The strength of a pro shop is that it can evaluate products from multiple angles and compare numerous brands based on the wealth of knowledge it has accumulated, on-snow trials, and user feedback. Skis are a product that reflects the discerning eye and attention to detail that only a pro shop can offer. During the season, they actually test ride new models and compare them, and by adding their specialized knowledge to feedback from regular shop customers, the pros recommend the best skis for the 2022-2023 season
Recommended skis for the 2022-2023 season
ARMADA｜ARV 84
A cost-effective, multi-use entry-level freeski model
◆Official Website:https://armadaskis.jp/
This entry-level freeski offers excellent cost performance and is perfect for beginners or those who want to try new styles of skiing like ground tricks and powder. It's a versatile ski that's ideal for those who want to cruise comfortably on groomed slopes, try powder on the side of the course, ski backwards, or attempt ground tricks. The
84mm waist width is easy to handle for those who have previously used general all-around skis or are just starting out, and is a standard width for freeskis that allows for light and agile turns. The medium radius allows for easy and agile turns. The tip has a light cap structure that allows for easy operation with minimal effort, and the sidewall structure underfoot provides both flexibility and a sense of solidity, resulting in a very light swing weight. However, it is designed to provide a sense of solidity underfoot even at high speeds.
The twin tip and rocker design means the effective edge is shorter than that of typical all-around carving skis. When riding the same size, it feels like you're riding a shorter ski. The scratch-resistant topsheet ensures that the distinctive graphics last a long time, which is another attractive feature.
In addition, it boasts specifications that incorporate the latest trends in freeskiing, such as rocker technology, and its attractive price of 55,000 yen (including tax) makes it a great value. If you know anyone who wants to start skiing, I would definitely recommend this ski.
Reviewer:
OFF-1
Staff / Keiji Takagi
ROSSIGNOL｜BLACKOPS 98
This is the first freeski that a beginner skier should get!
◆Official Website:https://rossignol.co.jp/
The 98mm waist makes it easy to use in any situation! The firm flex makes it suitable for a wide range of situations, from the slopes to the backcountry. The design has also been completely redesigned, giving it a more subdued feel. I recommend it for its smooth glide that will satisfy even skiers who have done basic or competitive skiing!
Reviewer:
PAPASU
Owner / Toshiya Ikeda
LINE｜BLADE OPTIC 104
One board can be used for a wide range of activities, from powder to park and touring
◆Official Website:https://lineskis.com/ja-jp
These skis are specialized for freeriding. They're like a cross between a Vision and a Blade. They're incredibly stable! You can trust your skis and attack aggressively, whether you're jumping or skiing
Reviewer:
TRUNKBASE
Owner / Mikiya Tanno
VÖLKL｜BLAZE106
Lightweight and extremely comfortable, it allows for elegant sliding over large drops
◆Official Website:http://www.mdvsports.co.jp/
The graphics have been updated for the '22-23 season! The internals remain the same, but it's rare to find skis that are this light and have such a great feel.
① Weighing under 2000g, yet offering an exceptional ride.
② Cool turn trajectories produced by the unique outline.
→ Specifically, it's easy to express the "crossover" movement on uneven terrain, where the skis and your body intersect, even in powder! I'm writing this simply, but it's a really difficult technique. Even more so in powder! If you can express this, it will add dynamism to your powder runs. Skiing with big drops is elegant and cool!
③ Because it's light, you can use this ski alone throughout the season.
→ I think everyone has experienced the situation where they hesitate to take their skis to the mountains if they feel even a little heavy during long touring in early spring. This ski doesn't have that problem as much. Generally speaking, "light" is an advantage!
Reviewer:
at Ishii Sports Kofu Store
Yuki Amari, Staff
K2 | DISPATCH 101
Lightweight, all-around ski designed for climbing and skiing
◆Official Website:https://k2snow.com/ja-jp
The "DISPATCH 101" is an all-around ski designed for both uphill and downhill riding, lighter than the "MINDBENDER" and offering better downhill performance than the "WAYBACK." The "VIBRANT" underfoot provides stability on hard slopes and at high speeds. Its light swing weight also makes it enjoyable for tree runs.
I believe this is due to the new titanium plate positioned from tip to tail, which matches well with the lightweight paulownia wood core. In mountains like Niseko, this ski is likely to be a go-to throughout the season.
Reviewer:
Mountain shop Niseko 343
Katsuhiko Odajima, owner
BLASTRACK｜ELIXIR/L
A bike that surprised me with its depth of performance that goes beyond its lightness and ease of use
◆Official Website:https://www.blastrack.jp/
The BLASTRACK flagship model, the "ELIXIR," has been made even lighter, adding to its agility. The "L" stands for "Light & Luxury," and true to its name, it is both nimble and offers stable handling.
This isn't a board that you can use for both backcountry and groomed runs, but rather a board that lets you fully enjoy the terrain of groomed slopes. It makes carving and sliding easy, and its ease of use stands out in a variety of situations, from groomed runs to light powder, moguls, and even the granular snow of spring in the backcountry.
Reviewer:
OutdoorSpecialityMOOSE
Store Manager / Yoshizumi-san
NORDICA｜ENFORCER 100 (FLAT)
"I want to have everything in one ski!" Skis that will make your wish come true
◆Official Website:https://www.nordica.com/
Want one board that can do it all? This board will make that dream come true. It's solid on-piste and the light swing weight makes it easy to move around in the backcountry. If you're not comfortable with a 100mm waist, we recommend the 94mm
Reviewer:
at Alpen Outdoors Flagship Store
Kiichi Okayama, Ski Advisor
EXTREM | FUSION 105
A very well-balanced ski for all-around use
◆Official Website:https://vinter.jp/extrem/
The rocker at the top, specifically the low-rise rocker, is thin and long, resulting in less resistance and a fast initial speed. The tail does not rock, providing firm grip all the way to the end. It is neither too stiff nor too light, and flexes flexibly. I think it is a very well-balanced ski for all-around use. I particularly like the graphics for the 2022-2023 season!
Reviewer:
PeakPerformance Sapporo
staff
VECTORGLIDE｜INTIMACY
This one ski lets you enjoy all types of snow and broadens the scope of your skiing enjoyment
◆Official Website:https://www.vectorglide-japan.com/
With outstanding maneuverability, carving ability, and buoyancy in powder, these skis are perfect for all snow conditions. The 110mm waist width, exquisite rocker shape, and positioning that provides excellent swing balance will surely broaden the scope of your skiing enjoyment
Reviewer:
at Ishii Sports Sapporo Store
Yuki Fujino, BC Skiing Specialist
ARMADA｜LOCATOR 112
It's incredibly light yet incredibly stable! The price is also reasonable
◆Official Website:https://armadaskis.jp/
A true successor to the TRACER or TST! ARMADA describes it as a tour model. And
indeed, it's incredibly lightweight, as you'd expect from a tour model! With ARMADA's signature Calva Core, the 180cm version weighs a mere 1500g! However, thanks to the newly adopted carbon reinforcement, it achieves outstanding stability and glide despite its light weight!
Many manufacturers have raised prices for the 2023 season, so prices are generally higher! For a brand-new model with these specs, a retail price of ¥104,500 (including tax) is incredibly reasonable and offers excellent value for money!
It's simply the best ski in every respect!
Reviewer:
Websports
Manager
FACTION｜MANA4
◆Official Website:https://jp.factionskis.com/
These fat skis have a 119mm center, but their light and nimble design makes them perfect for both on- and off-road riding. They're great for high-speed powder skiing and technical tree runs
Reviewer:
of FreeSkiShop BE FREE
Masayuki Hashii, Manager
K2 | MINDBENDER 116C
Extremely strong in high season powder
◆Official Website:https://k2snow.com/ja-jp
It's overwhelmingly strong in powder during peak season. It's also easy to handle on granular snow and ice.
It's truly an off-road vehicle for snow. The tip shape isn't too sharp, so it floats naturally.
The rocker is perfectly balanced in both the tip and tail. For those who want to enjoy speed, the 186cm is recommended. It's lightweight despite its width, making it comfortable to walk on! You can enjoy it until spring skiing.
Reviewer
Tyrol
Owner / Iwao Saeki
EXTREM｜MOTHER TREE 105
I highly recommend this to female powder lovers
◆Official Website:https://vinter.jp/extrem/
This is a board that female powder lovers should definitely try. The front rocker and camber are well balanced, and it's not too soft just because it's a women's model. It's easy to carve on piste runs, and even more fun riding in powder! You'll understand the greatness of this board when you ride it
Reviewer:
Fullmarks Hakuba Store
Keisuke Eguchi, Manager of
VECTORGLIDE｜NADURRA
A versatile model that can be recommended to anyone and is always useful
◆Official Website:https://www.vectorglide-japan.com/
This is a versatile powder ski that we recommend to everyone. It's very lightweight and offers excellent stability. The flexible tip and tail with a tapered rocker shape allow for smooth and grippy turns.
The 3D cap structure and camber provide excellent grip, allowing for precise edge control even on icy or rough slopes. It's also light and responsive, so you can enjoy nimble movements. It will perform well in all conditions, from high-season powder to spring skiing on icy or rough snow.
Reviewer:
TOYRU
Store Manager / Minoru Takanashi
FACTION｜PRODIGY 3.0
A versatile ski that can be summed up in one word: "the ideal all-round ski."
◆Official Website:https://jp.factionskis.com/
In a word, FACTION has created the "ideal all-around ski"!
Before you even think about things like center width or weight, just try it out! Whether you're speeding through corduroy, charging into fresh snow, or hitting icy patches, its exceptional stability lets you trust it completely. Whether you're making sharp turns, cruising leisurely, jumping, or spinning, this versatile ski is incredibly fun!
Reviewer:
NATURAL
Staff / Seiko Tsuji
SALOMON | QST106
Enjoy both on-piste and off-piste!
◆Official Website:https://timetoplay.salomon.jp/
Great for all-round fun on the slopes or in the backcountry!
Review Work
クレブスポーツ
Staff / Takeshi Yoshida
VÖLKL｜Revolt 104
Powder, park, slope... Versatile skis that can be used anywhere
◆Official website: http://www.mdvsports.co.jp/
These skis are versatile enough to be used anywhere, whether in powder, park, or on the slopes. They offer excellent buoyancy in powder, and thanks to the 3D radius, they also offer very good carving performance. Long and mid-turns are light and comfortable! Lowering the binding position makes them even easier to use
Reviewer:
Ishii Sports Links Umeda Store
Staff / Mio Suegami
VÖLKL｜Revolt 121
Especially recommended for BC lovers with easy access to the slopes
◆Official Website:http://www.mdvsports.co.jp/
The buoyancy and glide in powder are outstanding! In addition, the glide on the slopes is excellent and carving is easy, so there's nothing to complain about! Especially recommended for BC enthusiasts who access the slopes!
Reviewer:
PeakPerformance Futako-Tamagawa
Staff / Shunsuke Murai
ARMADA｜SHORT PANT PARADOX
Perfect for those who prefer a surfy ride
The outstanding ease of tail movement allows you to move the ski freely in powder, making these skis ideal for those who prefer a surfy ride. The easy-to-use waist width of 112mm also makes them versatile and versatile. While available in shorter sizes, the radius of around 21m makes these new skis both comfortable for long turns and easy to swing around the tail
Reviewer:
SKI SHOP VAIL
Staff / Sota Unno
ARMADA｜ZERO ARV116 JJUL
Perfect overall balance.Lightweight, strong, and easy for anyone to enjoy a weightless ride.
◆Official Website:https://armadaskis.jp/
The Ultra Light concept. It's not just about being lightweight; the swing weight has also been thoroughly reduced. The lighter weight allows you to choose a size longer. This creates even more buoyancy in powder, which is a big advantage. I think the
"ARV116 JJUL" completely dispels the notion that light skis are soft and weak. By cleverly combining various elements such as internal materials, edges, sidewalls, and camber, the effective edge area, including underfoot, is strong and capable of handling high-speed runs. And it achieves a reduction in swing weight that makes it feel as if there is no tip and tail. The JJ UL is a very well-balanced board overall. It
was already well-regarded for its ease of handling due to the good balance of rocker and camber, but with the UL (Ultra Light) version, the increased flexibility of the tip allows the board to flex as it grips the powder, resulting in a satisfying, controlled turn and exceptional buoyancy. In addition, Smear Tech applied to the tip and tail makes smooth turns and powder tricks easier. The JJ UL retains the ease of use of previous models, while being an excellent model that allows you to glide through the surface of powder more smoothly.
Reviewer:
COMPASS HOUSE
Junhiro Murai,
ARMADA | ZERO STRANGER
Versatile for any situation or condition
◆Official Website:https://armadaskis.jp/
ZERO's "STRANGER" skis are incredibly versatile. They're versatile enough to handle a variety of mountain situations and conditions. Considering that, they also offer excellent value for money. The waist width is also narrow at 80.5cm, so they'll be a good fit for beginners looking to try freeskiing. The tough black color for the 2022-23 season is also nice
Reviewer:
D-RIDE
Store Manager / Taisaku Nishimura
