The beginning of the end

02/03/2011
Sooo a couple of weeks have passed and here is another instalment of my life and whats going on in Japan and how I am doing! I am currently listening to a bit of arctic monkeys in the lounge just thinking about the huge amount of spare time I am have been having on my hands and how I really need to get my arse in gear with keeping up to date with my blog as well as sorting out things post Japan. That’s right its the beginning of the end over here, we have had many departures over the last couple of weeks Dazza Wong, Jonny Whipp, Tony Hill, Jemima Twist, Kay Descaspar, Kave etc... a big crew have left and as a result the number of people in the house is less, so its quieter, less busy but definitely indicates that things are winding down. Definately sad times but you have to keep moving on .
Work has been pretty patchy things but where there is no work there is a mountain to snowboard. The most memorable lessons over the last couple of weeks was teaching a little 7 year old called Lucas, he could ripstick already so it was soo easy teaching him how to snowboard. He was such a good kid everything I taught he picked up so quickly. The other incredible thing about this kid was his hair – it was as long as mine – such a cool little dude!!!
The riding has been a lot of fun recently! Mo has arrived in town so we have been doing a few progression sessions and a lot of riding together its been good. I am feeling like over the last year a lot has come of my riding, I don’t think I am amazing or good in any sort of way but I feel like I have progressed and I am pretty happy with that.
I have had a lot on my mind recently I met someone I really liked and they left and I’ve been struggling to move on from it – they were only here for a week and we only spent a short amount of time together but it was nice, I don’t really want to go into it, but its something on my mind a lot – along with the fact that my journey is coming to an end. I need to get thinking about whats going to happen post Canada but I havent managed to come up with any answers- I am keeping all options open and going to have a bit of alone time in Canada to have a long hard think about it all.
I need to basically get my mind off these things as they are definitely affecting my mood, but I should really focus on enjoy the last few weeks of being here! My life is incredible out here and I need to appreciate what I have and what I am doing, instead of worry about things that haven’t...Let me fill you in on the wonderfulness of it all over the last couple of weeks.
We have been having a lot of going out leaving drinks recently, Key left on the 28th Feb and Tony today. Definately feels weird people leaving especially close friends like Chloe, Tony, Tom and Key leaving. But I am sure one day in the future I will get to see them all again! That’s the thing with winters, they always come to an end and people go their separate ways and you wont have that same crew together in one place again. Its pretty sad but its something I am sure after a lot of winters you accept, this is my fourth now so you would think I would be used to it and can get over it but its definitely still quite saddening.
We’ve had Becs 23rd birthday in the Ice Cage! She organised a really good party with a 2 hr Nomi Hodai (all you can drink) from 9pm to 11pm! I had work the next day so I have to stay relatively controlled with my drinking. I made sure I got my money’s worth but also didnt want to get to crazy. It was super fun the whole crew out and about celebrating and the venue was really cool. We were drinking drinks out of cups of ice and just having good times. The party moved onto Tamashi’s but I retired and left Blind Bec to her fun night! She was loving life and it was good to see.
The next adventure was the Toyota big air 2011 competition. Tony, Mo, Bec, Bjoern, Aimee, Lara, Andy & I as well as others decided to get on the bus and head down! Memories include the incredible food stands and stuffing my face with loads of Japanese treats when we arrived at the open air big air venue. The Japanese commentary was pretty awesome every time a entrant was from Japan there would be a massive introduction just to get the crowd going. The sad thing was by the Semi’s there was no Japanese Competitors left. There were some huge tricks being thrown down. Between heats there was always really tedious long intervals to cover the time the competitors were making it up the in ramp for the jump. We had to bear listening to Kreva a Japanese hip hop sensation for an hour and he was literally terrible. We were freezing and the intervals were getting longer and longer and we were getting crankier and crankier! It finally got to the final and it was Seb Toutant Vs Chas Gouldmond. Chas took it with a landed 12, for his final lap he tried a 14 and just missed it – pretty impressive backside spinning.
The only other real experiences have been a couple more hikes up the peak of Niseko and dropping into the Annapuri bowls, both times with Mo and one time with Tony and Bec. The time with Tony, Bec and Mo was the one that will stick in my mind. The journey, the event the end was all amazing. Just a very humbling experience. Makes you realise how amazing life can be, how lucky you are and made me realise why I was in Japan. The run down was steep and soft and so much fun! Exhileration beyond believe!
Today I have had no work despite being on rosta so after hiking the peak with Mo – equally as epic, we went for Mo’s first onsen experience at the Alpen Hotel and then to the Gentem stick shop! Gentem sticks are Japanese handmade bamboo snowboards made out of the greenest purest materials out of Niseko Hokkaido. They epitomise the pureness of Japanese powder riding in a snowboard. They look incredible and I want one – however the price tag is a little out of my range at the moment. Maybe one day when I am a millionaire.
That brings me up to me still in the lounge on the couch now listening to Roy Davis Jr – Gabriel (nothing like an old school garage tune to remind me of the youth)!

Much love people