This is a spin-off project from a conversation between Taisuke Kusunoki and Koga Hoshino where they discussed each other's skiing styles . We'll focus on the FACTION skiing gear they use and their impressions of the equipment they employ.
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Editorial Department: Who are each other's favorite skiers?
Kusunoki/Hoshino: Hmm, I guess it would have to be Candid (Tovex)
Hoshino: I have a lot of favorite skiers, but Candide is in a class of his own. Sammy is good too
Kusunoki: I guess he is a god after all
Editorial Department: Candid has ended its partnership with FACTION and moved on to original projects
Hoshino: Yeah, I don't know if I should say this, but the Candid board was the best, haha.
It has a Candid-like shape, it's really strong vertically, and it's fine even if the snow surface is bumpy. It also suited my style, the Chokkari style.
Kusunoki: Me too. When I put on skis, I have a firm vertical line
Hoshino: That's right. Speed is really cool
Editorial Department: Both of you were influenced by Candide and wore FACTION shoes, but do you feel that his DNA is present in the new lineup, or what aspects of FACTION do you think are unique to them?
Kusunoki: The shoes I'm wearing are from the Mana series, MANA4, and I get the impression that they carry on the spirit of Candid
Hoshino: I mainly use the Prodigy3 for parks. The Prodigy2 is a little lacking, so I use the Prodigy3 for all-around fun. Taisuke, the Mana series is light, isn't it?
Kusunoki: Yeah, it's gotten a lot lighter
Hoshino: You're using Marker DUKE PT bindings. What do they feel like?
Kusunoki: I was surprised at how light my feet felt. It was easy to lift my legs, and it felt like my legs were lifting up smoothly
Hoshino: Yes, yes. It's really great for climbing too
Kusunoki: It's also a little soft. The nose and tail are stiff and the center is a little soft, so it feels fun to ride. I feel like it could be a little stiffer
Hoshino: I see. It's a little thin overall
Kusunoki: Yeah, the board feels thinner and lighter overall. And it has zero camber. I felt like I might not even need camber.
If you've done moguls before, you're used to using a lot of knee-to-kick turns, so it might be really fun for people like that. It's super easy to ski. Surprisingly so. You can even ski on fairly hard terrain without camber. Well, I guess it's more difficult than that, haha. It's really easy for me though. It's more geared
towards the general public than the CT. On uneven terrain, it feels less heavy than the CT, but the agility more than makes up for it.
Hoshino: It looks like you're moving effortlessly. Also, Taisuke, where do you attach your bindings?
Kusunoki: I put it 2cm back from the center. (Editor's note: Center = exactly half the length of the ski)
Hoshino: It's about 4cm forward from the recommended position. I thought it was definitely too far forward
Kusunoki: That's right. When you wear them, it feels like they're attached to the front, but I personally think they have a great balance
Hoshino: What about during CT?
Kusunoki: It was exactly the same during the CT scan. 2cm back from the center
Hoshino: MANA, that's a nice board
Editorial Department: Thank you very much. Now, please give us your impressions of the skis that you each use
Taisuke Kusunoki's impressions of MANA4
PREMIUM LIGHTWEIGHT POWDER
MANA4
L=177, 184, 190cm D=144-119-137mm R=23m
This is the successor to the CT series, or rather, a series that carries on its legacy.
The Mana series has models 1 through 4, and if you want to ski on natural terrain, this (MANA series) is the one to choose without hesitation.
The key point is the zero camber. Some people say that it's quite difficult to ski on groomed slopes without camber, but I use this one board for everything from icy patches to powder. It's
a board that lets you ski without fighting against natural terrain. Rather than using the rebound of the board (with zero camber), you feel the terrain with the soles of your feet.
When skiing on natural terrain, I often feel that the rebound of camber gets in the way, so I think the zero camber and this subtle rocker are a perfect match and that's why it's a good fit. It was a board that I liked from the moment I got on it.
I think you'll be shocked when you try them on, everyone
It feels a bit softer and easier to handle than the CT series.
It's incredibly light underfoot, making it very easy to glide with a pulling motion. And yet, it's a strong board. For those who dislike stiff boards or prefer soft ones, this board seems to strike a perfect balance.
If you love backcountry and powder and are undecided, you should go for this one. It's undeniably incredibly fun.
Koga Hoshino's impressions of PRODIGY3
ALL-MOUNTAIN FREERIDE TWIN TIP
PRODIGY 3
L=172, 178, 184, 190cm D=133-106-125mm R=20m
My skis are Prodigy 3.0.
I use them for everything at the ski resort, including park riding and freeriding.
If I were only skiing in the park, I'd stick with the 2.0, but the 3.0 feels like a board I could ride all day, from morning till evening, without changing boards. It's softer than the 2.0, making it suitable for buttering and terrain play.
And then there's the graphics. From the 22-23 season onwards, it features neon-colored illustrations, making it a very striking board, which is also great.
I have my bindings set 1.5cm from the center, and it feels strong on landings and allows me to drop vertically even on uneven terrain.
The nose and tail have rocker, and the rocker angle and flex are good for buttering on park features like tables.
(*The skis in the video are the 21-22 season model.)
Photo=Takahiro Nakanishi Instagram @tokonamekin
Movie=Mighty Jamming Film Works Instagram @mighty_jamming_film_works