Let's hear impressions from riders about their favorite gear that they've used extensively this winter.
This time, we'll hear from Tenran Katsuno, who travels the world competing in the FWQ stages of the Freeride World Tour.
Tenran Katsuno, 21 years old,
progressed from ski school, moguls, and slopestyle to freeride. He competes in the FWT, traveling around Europe in pursuit of victory. He also works as an engineer and runs the brand toki.
Katsuno Tenran's setup
Skis ①: SALOMON QST Blank 112 186cm (138-112-127) '21-22 model
Skis ②: SALOMON QST 106 189cm (138-106-127) '22-23 model
Boots ①: SALOMON S/Max 130 '21-22 model
Boots ②: SALOMON Shift pro 130 '21-22 model
Bindings ①: SALOMON STH16 '22-23 model
Bindings ②: SALOMON SHFT MNC 13 '22-23 model
Ratings and reviews of each gear
Ski Review
① SALOMON QST Blank 112
●Rate the perceived stiffness on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★★☆
Center: ★★★★★
Tail: ★★★★☆
●Suitable scenes on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard Pack: ★★★★★
Park: ★★★★☆
Moguls: ★★☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★☆☆
● Common Usage Situations:
Suitable for all seasons. Can be used in powder, hardpack, and the park.
●Review
In a word, this board gives you a sense of security that "you can do it." I often ride quite hard overseas, but I never feel insecure about this board. The grip underfoot is stable, so you feel like you're catching the snow surface more, which increases maneuverability. The wide point of the nose tip is slightly closer to the front, so it takes less time to catch the snow surface, allowing for quick reactions. The nose and tail aren't too stiff, making butter tricks easy. Nose butter in particular is easier because the wide point is closer to the front, allowing you to apply pressure over a wider area. There are no particular issues with riding in the park. Switch riding is also possible. Turns are fun, you can do butter tricks, and you can go all out with freeride, so it's one of my favorite boards. It's definitely recommended for people who want to ride hard, from powder to hard-packed snow. Also, it's a board that cuts surprisingly well for a 112mm center width, so it's recommended for people who like grooming.
②SALOMON QST 106
●Rate the perceived stiffness on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★★☆
Center: ★★★★★
Tail: ★★★★☆
●Suitable scenes on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★☆☆
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard Pack: ★★★★★
Park: ★★★★☆
Moguls: ★★★☆☆
Touring: ★★★☆☆
● Common Usage Situations:
Suitable for all seasons. Can be used in powder, hardpack, and the park.
●Review:
It's lighter than the Blank version because it's thinner, making it easier to perform precise movements.
For hard packs, I recommend the 106. For powder, use the Blank version.
Boots Review
①SALOMON S/Max130
●Impression of stiffness on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Lower shell: ★★★★☆
Upper: ★★★★☆
●Suitable scenes on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★☆
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard Pack: ★★★★★
Park: ★★★★★
Moguls: ★★★★☆
Touring: ★★☆☆☆
● Common usage situations (season, location, conditions, etc.)
: All seasons. In the backcountry, I use it interchangeably with the Shift Pro 130 depending on the purpose. From powder to freeride, park, and competitions.
●Review:
Personally, I think the 130 flex is just right for handling the Blank112. It's not too stiff, yet it's easy to maneuver in the park and butter without using unnecessary power. Recommended for powerful riders and those who ride with hard charging.
①SALOMON Shift pro130
●Impression of hardness on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Lower shell: ★★★☆☆
Upper: ★★☆☆☆
●Suitable scenes on a 5-point
scale Powder: ★★★★☆
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★★☆
Park: ★★★★☆
Moguls: ★★★★☆
Touring: ★★★★★
●Ease of use of the walk mode function:
The Shift Pro 130 is lightweight, making it less tiring to wear over long distances. The buckles and other parts are also designed to be lightweight for walk mode, or have buckles specifically for walk mode, making it comfortable to walk in.
● Common usage situations (season, location, conditions, etc.)
: All seasons. In the backcountry, I use it interchangeably with the Shift Pro 130 depending on the purpose. From powder to freeride, park, and competitions.
●Review:
It seems to be suitable for everything from groomed slopes to the backcountry. You can even do jumps with it, and I think it's a versatile boot that can handle all situations.
Binding Review
①SALOMON SHFT MNC 13
● Impression on a 5-point scale
: Power transmission: ★★★☆☆
Reliability: ★★★☆☆
Ease of use: ★★★★☆
Lightweight feel: ★★★★★
Ease of operation for climbing mode change: Easy
Ease of operation for heel lifter: Easy
●Suitable scenes on a 5-point
scale Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard Pack: ★★★☆☆
Park: ★★★☆☆
Moguls: ★★☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★★
●Comments on the usability of the Walk Mode function:
Suitable for both users who prioritize sliding and those who prioritize jumping. It's lightweight, so it's less tiring even during long periods of use. Switching modes is easy with simple operation. It's a very convenient binding as it can handle both sliding and jumping.
● Common usage situations (season, location, conditions, etc.):
Used all year round. Suitable for powder, hardpack, and park conditions.
●Review:
This binding is very versatile and can handle a wide range of situations, including jumps and buttering maneuvers. With this binding and boot set, you can ski in almost any situation.
②SALOMON STH16
● Impression on a 5-point scale
: Power transmission: ★★★★★
Reliability: ★★★★★
Ease of use: ★★★★★
Lightweight feel: ★★★☆☆
Climbing mode change operation: None
Heel lifter operation: None
●Suitable scenes on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★★★
Park: ★★★★☆
Moguls: ★★★★☆
Touring: ★★★☆☆
●Comments on the usability of the walk mode function:
The binding itself is very lightweight, so you can walk easily on snowy mountains.
● Common usage situations (season, location, conditions, etc.):
Used all year round. Suitable for powder, hardpack, and park conditions.
●Review:
I feel secure knowing that the boots fit snugly into the bindings. There's less chance of accidental release, which adds to the sense of security. My favorite thing about these bindings is that landings aren't painful even after cliff jumps. I also appreciate that they don't dig into my backside when doing backseat landings. They
have both Aggressive and Progress modes, and I usually ski in Progress mode. I recommend these bindings to anyone who wants a secure, snug fit when wearing them.