Photo/ Ayako Niki
We asked riders to share their impressions of the gear they've been using to the fullest this winter.
This time, we'll be looking at the gear used by Ayano Suzuki, who is based in Asahikawa.
Ayano Suzuki
Born in Sapporo, Hokkaido in 1980. She began to excel in alpine skiing in her junior high school days, sweeping all junior titles including victories at the Junior Olympics and the World Junior Championships, and in 1996 won both the downhill and super-G events at the All Japan Ski Championships. She joined the All Japan National Team and competed around the world in FIS races and the European Cup. After that, she worked as an office lady for a regular company, but she regained her passion for skiing and began her path to becoming a professional skier again as an adventure skier and basic skier.
Instagram: @ayanosuzuki.hokkaido
Ayano Suzuki's setup
Skis: Vector glide GENIUS Narrow 185cm (140-115-130) '21-22 model
Boots: OMNIS PRO 120 '22-23 model
Bindings: Marker F12 TOUR EPF release value 10 '21-22 model
Ratings and reviews for each gear
ski reviews
Vector glide GENIUS Narrow
5 levels of impression of hardness (★1=soft←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★☆☆
Center: ★★★★☆
Tail: ★★★☆☆
●Five levels of suitable scenes
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★☆☆☆
Park: ★☆☆☆☆
Moguls: ★★☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★ ★
●Frequently used situation
Season: From November to April.
Slope, sidecountry, backcountry. Almost all used in snow quality other than ice burn. Gentle slopes to steep slopes, anywhere slopes, off-piste courses, ski resorts, BC mountain range, etc.
●Review
The waist width is 115mm, but unlike its appearance, it gives you a sense of security that comes from its stability.
The turn taste is supple as if to guide you, and from the top rocker shape, the turn starts smoothly, and you can enjoy a moderate sense of stability until the latter half of the turn, leading you to a blissful turn. It is characterized by smooth movement that is more straightforward than it looks.It is characterized by the fact that you can feel the floating feeling under your feet, so you can connect to the next turn on the entire sliding surface.
When the first snow of the season is right in front of you, do you ever feel uneasy about whether you can ski?
The Genius Narrow does not have stability or anxiety such as whether it will slip or fall when it starts to slide. Not too light, just the right weight for slipping. It has good running performance when sliding, and you don't have to worry about the weight when climbing.
boot reviews
OMNIS PRO
●Five levels of impression of hardness (★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 (time, location, conditions, etc.)
Time: All snow seasons. All skiing seasons.
Conditions: All situations.
●
Without a walk mode, the forward and backward movement range is not fixed, allowing you to freely find your turning position. This allows you to adjust the quality of your turn arc to suit the conditions and the snow. You can clearly feel the stickiness and instantly sense the board's reaction, allowing you to feel the snow surface directly. This makes your movements smooth and fluid. I feel that these boots are the only way to perform at my best in powder. They are
heavier than touring boots, of course, but they deliver the best performance when skiing.
They move slightly more flexibly backward than regular boots, making them easy to walk in even without the walk mode. However, because the walk mode allows for a wider range of movement, I think dual-purpose boots are more comfortable when climbing. However, considering the ease of freely adjusting the quality of your turns in powder, their unparalleled response, and the seamless smoothness, I can't let go of these boots.
binding review
MARKER F12 TOUR EPF
●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: ★★★★☆
operability
of walk mode function Ease of walking (range of motion): ★★★★☆
Easy to put on even if you don't have dual-purpose shoes, and switching between walk mode and ski mode is simple and easy to use.
● Frequently used situations (time, place, conditions, etc.)
Time: From the start of the season in November to around May.
Place: All situations.
Conditions: All situations.
●
The process from removing the review skins to preparing for skiing is very smooth. Switching between climbing and skiing, or vice versa, is simple and easy to understand. They are heavier than tech bindings, but the sense of security when skiing is immeasurable. They transfer power well to the skis, guiding you to confident turns that are unique to you. What's more, the firm hold is reassuring.
Since the regular bindings have a hike mode, the bindings themselves are solid and I don't imagine them coming off. For me, they are stable bindings.