Hard and Fast

Every now and again during a winter and sometimes more often than not in the Southern Hemisphere, there comes a time when the elements turn against us and turn once soft, pristine and I might add quiet slopes into noisy, unforgiving ice fields. Such was the case on a recent trip to Teine in Sapporo. Off piste is a complete no go zone and all we are left with are the groomed slopes where we hear every sideslip of every learner as they frantically struggle to slow them selves down. It's icy! But all is not lost, mornings are the key the groomed is in the best condition then and the actual sheets of ice are still covered by the corduroy. The snow is fast and the slopes are empty, it is the perfect opportunity to get your carve on, put those new carving skis to the test or if your snowboarding take yourself back to the early 90s and get that hand dragging on every turn.