Skiing in Hokkaido!

They call it 'Japow' because the snow powder in Japan is world famous and great for skiing!  We spent 7 days skiing in Furano - arriving Saturday night and leaving Sunday morning.  The day after we arrived Furano got a dump of 23 cm, and the snow kept falling.  Only one day was windy, and the rest were great conditions for skiing.

Jeff says he was very proud of his girls as we all improved, built confidence, and tried harder runs.  Jeff's ankle did well, but being only 5 months post major surgery with 3 plates and 16 pins, it did get sore as he is still gaining strength and flexibility in his calf and tendons.

With Jeff taking breaks and taking it a little easier, that left me to be ski as long as the kiddos wanted - night skiing and by the end of trip following Morgan down harder intermediate runs that I wouldn't do myself.  :-)

We used Christmas money from my parents to give the girls 3 days of lessons - 4 hours each day!  Those lessons made the world of difference - the instructor was fabulous and though we paid for a group lesson (which could have had up to 6 kids per instructor) with the exception of one morning, it was just our girls!  The girls started day one with their snow plow turns and no poles, and then finished with parallel tight turns and going down a black diamond (which I still have yet to do!).  I knew the instructor was good when I watched him describe to the girls how to hold the poles - it wasn't just here you go grab it - but he literally spent almost 10 minutes describing the grip and purpose and the kids were listening and comprehending!

I also thought the instructor was fabulous when after day 2 Bella was complaining about a major face plant and wanting help to get her skis back on and the instructor said - 'No - I have 6 year-olds that can do that!'.  The girls learned how to fetch skis that flew off, get them back on, and get back down the slope without getting upset - a helpful skill for skiing with me too as I tell them - remember I can't help if you wipe out but I will verbally encourage you and wait.  :-)

By the end of the trip Morgan was tackling very hard slopes, and Bella was seen skiing backward, in between trees in the powder and searching for jumps to fly off!

Early in the week - pizza turns and girls without poles

Ski instructor 

Morgan before she cruised off the edge, while I zipped around an easier way and she waited on the slope, so I could film her getting down it!  Super steep Giant C Run!