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 used by Shunsuke Uemura, who is active in a variety of genres and is based in Hakuba.
Shunsuke Uemura, 36,
is a skier based in Hakuba who enjoys powder, terrain, park skiing, and even the occasional alpine race. He considers every slope a playground, and skis freely while always imagining a cool run. He also occasionally acts as an event judge and coach.
Instagram: @syunpimk
Shunsuke Uemura's setup
Skis 1: Riot Skis IMK 178cm (130-100-130) '22-23 model
Skis 2: Riot Skis cypher 172cm (128-97-121) '22-23 model
Boots: LANGE RX110 '21-22 model
Bindings: Marker Jester16 set at release value 9 '19-20 model
Ratings and reviews of each gear
Ski Review ①
Riot Skis IMK
●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: ★★☆☆☆
Touring: None
●Common usage situations:
I use it in all places (on the slopes) from the start of the season to the end of the season, regardless of the conditions.
●Review:
This is a board that lets you enjoy all slopes with just one board. I think it's quite light considering its shape (3600g for a 178cm person). It
doesn't flutter much even when you go fast, it doesn't slip even when you lean into turns on hard runs, and it's easy to use in the park too.
The conditions on the slopes change depending on the course, so this is a board that can be used on all of them, from powder to flat runs, terrain, parks, etc., when you come down from above.
Since it doesn't have a specialized situation, you might find it lacking if you're particular about it, but I recommend it for those who simply want to enjoy free running on the slopes.
Ski Review 2
Riot Skies cypher
●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: ★☆☆☆☆
Touring: ★☆☆☆☆
● Frequently used situations
From the spring season to the end of the season. Use it in the park or for terrain play.
●Review:
Overall, this board is very soft and light, making it ideal for butter tricks, freestyle tricks, and jibs.
Because it's so soft, you might feel the board slip if you push down hard and lean into the snow. I imagine it's more about drifting and pressing down while having fun, rather than making solid turns and gliding smoothly.
Because it's a board that excels at slippery skiing, there's little to no catching, so you can easily do nose and tail presses, and it's also easy to get into a jib while doing a butter trick.
I think there's been an increase in jibbers among skiers recently, so I'd recommend it for those who like jibs. Of course, I also think it's ideal for those who like soft boards and want to lean into the snow and press.
Boots Review
LANGE RX110
●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: ★★★★★
Touring: None
Frequently used situations (time, location, conditions, etc.)
From the start of the season to the end of the season.
I think it works well in all the situations I ski in.
The most shocking thing about
this review The inner lining is wide and very comfortable even for wide feet.
Even when leaning hard into a turn, the boots don't get crushed and have just the right firmness for my riding style. I love them.
Binding Review
Marker Jester16
●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: ★★★★★
Touring: None
Frequently used situations (time, location, conditions, etc.):
From the start of the season to the end of the season.
I use it in all the situations and locations I ski in.
●Review:
It has such a great sense of reliability, visual appeal, and security that I have never changed it since I started freeskiing. The swing weight is excellent and there are almost no false releases, so it really gives me a sense of security.