After my friend Suzie arrived from Canada, the very next day she was slammed into doing a clinic with me. We had a group of 6 come from Tokyo, including our very own BOSS from the Specialized Concept store. We started the morning off with a skill session in Hakuba 47, then had a great lunch around Aokiko lake and later hit the trails, as well as the water!!! Fantastic day, and thanks Suzie for being such a great sport and coach!!!

Coaches Suzie and I...

Up the last part of the hot and steep climb up Aokiko...


The final cool down in the lake!!! Thanks for coming out guys, you were an amazing group!!!

After all of our hard work for the 4 day conference, it was time to let off some steam. That we did with a few too many beers!!!
Great people, great times!!!! Enjoy more PHOTOS HERE!

How often do you get to meet cycling legends??? Well here I am with Mike and Ned of Specialized USA. I got to meet and ride with the both of them. The dealer conference was hot but great. Everybody stuck it out in the hot and humid weather and test rode as many bikes as possible. Was a great event. Met some fantastic people, thanks for coming out.......MORE PICTURES HERE!!

This summer has been crazy busy so far, from building my own kitchen cabinets to jumping in the lake,,,,, enjoy the rest of the pictures here!!! At this point my apologies, but just too busy to elaborate...........

Our new unit bath, it is soooo nice....

Had to have a seat in the tub...

Mmmmm, can't wait to officially try it out...

Our new Ikea bed, mmm, so comfortable, thanks to Kouji for building it when i was away in Canada.......

Me the carpenter, putting together all of our IKEA cabinets...

The great plumbers.... slaving, and digging our new sewage system....

Our new kitchen floor almost finished, thanks Ian for working so hard...

Wow, the new cabinets in place, now for the doors and the counter top.....
geez, reno's are fun but take time. I wish I didn't have to sleep then I could get it all done..... sooner... arrrrgggg!!

Check out the new jump park in 47 Ski Hill in Hakuba..... it's open now!!!! Ride, ride, ride!!!!!!

Had a bit of a rotton spot, but it was all fixed by our great Canadian carpenter Ian Beattie within two days!!!!!! Thanks Ian, the new floor looks great!!!

This was the kitchen on Saturday.......


This was the Kitchen on Sunday afternoon, after Kouji and I removed it to get ready for our new unit bath!!!! So much work, so little time.....
any volunteers would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

Here we are holding part of our life savings, after withdrawing it from 82 Bank. First we get to touch it, smell it, hold it, then hand it over to the owner of the building we are about to purchase...... easy come, easy go...........

But, as of last Wednesday, we have become the official owners of Popple Pop Property!!!!!!! Yeeeee haaaaawwww the fun begins now........
(the title may show our age, any one recognize the lyrics?????)

the stairway up to the second floor.....

the 2nd floor hallway

2nd floor bathroom (future Ikea sink and cabinets)

toilet...(future new toilet....)

storage room, (future master bedroom)

our temporary bedroom

1st guest room, minus the strange bed and green rug?????

2nd guestroom

A sneak peek at what is underway at 47 Ski hill for this summer. A new jump park, Sweet Riders very own Kouji Watanabe on the job with design and construction, more news when it comes!!