We asked riders to share their impressions of the gear they've been using this winter.
This time, we'll be looking at the gear used by Yuki Kuwahara, who has competed in moguls and halfpipe before moving on to a wide range of events, including BC and FWQ competitions.
Yuki Kuwahara, 40,
was born and raised in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
Ever since he was a child, he has lived in an area where snow rarely falls, and has had a strong admiration for snow. At the age of 10, he went to a ski resort for the first time on a family trip, and was captivated by the fun and allure of skiing. Wanting to stand on snow even a little, he spent time in the mountains as a park digger in high school, where he experienced freestyle skiing. At the same time, he competed in mogul competitions and worked as a salesperson at a pro shop in Nagoya. After switching from mogul competitions to halfpipe competitions due to an injury, he competed in the World Championships and the World Cup. In recent years, he has expanded his field into the backcountry, and is intrigued by the idea of skiing on natural, unvarnished terrain, as opposed to man-made terrain like halfpipes. In recent years, he has been competing in freeride competitions such as FWQ.
Instagram: @yu_ki_b
Yuki Kuwahara's setup
Skis ①: Extreme FUSION CARBON 95 cm (129-95-117) '21-22 model
Boots ①: LANGE XT3 130 '21-22 model
Binding ①: MARKER KINGPIN 13 set at release value 11 '16-17 model
Skis ②: Extreme FINAL OPINION 118 187 cm (142-118-132) '22-23 model
Binding ②: LOOK P18 (+CAST custom) set at release value 11 '07-08 model
Ratings and reviews of each gear
Skiing ① Review
Extreme Fusion Carbon 95
●Hardness impression on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→ ★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★☆☆
Center: ★★★☆☆
Tail: ★★★☆☆
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★☆
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★☆☆
Park: ★★★☆☆
Moguls: ★★☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★★
●Common usage situations:
Groomed runs at the beginning of the season and spring backcountry.
●Review
This is a carbon fiber model that is not just about lightness, but also has high rebound, responsiveness, and excellent gliding performance. It is an all-mountain ski with a firm edge grip that makes carving fun and even powder fun. It has a good balance of light weight and gliding performance, making it ideal for spring backcountry skiing and is a favorite of mine. I recommend it to anyone who wants to climb as easily as possible and enjoy skiing.
Boots ① Review
LANGE XT3 130
●Hardness impression on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→ ★5=hard)
Lower shell: ★★★☆☆
Upper: ★★★☆☆
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★☆☆
Park: ★★★☆☆
Moguls: ★★★☆☆
Touring: ★★★★★
Frequently used situations (season, location, conditions, etc.)
Season: December to April
Location (slope, course, ski resort, mountain range, etc.): BC other than ski resorts and long touring (hikes of 5 hours or more)
Condition: Any
●How easy is it to use the walk mode function?
There is ample range of motion in the ankle when climbing, and switching modes is simple and easy to use.
●Review
With a 100mm last width, these boots are comfortable to wear all day. However, they are by no means loose, and they provide a good hold from the heel, ankle, calf, and shin, and they transmit power well. They are lightweight, so you can fully appreciate the benefits of their lightness when hiking in backcountry terrain. I love these boots because I can do everything from mogul skiing, park skiing, freeriding, and even backcountry skiing.
Binding ① Review
MARKER KINGPIN 13
●Impressions are rated on a 5-point scale
: Power transmission: ★★★☆☆
Reliability: ★★★☆☆
Usability: ★★★★☆
Lightweight: ★★★★★
Climbing mode change operation: ★★★★★
Heel lifter operation: ★★★★★
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★☆☆
Park: ★★☆☆☆
Moguls: ★★☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★★
●Comments on how the walk mode function works
: Simple operation makes it easy to change modes, and the heel lifter can be easily raised and lowered.
●Situations in which it is often used (season, location, conditions, etc.):
I often use it in the backcountry, at the beginning of the season, on granular snow in spring, and in powder.
●Review
I like the balance between light weight and a good grip and transmission. Mode switching is simple and easy to use.
I recommend pairing it with skis that are lightweight and have good gliding properties.
Ski 2 Review
Extreme FINAL OPINION 118
●Hardness impression on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→ ★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★★☆
Center: ★★★★☆
Tail: ★★★★☆
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★★☆
Park: ★★☆☆☆
Moguls: ★☆☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★☆
This is
the main model I use during the season for free runs on the slopes, tree skiing, and backcountry skiing in the high season. It's also ideal for skiing when conditions change throughout the day. Of course, it's a must-have on deep powder days.
●The
overall flex is slightly stronger, resulting in less fluttering even on hard pack, and high-speed turns on groomed runs are also comfortable. Even in deep powder, the 118mm waist width and moderate rocker in the nose and tail make it easy to gain buoyancy. It's also easy to handle and stable even on rough off-piste, spring granular snow, and crusty snow. I also like how it's easy to shift and control at low to high speeds, allowing me to control it exactly as I want. These skis are suitable for a wide range of situations, so I recommend them to those looking for aggressive riding and easy-to-handle fat skis.
Bindings 2 Review
LOOK P18
●Impressions are rated on a 5-point scale.
Power transmission: ★★★★★
Reliability: ★★★★★
Usability: ★★★★★
Lightweight: ★★☆☆☆
Climbing mode change operation: ★★★☆☆ *When using CAST
Heel lifter operation: ★★★☆☆ *When using CAST
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★★★
Park: ★★★★★
Moguls: ★★★★★
Touring: ★★★☆☆ *When using CAST
●Comments on the walk mode function
(when using CAST): You need to remove the toe piece to change modes, which takes some getting used to, but it is very convenient to be able to use the Look P18 in the backcountry.
● Common situations for use (season, location, conditions, etc.):
Can be used all year round, regardless of location or conditions, from the slopes to the backcountry and competitions.
●Review:
When skiing, power is transferred very well to the toe side. I like how the heel piece's shape places the mounting screws close to the center of the ski, and the unique turntable function allows you to feel the ski's flex to the fullest.
Photo / Takenaka Takashi