Waist width over 130mm. Asymmetrical. Full rocker. In an era where waist widths in the 100mm range are the norm, a rare new model of ski has been born from the Japanese brand "BLASTRACK."
INDEX
- The brand's first full rocker, "SILVA"
- What was the intention of developer Hirase Masato?
- Models other than "SILVA" and lineup overview
The brand's first full rocker, "SILVA"
The "SILVA" was a hot topic at the exhibition held in Yokohama in February.
With its ultra-wide shape of 148-132-139, the first impression you get is that it's a ski specialized for powder. So, first, please take a look at the video.
These skis were born after extensive testing aimed at combining buoyancy, speed, maneuverability, and stability. Despite their extra-wide waist, they offer easy maneuverability in powder. They also offer the lightweight and maneuverability essential for pursuing the joy of freeriding. Despite this shape, they weigh just 1920g (half a pair), less than 2kg for a 181cm ski
This was made possible by the core material of the skis. The wood has a shell-top (sandwich) structure, and uses an ultra-lightweight wood core with carbon fiber, with a special FRP in between. Furthermore, the wood core structure has been finely adjusted on the inside edge and outside edge to create a balance that is just right for these skis, and fine adjustments have been made in detail. When you actually put on the skis, you will feel that they are lighter than you would imagine
The extremely impactful shape, with the outer edges of the top and tail carved inward, helps control the inner foot, which tends to be weak in pushing, resulting in stable turns
The brand's first full rocker shape makes use of the technology it has cultivated over the years. It originates from the long nose shape, which has a shovel shape made up of multiple arcs, with a long, gentle rise from the point of contact with the snow to the nose. The wider the shape of the model, the shorter the contact length, improving maneuverability and allowing for sharper turns. Taking advantage of this performance, a new full rocker was developed. The smooth arch shape grips the snow smoothly, and its outstanding maneuverability allows for speedy turns
What was the intention of developer Hirase Masato?
The ski was developed by Hirase Masato, a rider living in Hakuba. At ski resorts, he skis top to bottom, picking up on the changes in the terrain, and in the backcountry, he races down slopes at high speed. The "SILVA" is exactly the ski he was looking for. Here, we ask him about the story behind its development
Recently, one of the themes we've been focusing on in ski development is lightweight skis without compromising riding performance.
This is achieved by combining the evolution of the materials that make up the skis, our accumulated development capabilities, and the technical expertise to bring them to life at a high level. The
"SILVA" skis also feature a wide shape specifically designed for powder, yet they've achieved an ultra-lightweight design while maintaining high riding performance.
To achieve this, it's crucial to quickly develop improved versions based on test results. Powder skis, after all, need to be tested in powder, and that opportunity doesn't come often during the season. Being a manufacturer with a production factory in Nagano City, located in the heart of snowy fields like Hokushin and the Northern Alps, allows us to conduct repeated tests until we're satisfied and create products we're confident in. Contrary
to appearances, the "SILVA" skis are light, and of course, their buoyancy in powder is simply incredible. The flexible flex and foot-first handling make them surprisingly easy to tackle even in monaka-like snow.
Models other than "SILVA" and lineup overview
The "BLASTRACK" category has expanded with the introduction of "SILVA." The broad outline of the category is as follows:
Big -Mountain "SILVA"
All -Mountain Twin Tip "MASSIVE" and "IMPROVE" cover three-dimensional skiing, including jumps. Flat tail "VERSANT", "BLAZER", and "FARTHER" are a lineup that emphasizes riding stability
. Freeride "STYLUS" is mainly for moguls and cruising
. Touring "BLAZER TOUR" and "BLAZER LIGHT" are lightweight, but offer riding performance that is unusual for touring models.
This new model, based on the powder-friendly "MASSIVE116," has a narrower waist for ease of handling in all conditions. It's a versatile model that can be enjoyed in powder, freeriding, and park riding.
All BLASTRACK models feature a shell-top construction with a natural wood core. The brand's distinctive feature is that each ski is designed to maximize the flexibility and responsiveness of wood.
This is possible because the brand is a freeski brand from OGASAKA FACTORY, a long-established Japanese brand that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012. From ski development to manufacturing, the brand prides itself on its high-quality "Made in Japan" skis, with all processes carried out in its own factories and fields in Japan.
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