Now, let me start off by asking you a question: are you familiar with Jupiter X, the brand that has been creating a buzz in the industry this season?
This isn't the one by Hirahara Marika.
It's not FUTU◯E that lets you apply wax nicely.
As the title completely spoils it,a fully automatic tune-up machine.
The Jupiter X is
fully automatic border cutting
, base cleaning
, shaping of the tip, center, tail, side and base edges
, structure application
, base edge polishing to a mirror finish
, and waxing
.
What's so great about Jupiter X?
Until now, ski tuning has been associated with the delicate work of skilled craftsmen that can only be done by hand. However, the Jupiter X is an incredible machine that can process up to 70 pairs of skis per hour once the settings are loaded into the machine. For individual customers, depending on the condition of the skis and the service requested, same-day service is possible.
Furthermore, the greatest advantage of this machine is that you can specify things like edge sharpening and the depth and fineness of the structure, allowing for almost complete freedom in tuning.
This machine is located at "Zebra Tune-up Factory (hereinafter referred to as Zebra)" inside Kreb Sports in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture. Zebra, which originally had a thriving rental business, introduced it to tune up over 30,000 rental skis and snowboards, but it also offers significant benefits to us general users.
For example, if you visit Yuzawa Town in winter to ski or snowboard, and the timing is right, you can have your equipment tuned up on the spot and head out to ski.
What's even more surprising isthat there's only one Jupiter X in the world. There are six "Jupiter"machines in the world that only sharpen the edges or only polish the base, but Zebra is the only one that has all the sections integrated and is given the "X" designation.
If we had the opportunity to experience this cutting-edge machine, the only one of its kind in the world, which is causing such a stir in the industry, then there was no way we could pass up the chance to cover it.
Our editorial team went to try it out and see just how capable it really is.
Actually take it in for a diagnosis
So, I called Zebra to request an interview, and they readily agreed. They
"Let's diagnose it while actually looking at the skis,"
so I brought my own skis. These were skis I had used for two seasons and hadn't had tuned up even once.
When I took them home and looked at the soles of my skis again, I felt somehow guilty and embarrassed. They were so poorly maintained that it would be no surprise if someone wondered, "Are you really a member of the editorial staff of a ski media company?" There were scratches of all sizes, and the edges were rusty. In fact, since they were on the rails, there were already many intentional scratches on my feet
"Will this really get better...?"
I asked hesitantly.
"Some scratches will disappear completely!"
The person who answered this question so quickly and refreshingly was Mr. Suda, the person in charge at Jupiter
The scratches on the sole from hitting a rail will be removed, but larger scratches like those from stepping on a stone may remain. The point is that the sole is polished to remove the scratches, so polishing too much can affect the durability of the ski itself. If the sole becomes clean but becomes thinner and the ski breaks, it defeats the purpose
Also, the edges of the undercarriage that have become rounded due to the influence of the rails may not be able to be completely rounded. In this case too, if the edges are polished too much and the edges themselves disappear, it will not be a tune-up
Therefore, before putting it into the Jupiter X, we conduct a thorough material check to determine the extent and type of tuning that is best for the board
The setup is suggested taking into account the individual's preferences, such as the type of place and the way they ski. This diagnosis is very important in finding the ideal board
This time, as a result of the discussion,
First, make the sole flat
- The side edge should be 88.0 degrees and the base edge should be 1.5 degrees
・Introduce structure
This is roughly what I decided to do with the maintenance. This plan includes flattening the sole, polishing and sharpening the edges, and adding structure, and costs 12,700 yen
The skis I brought with me were reborn..
Jupiter is 8.35m long and houses these machines
First, you set the type of tuning you want to do from the control panel on the left. You can set the board shape, feed speed, and the rotation speed of the stone that grinds the running surface and edges. You can also set the sequence to fine-tune the grinding not only from the forward direction but also from the reverse. The advantage of the Jupiter X is not only its speed, but also its accuracy. You can insert the board straight and tune it with a consistent pressure and speed
First, polish just the sole and see how it goes
With the Jupiter X, all processes can be done at once, but since the tuning methods for general users' boards vary, the soles are polished and the edges are sharpened, and the finished product is checked each time
The work was completed in no time, and even after polishing the sole once, many small scratches were removed, leaving the shoes looking very clean
Next, I rounded the edges. I set the angle so that the whole thing was 1.5 degrees, and put it through the machine. I wondered what would happen to the rust on the edges that was there in places
And what came out was..
The skis came out with beautifully designed edges that were so different they were unrecognizable. They looked so different I wondered, "Are these really my skis?"
Next, structure is added. This structure is the process of artificially creating fine grooves in the sole. This makes it easier for water generated by frictional heat while sliding to flow away. Without structure, water would pool between the sole and the snow surface like surface tension, reducing the ski's ability to glide
The structure is so important to ski performance that each ski manufacturer has their own confidential structure pattern
The strength of Jupiter is that you can insert these structures almost freely by changing the settings. Furthermore, a function that will be upgraded in the future is "3D structure." Not only will it be possible to insert structures of any pattern, but it will also be possible to adjust the depth for each part, whereas normally you can only finish to a certain depth
This time, I took the opportunity to try the CENTER WAVE pattern recommended by Ryo Sugai, who also competed in the ski cross at the recent Beijing Olympics. This revolutionary structure combines maneuverability and gliding performance by providing a groove in the center that allows water to flow easily and leaving the sides near the edges free of structure
Load the structure settings in the control panel and set the depth. You can choose shallow, medium, or deep. This time, I set it to medium depth. This is what came out
It's a little hard to see in the photo, but the pattern is clearly visible to the naked eye
Finally, the base edge is polished using a finishing disc. This
process removes any minor scratches left by the stone disc and gives it a mirror finish. Please watch the video to see how this is done.
The faint polishing marks that had previously been visible have now completely disappeared, leaving the surface smooth
The finished board had almost all the scratches on the running surface and the structure was beautifully formed. The rust on the edges that had been sticking out in places had completely disappeared, and even the faintest scratches had been removed with the polishing disc. Some of the areas that had been in contact with the rails underfoot were rounded, but if I sanded them down any further the edge itself would disappear, so that's unavoidable
It took just under an hour from diagnosis to completion of the work. Since I was doing interviews while I was there, the work itself probably finished a little faster. Depending on the ski, if the sole or edge is damaged, further polishing work will be required, but the ski I brought this time was one that I had been riding in the trees and in the park all season without paying any attention to, so I think it had a lot of scratches
This time, I opted for the 12,700 yen plan which included sharpening the edges, polishing the base nicely, and adding structure. Personally, I'm extremely satisfied because my favorite board has been reborn and returned to me.
For now, I'm even more excited to ski this season with this board that now has a perfect structure.
You can also view the Jupiter X through the glass inside the Kreb store. If you're interested, be sure to stop by the Zebra Tuning Factory inside the Kreb store when you visit Yuzawa Town this winter to ski
If you would like to see a video of Jupiter in action, please check out the manufacturer's YouTube channel
Kleb Sports,
949-6102
39-8 Kandatsu, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata Prefecture
025-788-1788
Interview and writing: Daigo Onozuka