WAPAN's '26-27 lineup consists entirely of items carried over from the '25-26 season. "I," "RO," and "HA" are available in the three graphics shown above: "HOMURA," "SUZUME," and "SHIRASAGI." Only "HO" continues to use the graphic from the '24-25 season
Beloved Japanese-style graphics that look stunning on the snow
WAPAN is known for its beautiful graphics that reflect a unique Japanese aesthetic, and this is one of the reasons it enjoys such strong support. Three graphics—"HOMRA," "SUZUME," and "SHIRASAGI"—will continue into the '26-27 season. Let's take a look at the motifs and artists depicted
HOMURA "焔" is flames and demons. It depicts the flames that burn away impurities, which Fudo Myoo wears on his back, burning away hungry ghosts. Take a closer look at the details. The graphic blends ancient Japanese tradition with a refined aesthetic. It was designed by Tomoaki Yamanaka, a creator who has attracted attention from various quarters, including for his work on the cover illustration of the paperback edition of Shogo Imamura's "Jinkan".
The SUZUME motif is a sparrow. A single tear wells up in the eye of a sparrow powerfully flapping its wings. The design expresses the idea that even small things can be powerful. The background of the graphic is also stylish, featuring a pattern inspired by Ainu motifs. The design was created by snowboarder "Degarashi," who lives in Okoppe Town in eastern Hokkaido.
SHIRASAGI depicts the white heron, a beloved subject in Japanese painting since ancient times, with gentle lines and modern, pop colors. The image of the white heron standing in the tranquil snow is beautiful. The design was created by "HALUBE," a local snowboarder and designer from Zao, Yamagata. He is also active as an influencer and has been appointed as a PR ambassador for Zao.
The "I" is a fat model with a 122mm waist width, making it ideal for powder. The large, smoothly rocked nose and tail promise exceptional buoyancy in deep powder. It allows for a smooth surf ride, kicking up big sprays. Despite its big fat size, the strong glide feel due to the flex balance makes it capable of handling any slope while drifting. The easy-to-handle radius setting of around 20m allows for agile maneuverability even in tight tree runs in Japan. The graphics are available in three types: "HOMURA," "SUZUME," and "SHIRASAGI."
The "RO" is an all-mountain model with a waist width of 105mm. Its versatility is outstanding. The nose and tail rocker makes turn initiation easy, while the firm camber underfoot makes it easy to maneuver using its rebound, resulting in a lightweight all-rounder. It can handle any situation, including powder, tree runs, groomed slopes, hitting obstacles, and butter tricks. The 191cm and 161cm sizes added in the '24-25 season have also been well-received and continue to be part of the lineup. Graphics can be chosen from three types: "HOMURA," "SUZUME," and "SHIRASAGI."
The "HA" is a freestyle and park model with a 90mm waist, twin tip, and little camber. The overall resilient flex supports landings on kickers, and the excellent weight balance makes it powerful for tricks on jib features. The edges are extra thick at 2.5mm, making them wide and highly durable. They won't budge even during tough rides on boxes and rails. The graphics can be chosen from three types: "HOMURA," "SUZUME," and "SHIRASAGI."
The "HO" is an all-mountain model with a 100mm waist width. For the '25-26 season, the HO will carry over the '24-25 graphics to all sizes. The graphics can be chosen from three popular designs: "MATSU," "HEBI," and "DARUMA2."
Explanation video by WAPAN rider Koga Takeda @SKI DIG
Although it's a Japanese brand, it's made in Colorado. Wapan is a unique brand that combines delicate Japanese graphics created by Japanese artists with a tough body. It began full-scale market expansion in the 2020-21 season. Products are planned and developed in Japan, and manufactured at Never Summer Industries, a long-established factory in Denver, Colorado, USA, that prides itself on its high quality. The skis and snowboards made at this factory are renowned for their light weight and durability, perfectly matching Wapan's philosophy that "freeskiing boards are meaningless unless they're tough."
The graphics, which have an indescribable punch, were drawn by young designers and illustrators from Japan. The brand name "Wapan" and the names of the models "I," "RO," "HA," and "HO" also have a unique style, and the fresh worldview born from the collaboration of the creators' sensibilities is attracting a lot of attention
