Creating a sense of peace of mind on snowy mountains: 11 years of achievement | Kenji Kono talks about THE NORTH FACE SUMMIT SERIES

Professional skier Kenji Kono will be using The North Face skis to race across harsh snowy fields around the country for the 11th year in the 2025-2026 season

The Summit Series, used by him and many other backcountry (BC) riders, is The North Face's flagship line.
It is developed through repeated testing with riders who perform well in harsh environments. In order to be able to handle a wide range of conditions, including rapidly changing climates, the line not only incorporates cutting-edge technology but also pays attention to details that would normally go unnoticed, resulting in a high level of perfection.

True to his words, "I didn't want to be a mannequin that just wears what is given to me," Kono Kenji has worked closely with the Japanese development team, providing countless pieces of feedback in the snow-covered mountains of Hakkoda, Asahidake, Rishiridake, Hakuba, and the local Nozawa Onsen area

Currently, the "RTG (Remote Terrain Gear)" series and the "CHUGACH" backpack have earned overwhelming trust in the BC scene.
Behind this high level of perfection lies a history of starting with the seeds of stress felt by riders in the field and then working with the development team to eliminate each and every one of them. Here, we would like to take a closer look at the SUMMIT SERIES using the example of Kenji Kono.

The encounter and journey of Kenji Kono and the SUMMIT SERIES

Kenji Kono first encountered The North Face's top-of-the-line Summit Series in the 2015-16 season. At the time, The North Face had an overwhelming presence in mountaineering and outdoor activities in general, but product development specifically for the snow scene was still in a transitional stage.
On the other hand, Kenji saw great potential in this.

"I first heard that The North Face has products that are developed domestically. Rather than just wearing a finished product, I can be deeply involved in the evolution of the product as a skier. I had a feeling that I could build a relationship with the brand that would allow me to grow as a person, and that this would be fun."

In fact, when he first picked up the model, his impression wasn't necessarily perfect. However, this was what made the project worthwhile. His confidence that this would make it more comfortable for skaters to use led him to delve deeper into development

At The North Face, the development team, including product managers and designers, and sometimes even shop staff, go out into the field with the riders

"We ski together in the mountains in snowstorms, in Hakkoda, Asahidake, Hakuba and the areas around Nozawa Onsen, and we discuss products on the lifts and on the snow right after we finish skiing, saying things like, 'Given how you're moving now, it would be easier if this part was a little more like this.'

Because the developers themselves are passionate skiers, even intuitive words can be understood as a common language when they share the same field. It feels like this accumulation of hands-on experience has led to the creation of truly reliable gear that cannot be measured by numerical specifications alone."

The evolution of Remote Terrain Gear. The key is reducing action

As the name suggests, the RTG (Remote Terrain Gear) series is clothing for those traveling in remote and harsh environments. It uses Gore-Tex Pro Shell, which offers overwhelming protection and is highly waterproof and breathable

Kenji's ultimate goal with this wear is to eliminate stress. The core of his philosophy is the reduction of action

"When filming under extreme conditions, reducing each and every action can lead to better results, and in extreme cases, it can even mean the difference between life and death

For example, a movement that normally takes four steps can be reduced to two steps, or even one action. These savings of just a few seconds add up, allowing you to devote more time and thought to the things you should be concentrating on, such as skiing, judging the route, and checking for safety. As a result, you create the mental space you need to capture the perfect moment."

Over the past 10 years, the RTG has undergone numerous model changes, and the development team has thoroughly refined it based on feedback from riders including Kenji. Numerous features have been refined and tested in countless locations, from rural areas to alpine terrain, forests and ridgelines. Here are some highlights of the improvements

Although early bib pants provided excellent protection, they were difficult to put on and take off because they did not have a zipper. This led to the proposal to add a zipper to the center of the front of the bib pants, resulting in a stress-free design for morning preparations and breaks

The silhouettes and cuts are much more refined than they were 10 years ago. Previous clothing was often noticeably loose, due to an emphasis on ease of movement. Kenji, along with his teammate at the time, snowboarder Yuta Watanabe, requested a radical change to the silhouette, saying it was "not beautiful and created wind resistance."

In particular, the cutting and silhouette of the bib pants from the hips to the thighs have been adapted to suit the Japanese body type, while also evolving into a sophisticated cut that does not hinder dynamic movement

The hood shape has also changed significantly. The hood on the model from 10 years ago was small, making it difficult to wear with a helmet.
The adjustment method was also complicated, but the shape has been enlarged to fit even when wearing a helmet. The hood is now easier to wear in a snowstorm and doesn't flap around.

Currently, the RTG has reached a stage where "there is no need for major changes." Kenji calls this state a "perfect standard," and rather than changing the shape or appearance, he is now focusing on improving the essential functionality, even though it may not be visible to the naked eye, by reducing weight and improving the refinement of details

A desire for the "ideal pack" that carries trust

Kenji now carries a backpack even when skiing at the ski resort. The CHUGACH uses panel loading that follows the movement of the rider while riding, making it a highly functional riding bag. Made with lightweight and durable materials in each section, the bag has an excellent balance of lightness and strength, making it suitable for use at backcountry ski resorts

The development of this backpack was also based on the belief that it would reduce the actions required of healthy children

"Especially when shooting on location with limited conditions, I can't keep the photographer and drone team waiting. I have to finish preparations faster than anyone else and be at the shooting point

Taking off my backpack, setting it down on the snow, taking the bag out... that whole process is itself a lost time that I want to cut down on.
If I could get to the shooting location and get ready 10 minutes earlier, I could get a good shot. In situations like this, the ease of use of gear makes a decisive difference."

What he values ​​most is the speed of transitions

Kenji still goes into the mountains with Duke alpine bindings, gear that prioritizes skiing. Compared to TEC bindings, there are more switching steps, so he tries to eliminate unnecessary actions as much as possible.
As part of this, when changing from walking to skiing mode, he peels off the alpine skins one by one, rather than taking off both skis at the same time.

Simply remove the shoulder straps and support the backpack at your waist to quickly access your belongings. The front avalanche pocket opens wide from any angle for quick access

Also, when carrying skis, if you adjust the length of the ski carry straps to fit the shape and fasten them with the buckle beforehand, you won't have to adjust them every time you put them on. For short hikes, you can simply secure them without using an A-frame. What's more, securing a helmet, which previously required several actions, can now be done with one hand in one action

All operations, such as tightening straps, fastening buckles, and opening and closing zippers, are easy to perform even while wearing gloves in a blizzard

 "These are small details, but they are all functions designed to save me time when I'm out and about in the mountains. Being able to move faster means I have more time to check the safety of my surroundings and observe the snow conditions. The Chugach isn't just a place to store my gear; it's a system that helps me optimize my activities."

What Kenji Kono wants from gear: A lesson learned in Alaska in 2007 changed his philosophy

Why is Kenji so obsessed with "time" and "peace of mind"? The origin of this goes back to an avalanche accident he experienced in Alaska in 2007

"We were shooting a video at the time, and the entire filming team was having a hard time getting good footage. I think there was an indescribable sense of urgency in the situation of having to leave a good film behind. Perhaps
because of that urgency, we left things to the last minute, and we didn't have enough time to get to the peak and get ready. As a result, we skied without fully understanding the snow conditions, which we should have done, and caused the avalanche."

After this painful experience, he became convinced that maintaining mental composure is the most important skill. The more comfortable your gear is and the smoother it operates, the less stress you'll have

This created leeway allows for calm and safe decisions, which in turn leads to the expressiveness needed to deliver the best run possible. Efficiency is a means, not an end in itself

"When I can trust my gear, I can forget about it and just immerse myself in the mountain itself. That's the ultimate state I strive for."

Furthermore, since he became involved in product development for the ski brand VectorGlide, he has keenly felt the importance of correctly assessing and protecting the value of completed products when developing apparel and backpacks. What he

learned from skis like the Genius and Cordova is the idea that there is no need to forcefully change something that covers what is needed and is already somewhat complete. This sentiment is also reflected in RTG and Chugach, and their criteria for decision-making are to focus on essential updates rather than simply making model changes.

Generally, people tend to make superficial changes due to the idea that they must create something new, but he is able to make suggestions that avoid that direction. Furthermore, when users ask why something hasn't changed significantly, he can explain its features based on his deep, first-hand experience, based on the high level of perfection of the product, precisely because

he has been involved with it for many years. This is his own way of interacting with brands, rather than simply using what is given to him.

It's the 11th winter of his career. Kenji Kono heads out to the snowy mountains as usual with his polished gear.
He goes on-site with the development team, sharing his own skiing senses with them to create even more refined gear.

Photo=Daigo Takeuchi

Information

THE NORTH FACE

URL: https://www.thenorthface.jp/
https://www.thenorthface.jp/special/summit_series25/
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