Let's hear impressions from riders about their favorite gear that they used extensively this winter.
This time, we'll hear from Goro Ikeda, who is active mainly in Sapporo (Jozankei) and Nayoro (Piyasiri), about the gear he uses.
Goro Ikeda, 42 years old
A telemark skier who primarily operates in the backcountry areas of northern and central Hokkaido. He skis on various mountains and also does park and street skiing. He shares videos and other content mainly on Instagram.
Instagram:@golow1000
Goro Ikeda's setup
Skis ①: WAPAN I (I) 180cm (148-122-135) '22-23 model
Skis ②: WAPAN RO (Ro) 181cm (136-105-126) '22-23 model
Boots: Scott voodoo 130 '21-22 model
Bindings: 22designs AXL '21-22 model
Evaluation of each gear
Ski Review
①WAPAN I
●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:
From the beginning of the season (mid-December) to late February, mainly used in high-altitude backcountry areas in the northern and central Hokkaido regions (especially in deep snow), and on groomed slopes on days with heavy snowfall.
●Review:
I mainly use these skis in deep snow. With telemark skiing like mine, when switching between skis, the weight on the skis is concentrated at one point, so they sink deeper than with regular alpine bindings. With these i (イ) skis, when the skis sink into deep snow and the tips encounter resistance, the tail sinks faster than with regular skis and grips the snow surface, so you feel a strong buoyancy in the first half of the turn, and you can continue to ski smoothly while maintaining that buoyancy as you transition into the turn.
Rather than pivoting, you can ski with tail control, and you can always ski while maintaining buoyancy even on slopes with many continuous turns. Also, because the speed does not drop, the impression is that you are using tail control from the center to the back, giving it a strong surf-ride feel.
The camber underfoot is solid, and although the radius is listed as 20m, the agility during turns makes you not feel that way, so you can draw a uniform turn arc, and you can expect a very pleasant ride when skiing on groomed slopes first thing in the morning.
②WAPAN RO (Ro)
●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
: Used throughout the season (backcountry and groomed slopes).
●
I used these throughout the entire season. They offer exceptional maneuverability for skiing in the backcountry and on groomed slopes (after grooming, powder, uneven terrain, etc.). The nose itself has a slightly stiffer flex, allowing for smooth skiing on groomed snow and ice without the tip wobbling. Furthermore, even when skiing in powder, the maneuverability does not diminish, and the soft camber and high-performance base make ski control very easy, while also enhancing stability and landings during natural hits and shooting.
Boots Review
Scott voodoo
●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: None
Touring: ★★★★★
● Common usage scenarios (time of year, location, conditions, etc.):
Backcountry areas in central and northern Hokkaido at altitudes of 1000-1700m during the high season.
●Comfort of using the walk mode function:
The shoes themselves are very lightweight, and the hold in walk mode is just right, with a wide range of motion, making them very easy to use (easy to walk in).
●Review
Telemark boots generally have a reputation for being soft and difficult to handle, but the VooDoo has a two-tiered hold system on both the inner and outer shell sides, providing a firm hold while maintaining the comfort of trekking boots, thus reducing stress on the lower body during hikes. When skiing, it reduces twisting and distortion of the boot during turns, improving maneuverability and ease of use. Furthermore, the highback is securely fixed, addressing the weakness of heel-free boots during jumps, allowing you to jump over large gaps and kickers without worry.
Binding Review
22designs AXL
● Impression on a 5-point scale
: Power transmission: ★★★★★
Reliability: ★★★★★
Ease of use: ★★★★☆
Lightweight: ★★★★★
Ease of operation of climbing mode change: ★★★★★
Ease of operation of heel lifter: ★★★★★
●Suitable scenes on a 5-point
scale Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★☆☆
Hard Pack: ★★☆☆☆
Park: ★★☆☆☆
Moguls: ★☆☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★★
● Common usage situations (time of year, location, conditions, etc.):
All-around use outside of the park during the season.
●Comments on the usability of the walk mode function:
You can feel the unity between the skis and boots, making it very easy to walk. However, the connection between the skis and bindings is weak and wobbly during kick turns.
●Review:
The heel lifter allows for adjustable tension when lifting the heel, and the firm hold prevents the boot from wobbling around inside the binding (a common problem with heel-free bindings), making turns easier and providing stability.
When hiking, the heel lifter now has two settings compared to last year, allowing you to select the lifter that suits the slope, which reduces walking stress and improves operability.
