We asked riders to share their impressions of the gear they've been using to the fullest this winter.
This time, we looked at the skis, boots, and bindings used by Kenji Kono, who mainly works in Nozawa Onsen.
Kenji Kono, 39,
is a former member of the Japanese ski cross team. He is the chairman of the Nozawa Onsen Tourism Association and the developer of Vector Glide. During the green season, he promotes outdoor activities such as SUP and tree camping, and continues to convey the charm of Nozawa Onsen throughout the year.
Kenji Kono's setup
Skis: Vector glide Cordova Metal 190cm (120-85-110) '22-23 model
Boots: Omnis pro F120 '22-23 model
Bindings: Marker JESTER 16 ID release value 10 '22-23 model
Setup Review
The metal built into the skis dampens vibrations, increasing stability the faster you go. They're characterized by a sense of stability that sticks perfectly to the snow, even when you're going so fast that the skis flap around. They're absolutely reliable skis on hard snow.
The boots have a softer upper shell than the lower shell, allowing for a wide range of motion while still retaining sharp turns. This makes them a versatile pair of skis that can handle a variety of conditions, including backcountry. I ski in a variety of situations, from the slopes to the backcountry, and I use these one pair all year round.
The bindings have an excellent hold and allow the skis to flex nicely, so I use JESTER for all my skis except for backcountry skis.
Rating of each gear
ski reviews
Vector glide Cordova Metal
5 levels of impression of hardness (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★★☆
Center: ★★★★☆
Tail: ★★★★☆
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★☆☆
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★★★
Park: ★☆☆☆☆
Moguls: ★☆☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★☆☆
boot reviews
Omnis Pro
●Hardness impression on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→ ★5=hard)
Lower shell: ★★★☆☆
Upper: ★★★★☆
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★☆
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★★☆
Park: ★★★☆☆
Moguls: ★★★★☆
Touring: ★★☆☆☆
● Frequently used situations (time, place, condition, etc.):
All times, places, conditions. Only Omnis Pro throughout the season.
binding review
Marker JESTER 16 ID
●Impressions are
rated on a 5-point scale: Power transmission: ★★★★★
Reliability: ★★★★★
Usability: ★★★★★
Lightweight: ★★☆☆☆
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★☆
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★★★
Park: ★★★★☆
Moguls: ★★★★☆
Touring: None
●The situations you often use it in (time, location, conditions, etc.):
slopes, groomed areas, side country
