birthday bash at best resort

Rie at Mizuho,
originally uploaded by vfowler.

Rie's birthday was yesterday and the two of us forked out a few thousand yen to check out the snow at Mizuho. Without a doubt, the best resort within reach of Hiroshima is Mizuho Highlands. Access to the upper slopes via a small gondola was a real novelty.

A snowboard competition was taking place on that sunny day and some fancy dress too. The otaku maid outfit caught our eyes first of all, then the Pepsi man, the yukata clad girls, the horse-headed creature and his tranvestite partner in a playboy bunny costume, and super Mario.

Not yet up to competition standard, I decided to start logging some air time. So after a couple of warm-up laps, Rie nabbed some clips of me launching down the Skyline run. Might have to try the half-pipe next time!

Lunch was my gift to Rie for her special day.

Sachiko arrived later in the afternoon for a desperation last ditch effort on local snow before her trip next week. Have fun in Rome and snowboarding in Switzerland! I am so jealous.