I would lock. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 On 12/24/2013 at 1:00 AM, KlingKlang said: Was the thief Japanese? Not sure about the first one because whoever it was got away cleanly. The second guy that my friend caught was Japanese. Apparently the police later found an accomplice with a van full of stolen boards. Link to post Share on other sites
anything 6 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 I always put mine furtherest from the road or exits to the area. you see many with locks tho. to me it seems to be the mindless tourists who accidently take the wrong set. a 140cm tall girl taking my 190cm skis right in front of me didn't seem to realize anything was out of place. a couple of companies run valet services for their guests. you may be able to still be able to pay for this service if youre not with them. at Hirafu the King and Ace restaurants halfway up the hill have ski racks also. you could bring them up first run and leave/lock them there. might make things more secure, cept you'll probably look the thief at the end of the day. on the weekends you can sometimes see a bit of a small & short race setup for the ski club kids. especially during night ski. im pretty sure theyre not for the public, but theyre often empty and unattended while they lift up for another lap. Link to post Share on other sites
Itineratus 0 Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 Thanks guys!!! Do the ski racks take standard size locks (i.e. like Master u-shape locks)? I'll definitely need to lock my skis since one of the pairs is a custom job which I'd be crushed to lose on the mountain Sounds like a race course will be hard to come by. I'd feel bad about gatecrashing (no pun in intended) a ski school course without permission....I'll just plan on freeskiing while i'm out there. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 I read quavers when I saw that! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 On 12/24/2013 at 6:24 AM, Itineratus said: Thanks guys!!! Do the ski racks take standard size locks (i.e. like Master u-shape locks)? I'll definitely need to lock my skis since one of the pairs is a custom job which I'd be crushed to lose on the mountain Sounds like a race course will be hard to come by. I'd feel bad about gatecrashing (no pun in intended) a ski school course without permission....I'll just plan on freeskiing while i'm out there. ski racks are just that.....racks.........no particular added part to attach a lock to AFAIK. The ski locks that I see are like bike chains, a wire that loops around the rack frame and through the binding (this is on boards) and click into place. I haven't seen any u-shaped locks being used but then I haven't really been looking out for them, perhaps other people have seen them Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 A U shaped lock that is not flexible would be difficult to use. I think you are thinking of the kind of storage racks you see at the base of some resorts (I know they have them at Thredbo and you rent them for the day/week where they lock over the front and your padlock them. Nothing like that here. Just the kind of rack that your rest your board on. With the locks tubby described you loop through a binding and either attach to another board/ski (kinda hard to steal attached kit without sending up warning signals) or around the central bar. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Come to think of it, I have seen ski racks with keys in them.....you deposit some money into it and it opens.....they are quite rare though, certainly not everywhere and I think it's a one time open only affair Link to post Share on other sites
gozaimaas 61 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Pretty sure teine has the near the restaurant Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 yeah at Highland.....I think they are just outside the steps to the restaurant Link to post Share on other sites
gozaimaas 61 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Hai Link to post Share on other sites
teikiatsulover 6 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 What skis are you bringing? Just curious. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 In the market for a new pair, are we? Link to post Share on other sites
teikiatsulover 6 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 No, not burying skis for a while I hope! Same with jacket, pants, fleeces, etc! I picked up some new goggles so that's it for me this season because I don't want to get outta control! Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Just bring a cable lock and secure skis to the rack's upright (though I wouldn't leave'em that way overnight). Link to post Share on other sites
Itineratus 0 Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 thanks all! i ordered one of these locks...they got pretty good reviews: https://safeman.de/index.php teikiatsulover, haven't decided what to bring yet but am thinking head i.supershape magnums for carving/coaching, and either DPS wailers (for 2 ski quiver) or Rossi Soul 7's plus Wagner 120's (for 3 ski quiver). i'm a bit reluctant to leave custom wagners lying around the base, so i might go with the 2-ski combo. hope you guys in jp have a great early season \m/ Link to post Share on other sites
teikiatsulover 6 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 DPS 112's (99's?) and your others skis will be perfect. I love 112-114 range underfoot as they're still great on groomers. Link to post Share on other sites
gozaimaas 61 Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 From rusutsu's facebook today. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 I have left boards there all day with out using the lockers and never had a problem Link to post Share on other sites
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