I caught up with QF WP today to run through things for the trip in January and he told me he had posted on AFF about his plans and had received some advice. I don't get on AFF that often as I find the number of forums a bit overwhelming.
I thought I'd answer some of the questions. Firstly, why Grandeco? I first came to the Aizu region in 2018 as there were some very good deals supported by the prefecture government to encourage tourism as the region was still suffering post-tsunami. As a ski instructor with 21 years experience I think that Grandeco is a fantastic mountain for all levels and a great place to teach and develop skills. The other benefit is that there aren't too many gaijin there and the resort is not busy during the week, unlike Niseko, Hakuba, Nozawa and other resorts popular with Australians. I have never encountered a lift line midweek at either Grandeco or Nekoma Mountain (the combined former ALTS Bandai and Nekoma resorts). You can get a huge amount more skiing done in a day when you ski straight onto a lift. Also, ski-in/ski-out is fantastic and the resort hotel is extremely well located beside one of the lower slopes of the mountain with a lovely indoor/outdoor onsen.
With regard to lessons, I will be providing the QF WP family with informal lessons, but if Miss QF WP decides to take up snowboarding I've told QF WP that she will have to get a private lesson at Grandeco or we will go to the neighbouring mountain Inawashiro Snow Resort, which offers English language group lessons. My tour has a region pass which can be used to get tickets at several resorts in the region, including Grandeco, Nekoma Mountain, Minowa and Inawashiro.
This is my fifth trip to the Aizu region, staying at both Grandeco and Bandaisan Onsen Hotel which is at the bottom of Nekoma Mountain South Side (formerly ALTS Bandai) and I have built up a good knowledge of the area, including befriending a few Inawashiro locals running family-owned restaurants, so the trip offers a real rural Japanese experience.
