Photo: @n11_daiju.m
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 Kawaguchi TKY Takaya, a professional skier and travel surfer who travels the world and also runs his own backcountry tours and works as a guide.
Kawaguchi TKY Takaya Age 39
He took a leave of absence from university to train in freestyle skiing, experiencing the world-class skiing experience while living in Whistler and Banff, Canada. That spring, a solo ski trip to the Yukon and Alaska changed his perspective, and he began to focus on ski travel rather than park riding. He has visited over 50 countries with skis and surfboard, including a round-the-world road trip. His curiosity leads him to travel to remote areas and encounter ethnic minorities. He
also organizes BC tours and events in Japan to share the joy of skiing and travel. He is the leader of the travel planning project ShareTavi. He is the main guide at Nozawa Onsen COMPASS HOUSE and a JMGA-certified BC ski guide. (National English Guide-Interpreter Qualification, General Travel Agency Handling Manager Qualification, General Itinerary Manager Qualification, Rishiri Fuji Ambassador)
Instagram: @tky_travel_skier
Kawaguchi TKY Takaya setup
Skis ①: ARMADA LOCATOR96 178cm (127-96-117) '22-23 model
Binding ①: ARMADA TRACER TOUR '22-23 model
Skis ②: ARMADA WHITE WALKER116 185cm (139-116-135) '21-22 model
Binding ②: ARMADA SHIFT13 Release value 11 '22-23 model
Boots: NORDICA STRIDER ELITE 130 '21-22 model
Ratings and reviews for each gear
Ski ① Review
ARMADA LOCATOR96
5 levels of impression of hardness (★1=soft←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★☆☆
Center: ★★★★☆
Tail: ★★★☆☆
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale:
Powder: ★★★★☆
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★★☆
Park: ★★☆☆☆
Moguls: ★★★☆☆
Touring: ★★★★★
Commonly used situations:
BC from winter to early summer after the snow has settled. Long BC hikes. Especially trips that involve public transportation such as flights.
There is a mix of snow in the BC area, but the shape is just right, so if you're not sure what the conditions will be like, choose these skis and you'll be happy on any slope!
●Review:
At just 1,350g per ski (for a 178cm ski), these skis are incredibly lightweight! They completely change the speed of your hike and the feeling of fatigue when you reach the summit, making touring even more enjoyable.
Thanks to the linear side curve, the entire ski has good edge grip when traversing slopes or zigzagging up steep climbs, allowing you to climb with confidence without worrying about slipping off.
And because there's no side curve, they're perfect for manually adjusting the arc of your turns and shifting the tail as you ski.
Ultra-light skis made for backcountry skiing tend to sacrifice a lot of glide quality due to their lightness. However, these ultra-light skis are made by ARMADA, a freestyle brand rather than a mountaineering brand, so the sacrifice of glide quality is kept to a minimum, and you can have a lot of fun with them, with a glide quality that is hard to imagine given how light they are when you put them on.
Lightweight yet glide-friendly, these skis are just unfair!
Binding ① Review
ARMADA TRACER TOUR
●Impressions are rated on a 5-point scale
: Power transmission: ★★★☆☆
Reliability: ★★★★★
Usability: ★★★★★
Lightweight: ★★★★★
Climbing mode change operation: ★★★★★
Heel lifter operation: ★★★★★
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★☆
Grooming: ★★★☆☆
Hard pack: ★★☆☆☆
Park: ★★☆☆☆
Moguls: ★★☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★★
Frequently used situations (time, location, conditions, etc.):
BC for long hikes
BC from winter to early summer after the snowfall has settled
●Comments on the walk mode function:
The simple design allows you to switch between hiking mode and riding mode simply by twisting the heel piece, significantly reducing preparation time.
Furthermore, the simple structure means that breakage or malfunction is virtually eliminated, providing an unparalleled sense of security when using a BC for long hikes or extended stays involving multiple nights.
Having your bindings break on a BC is not only no fun, it could be life-threatening...
●Review:
Each binding weighs just 390g, roughly the weight of a can of beer. This lightness is unparalleled for ski bindings, and it's sure to take you all the way to Mars. Now you won't have to put up with the weight of the beer you bring with you on snow camping trips.
This lightness is also an advantage when skiing, allowing for nimble footwork even in the uncertain snow conditions of backcountry areas.
While the holding power is inferior to that of regular bindings, as you'd expect from ARMADA, these bindings are quite rigid for a tech binding that locks with just four pins, and you won't feel any twisting of the binding when turning.
Ski ② Review
ARMADA WHITE WALKER116
5 levels of hardness (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★★ ☆
Center: ★★★★ ☆
Tail: ★★★★★
●Five levels of suitable scenes
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★★☆
: ★★★★☆
Moguls: ★★★☆☆
Touring: ★★★★ ☆
●Frequently used situations
BC is almost the only choice in the harsh winter. Slope powder, big line aiming for large slopes, BC on days when you can aim for powder.
●Review
It is a ski that can be a contrasting choice with the LOCATOR series. The structure is solid and the center width is 116mm, so it shows stability and potential on large slopes that slide at high speeds and in powder conditions.
What's amazing about these skis is that they're not just buoyant, but also allow you to freely adjust your skiing action, such as by letting the skis dive under powder thanks to their unusual pin nose and pin tail, or by letting the skis glide thanks to the 3D sole structure called Smear Tech. The
solid camber allows you to enjoy high-speed carving using flex, so if you're tired of easy rocker skis, try these adrenaline-packed skis!
There's a preconceived notion that hard skis are heavy, but these skis are sturdy yet lightweight at just 1800g (185cm). They're also great for hiking, so they're perfect for backcountry skiing or even during the harsh winter
Binding ② Review
ARMADA SHIFT 13
●Impressions are rated on a 5-point scale
: Power transmission: ★★★★★
Reliability: ★★★★★
Usability: ★★★★☆
Lightweight: ★★★★★
Climbing mode change operation: ★★★☆☆
Heel lifter operation: ★★★☆☆
●Suitable scenes are rated on a 5-point scale
: Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★★☆
Park: ★★★☆☆
Moguls: ★★★☆☆
Touring: ★★★★☆
Commonly used situations (time, location, conditions, etc.):
BC in the middle of winter. On the slopes.
●Comments on the Walk Mode Function:
Switching between ski mode and hike mode is a bit of a hassle, but once you get used to it, it's no problem.
Not only are they lighter than alpine bindings, but because they are tech bindings, the support point for walking is closer to the feet, making hiking very smooth and feeling lighter than it should be.
The review
two-piece binding has semi-fixed screws that do not interfere with the flex of the ski, allowing the binding to maintain the flex of the ski.
It provides a smooth ride that you wouldn't expect from a tech binding, allowing you to enjoy high-speed carving and edge control at the same level as alpine bindings.
Let's put an end to the days of skiing with trepidation just because you're using BC bindings
boot reviews
NORDICA STRIDER ELITE 130
●Five levels of impression of hardness (★1=soft←→★5=hard)
Lower shell:★★★★☆
Upper:★★★★☆
5 levels of suitable scenes
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★
★★★☆☆
Moguls: ★★★☆☆
Touring: ★★★★ ★
● Common situations for use (time, location, conditions, etc.):
All seasons, especially BC.
The walk mode function
is easy to use and has a wide 46° range of motion, making hiking easy.
●Review:
Not only are they lightweight, but these AT boots are perhaps the best at recreating the tenacity and rebound of alpine boots. They're also made with a material that's resistant to temperature-induced flex changes, so they won't feel stiff in the cold of winter and loose in spring, allowing you to ski with the same feel throughout the season.
The inner liner, a product of the long-established boot brand NORDICA, provides an excellent fit. The slightly wider last means your feet won't feel constricted or cold, and you'll be able to enjoy long hikes and extended BC trips without straining your feet.