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 the talk of the town at the exhibition held in Yokohama in February.
With its ultra-wide 148-132-139 shape, the first impression you get is that it's a ski specifically designed for powder. So, first, 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 our themes in ski development has been reducing weight without compromising riding performance.
This is achieved through a combination of advancements in the materials used to construct skis, our accumulated development capabilities, and the technical skills to bring those ideas to life—all at a high level. The
"SILVA" ski, while having a wide shape specifically designed for powder, achieves ultra-lightweight design while maintaining high riding performance.
This requires speed in creating improved versions based on test results. Powder skis, of course, need to be tested in powder, and opportunities to do so during the season are limited. As a manufacturer with production facilities in Nagano City, located in the heart of snowy fields such as Hokushin and the Northern Alps, we can conduct repeated tests until we are satisfied, allowing us to create products we can be confident in. Contrary to its
appearance, the "SILVA" is light, and of course, its buoyancy in powder is incredible. The flex is also supple, and the feel is mainly controlled underfoot, making it surprisingly easy to handle even in soft, crumbly snow conditions.
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 models "MASSIVE" and "IMPROVE" cover everything from jumps to three-dimensional riding. The flat-tail models "VERSANT," "BLAZER," and "FARTHER" are a lineup that prioritizes riding stability.
•Freeride "STYLUS" is perfect for moguls and cruising
. •Touring "BLAZER TOUR" and "BLAZER LIGHT" prioritize lightness while offering surprisingly high riding performance for a touring model.
A new model that takes the easy-to-handle "MASSIVE116" in powder and narrows the waist to make it easy to handle in all conditions. It's a versatile model that can be enjoyed in powder, freeriding, and park riding.
"BLASTRACK" features a shell-top construction with a natural wood core in all models. A key characteristic of the brand is that each ski is designed to maximize the flexibility and responsiveness inherent in wood.
This is possible because it is the freeski brand of OGASAKA FACTORY, a long-established Japanese brand that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012. From ski development to manufacturing, the brand primarily operates in its own factories and fields within Japan, boasting high-quality "Made in Japan" craftsmanship.
For details on all models,websiteplease refer to