Ski pro shops have accumulated years of information, including the latest materials each season, as well as feedback from past products and actual users who have purchased them. Furthermore, since the owners and staff are almost always skiers themselves, they possess a wealth of specialized knowledge and experience.
Therefore, they excel at evaluating products from multiple perspectives and comparing numerous brands across different brands. So, this time, we asked the experts at pro shops to recommend skis that they definitively endorse as "absolutely excellent!" If you're thinking of getting new skis this season, why not take a look?
"This is the bike of the season!" selected by the discerning pro shop staff!
VECTOR GRIDE | Nadurra
Recommend:Ishii Sports Sapporo Nishi Interchange Store
. These backcountry skis are produced by Daisuke Sasaki, one of Japan's leading mountain guides and professional skiers. While focusing particularly on the deep powder in Hokkaido, where Daisuke Sasaki's activities are centered, these skis were created with meticulous consideration not only for skiing but also for climbing and skiing in various snow conditions.
This ski teaches us that skis that work well on the slopes don't necessarily work well in the backcountry, and that the ability to handle them freely is also important. The skis are set up so that you can fully enjoy the three-dimensional depth of the snow while feeling plenty of buoyancy. They also say that it's easy to ride using the terrain! We're looking forward to it
Takanashi
Recommendation:TOYRU
VECTOR GLIDE. Designed by Daisuke Sasaki, this ski boasts a lightweight design, a highly versatile shape, and flexible flex – I have high expectations!
Recommend:Ishii Sports Niigata Store.
Skis with a center width of 115mm tend to be thought of as powder-only models, but the Nadurra is not such an ordinary model.
The SUPER LIGHT CORE and carbon core, combined with a cap structure that eliminates sidewalls, make this a lightweight all-mountain ski. Enjoy the snowy mountains all season long with this one ski
The lightweight and flexible tip and tail provide excellent swing balance. It's easy to maneuver when skiing and incredibly nimble in tree runs. It's also easy to handle when hiking. And of course, the 115mm center width makes it perfect for breaking through snow on hikes
Despite the large radius of 24m, it is flexible, allowing you to turn by bending the skis without relying on the side curve. Furthermore, it is easy to shift the skis when turning. This is very important. The radius is not small, and the rocker shape is not too tight. This is a new model that is not very modern, but it's the best!
LINE | BLADE
Mr. Odajima
Recommend:Mountain Shop Niseko 343. It
received high praise for its excellent carving performance and smooth exit at the end of turns, allowing for deep turns with strong edge engagement, and providing a unique turning sensation from the start of the turn to the exit. Many other comments followed as well.
The biggest appeal of these skis is that they have an unprecedented shape that allows you to easily lean your body into turns. These skis offer a new way of playing. The top bites in the first half of the turn, the entire board bends in the middle, and the tail edge grips in the second half. You can also easily shift the board during a turn, allowing you to freely control it to suit the terrain
The side curve is sharp, so you can make both large and small turns without any wobbles, even on hard runs, and you can carve smoothly. Because it's short, you might think it would be weak in stability and speed, but perhaps because it contains metal, there are no problems with stability or speed. Although the tip is thick, it's a board that even those with little strength can ride easily. I think it will also perform well in powder. It's good for slopes, powder, and backcountry skiing
...So my overall assessment is , "An all-around ski that lets you enjoy carving with its new-feeling shape and flex."す。
Mikiya Tanno
Tanno
Recommend:TRUNKBASE First and foremost, it's a carving board produced by LINE, a freestyle brand specializing in powder and park riding. Its perspective and message are fresh, and I've been interested in "BLADE" from the start.
I had a preconceived notion that it would be hard because it has a hollow metal shaped like a fishbone, but when I actually rode it, it didn't feel hard at all, and it flexed and turned very well
Needless to say, the edge grip and stability are excellent. Compared to typical narrow carving skis,
Of course, it's not just for carving, but also for powder and park riding. It's a fascinating product that offers new possibilities for versatile riding, making the slopes even more fun
*Take a look at the world of BLADE through LINE video
ARMADA | ARV 116 JJ UL
Recommend:SKI SHOP Vail.
The deep rocker shape of the top and tail shortens the contact patch, resulting in excellent control. The 3D shape of the nose and tail makes it easy to enter turns and exit them smoothly. The ability to freely perform tricks and play around in powder is a testament to ARMADA's roots, which originated from freestyle riders.
The waist width is 116mm, but it's easy to use and doesn't depend on the width, so anyone can enjoy powder skiing at any level and can use it on any slope. It's also lightweight, so it's recommended for women
ARMADA | ZERO WHITE WALKER
Recommend:COMPASS HOUSE
. It comes in the same three sizes as the "ARV116JJUL," but features a distinctive pin top and tail. The lightweight core is wrapped in carbon, resulting in a light and highly responsive board. It cuts through powder and the camber, which has its peak quite far forward, provides excellent grip on sudden hard-packed sections.
They're also great for hard big mountain skiing. They offer a strong rebound, allowing you to fly naturally and landing with a stable feel. They're so powerful they're a ski for experts who can't ride with the same kind of feeling as JJ. These are my favorite skis, and I've been wearing them for about half the season. The more I wear them, the better I appreciate them
ICELANTIC | SABA PRO
Recommend:the BUMPS Sapporo
board, allowing for a firm grip from tip to tail when leaning the board, providing a level of stability that is completely different from the full rocker boards that were popular a few years ago.
This was the ski that had the biggest gap between the impression of its appearance before the test ride and the impression after, and it was extremely popular
* Check out the video of SABA PRO rider Noriyuki Sasaki to get a feel for the riding experience
ICELANTIC | NOMAD105
| D=140-105-130mm | R=17m( 186)
Recommend:SKI SHOP Vail
NOMAD105uses the same core as last year,
In terms of functionality, depending on the size, they can be used for a wide range of purposes, from free skiing to powder skiing. The flexible flex allows for a variety of playful ways, expanding the imagination and imagination of skiers
FACTION ｜ AGENT3.0
Recommend:Ishii Sports Sapporo Nishi Interchange Store.
This ski is in the backcountry touring ski category, but it's a ski that will attract the most attention this season due to its excellent balance of lightness, gliding stability, and maneuverability.
While it shares the same sidecut as the brand's popular "DICTATOR 3.0" model, it features a lighter core and is reinforced with carbon stringers instead of metal sheets, making it a tour model with a freeriding feel. This model is recommended for those who value both smoothness and lightness
4FRNT (Four Front) | DEVASTATOR
member Wasshi
Recommend:BLACKDIAMOND
This season's Devastator retains its freeride DNA while undergoing a complete model change. The overall impression is improved maneuverability on various snow surfaces, increased buoyancy, and outstanding stability.
The new Reflect Tech™ with multiple radius values gives you more lift off the top of the board than ever before, allowing for sharper turns and tight tree runs and cliff drops
The new sidecut provides the edge grip of a camber ski, increasing maneuverability and stability. The ski core has also been made 10% lighter thanks to the addition of carbon fiber. These are skis that will make you think, "With these, I can go anywhere."
EXTREAM | FUSION 105 RELOAD
Recommend:Ishii Sports Niigata Store
. The "FUSION105" is a handmade ski from Scandinavia's only alpine ski factory. It's a tuned version of EXTREM's standard model "OPINION," with improved performance on groomed slopes.
With a core of highly elastic poplar and beech for added stability, this is a true all-rounder that allows for comfortable and light gliding on any slope
The moderately long rocker at the top and the short but firm rocker at the tail maintain carving performance without sacrificing edge grip. Enjoy it on groomed runs. It also has excellent flotation in deep snow, so you can rest assured
Of course, it can't beat the floating feeling you get in powder snow with thicker skis, but this model has the absolute advantage of being suitable for any snow condition. It's rare to find powder snow all day long, so if you wear the FUSION 105, you can enjoy it even if there isn't powder. If you want to enjoy powder snow using a lift or gondola, this is it! There are skis that offer more floating feeling, and skis that offer more carving feeling, but the FUSION 105 is just right
A discerning professional shop fell in love with this brand and became a distributor. "This is the one!"
Pro shops learn about and research a wide variety of skis, both domestic and international, in order to stock the "good stuff" that meets the owner's expectations. In the process, the owner may find a product that they like so much that they decide, "We'll carry this!" and become a distributor (importer/seller). Here we introduce the top recommended models from two overseas brands that have captivated discerning shoppers
KYE SHAPES | NUMINOUS
The flagship model of "KYE SHAPES,"
Recommend:BLACKDIAMOND
(POW WAVE)
After years of development and testing with 4FRNT, Kye Petersen founded "KYE SHAPES," a new brand, seeking greater freedom of expression through skiing. Kye was also selected as one of the world's best skiers in 2019.
NUMINOUS is KYE SHAPES' flagship model. With a long tapered tip and a gentle tip curve rocker that blends multiple radius values, it is an aggressive yet stable ski
The ride is reminiscent of the KYE series that 4FRNT previously produced, and this model is suitable for a variety of powder and can easily handle everything from sharp turns with the edges to slide turns
*Check out KYE SHAPES' promotional PV!
J SKIS ｜ THE HOTSHOT
L=177, 183, 189cm | D=134-106-124mm
L=177, 183, 189cm | D=134-106-124mm
it's doing exceptionally well even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. A highly recommended product with a limited worldwide release of only 450 units.
Recommend:a
ski company founded by Jason Levinthal, the founder of LINE Skis. It is a unique brand that operates with a business style that defies industry norms by selling directly to the entire world without any wholesale distribution to shops.
This season, we're introducing the new metal ski "THE HOTSHOT." Limited to 450 skis worldwide, it's available in two graphic options. Its wide sweet spot allows for intuitive control in any terrain or condition. Simply initiate a turn and the entire edge, including the rockered tip, engages perfectly, providing a precise feel that responds exactly as you want
Optimized shape and placement of Titanal, a lightweight, high-quality aluminum laminate, delivers more power where you need it and less weight where you don't, resulting in a powerful, smooth, and stable ski
*Check out the video introducing Nocturnal Daydream by Ryan Schmies, who collaborated with Jason Levinthal, VP of Promotion for the parody-inspired Nocturnal Daydream
If you're interested in a particular pair of skis, why not visit the shop that recommended them, see the products in person, and ask them questions?
(Clicking on the shop name will take you to the SKI PRO SHOP page within STEEP.) They
'll surely tell you even more passionately about their appeal.
Interview cooperation (in alphabetical order):
Ishii Sports Sapporo Nishi Interchange Store,Ishii Sports Niigata Store,COMPASS HOUSE,SKI SHOP Vail,Ski Bum Shokai,TOYRU,TRUNKBASE,BLACKDIAMOND,BUMPS Sapporo,Mountain shop Niseko 343