Niseko HANAZONO HillClimb

Niseko HANAZONO 2011 Photo Gallery open.

Niseko HANAZONO 2011 Photo gallery has opened.
Please click the upper menu “Gallery” to check them out!
More and more picutres will be uproaded soon.

By the way, the latest edition of “BYWAY Shiribeshi,”an interview book with suggestions on discovering Shiribeshi in-depth, was released on 5 October. A 7-page article written by NPB staff members Natsu and Hong and entitled “Niseko HANAZONO Hill Climb and our exciting summer,”appears in the opening pages. The article includes various photos of the athletes and NPB staff as well as several photos from Sumiko Yamada, a resident of Arishima, and others. BYWAY Shiribeshi can be found in book stores in Hokkaido, Shiribeshi area Michi-no-Eki roadside stations, and Sabou Nupuri in JR Niseko Station (1,050 JPY). Take a look!

Announcement from Niseko Cycle Week organizers

The organizers of Niseko Cycle Week have announced that the event will not be held this year, in order to plan a bigger and better cycling event for next year. Niseko Cycle Week, initially started by local cyclists in 2008, will return as Niseko Cycle Weekend in 2012, and is scheduled for the second weekend in June. Please see the press release for more information about the event.

Nature Ride Niseko, 17-19 September

Get on your bike and feel Hokkaido’s pleasant breezes in the great nature of the Niseko mountains!

Guides will take you to different locations depending on your skill level, with courses that range from mountain ranges to farming areas.

　Dates: 17-19 September
　Registration: Up to 300 participants
　Courses:　50km, 100km, Parent & child 20km
　Fee: Adult 5000yen （including welcome party fee)
　　　　　Parent & child course:
　　　　　　　Adult 1000yen
　　　　　　　Child (6-12 year old) 500yen
　　　　　After party 2000yen
　Inquiry: 0136-22-5878／hirafu@hirafu.net

Details of courses and registration forms are available here.

About timing

We have received several questions from participants about timing, such as,”Why does it seem like all the participants seemed to finish about 3 minutes faster on average compared to last year?” or, “Why did I receive a much faster time as my result than I have in my cycle computer?”

The Sapporo cycle federation is in charge of timing for the Niseko HANAZONO Hill Climb, and they answered as follows:

The official race start is when the leader passes the Kutchan Agricultural High School, and this year, the leader passed 2 minutes and 45 seconds after the start. As a result, 2 minutes 45 seconds are deducted from the goal times for everyone this year.

Because this is not a time trial but a road race style, it will not make any difference in the overall results. Mr. Brian Barkhouse won his second consecutive victory with an improvement greater than 2’45″, meaning his result is the course record regardless.

We welcome all of your comments in our attempts to better the Niseko
HANAZONO Hill Climb for next year. Please feel free to forward your comments by email or fax.

Niseko Promotion Board fax 0136 21 3233
email natsu@nisekotourism.com