We asked riders to share their impressions of the gear they've been using to the fullest this winter.
This time, we'll be looking at the gear favored by Hoshino Kouga, who competes in freeride ski competitions while also filming on the streets, and continues to publish his work energetically every year.
Koga Hoshino, 24 years old
He is active mainly in Yuzawa, Niigata. He is also an international rider for Faction skis. The videos he regularly posts on Instagram are highly popular not only in Japan but also overseas.
instagram> koga hoshino
Hoshino Kouga's setup
Skis: FACTION Mana4 184cm (144-119-137cm) '22-23 model
Boots: DALBELLO ILMORO 120 '21-22 model
Bindings: MARKER JESTER 16 ID '21-22 model
Ratings and reviews of each gear
Ski Review
FACTION Mana4
●Hardness impression on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→ ★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★☆☆
Center: ★★★★☆
Tail: ★★★☆☆
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★★★
Park: ★★☆☆☆
Moguls: None
Touring: ★★★★★
Common use situations:
Powder, rough terrain, all seasons
●Review:
It's light, thin, and easy to handle, so you can go anywhere. Personally, I find short and long turns very enjoyable.
Boots Review
DALBELLO ILMORO
●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: None
Touring: ★★☆☆☆
Frequently used situations (time, location, conditions, etc.):
Powder, park, free run, any condition
●Review
I like how comfortable and firm they are to wear and how they don't flap around on uneven ground. I also like the coloring.
Binding Review
MARKER JESTER 16 ID
●Impressions are rated on a 5-point scale.
Power transmission: ★★★★★
Reliability: ★★★★★
Usability: ★★★★★
Lightweight: ★★★★☆
Operational feel of climbing mode change:
None Operational feel of heel lifter: None
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★★★
Park: ★★★★★
Moguls: None
Touring: None
Frequently used situations (season, location, conditions, etc.):
Powder, park, anything
●Review:
It's reliable in any situation, and the metal construction makes it strong enough that it won't break even after years of use.
I also like the color scheme.