Season is a brand launched by Eric Pollard in 2020. Its arrival in Japan for the 2021-22 season has generated a lot of buzz in the industry. However, there are still many aspects of the brand that are shrouded in mystery, such as the feel of the skis, and many people are curious about them. So, this time, we had a general user and the Steep editorial team try out these highly anticipated skis
First of all, compared to major brands, there are far fewer models. Each of the five models in the lineup is clearly differentiated by the situation in which they are used, and with these you can handle any condition
And the distinctive all-black design. Eric is a graphic artist, and during his time at LINE he was in charge of everything from design to ski construction, creating signature skis, but the season skis are purposely wrapped in matte black. In an interview, he said this is to encourage skiers to use the skis for a long time. Even within the all-black design, there are engravings, flags, and one-point designs called portals here and there
If you want to know more about the brand, check out our previous feature on it
Brand lineup
The season lineup is as follows:
From left to right, the five models are Forma, Nexus, Aero, Kin, and Pass.
Since Season also launched snowboards with the same names, they should be correctly referred to as Kin Skis, Kin Snowboard, etc.
The outline of each ski is as follows (comments are taken from the catalog):
●forma
167cm D=148-114-136 R=16.5. 1900g
176cm D=148-116-135 R=17.5. 2100g
183cm. D148-118-138 R=19.5. 2200g
Forma skis, the favorite of founder, designer, and skier Eric Pollard, are reliable skis for everything from the finest powder to rough snow conditions. Compared to the wide skis Eric had used before, the waist width is slightly narrower and the sidecut is slightly shorter, resulting in lighter handling. The overall balance achieved by the core, fiberglass, and metal tail parts allows for firm footing. "Powder" and "stability" are the two most important features of Forma skis.
●Nexus
158cm D=131-100-127. R=14m. 1750g
167cm. D=133-102-129. R=15m. 1800g
177cm. D=135-104-131. R=17m. 2000g
183cm D=137-106-133. R=17.5m. 2000g
189cm D=139-108-135 R=18m. 2000g
This Midwest design offers a smooth flex for all-mountain fun. True to the Nexus concept, it fits any terrain, from soft conditions to hard slopes. Quad fiberglass construction and a metal tail allow for firm footing.
●aero
158cm D=119-90-115. R=14.5m. 1750g
165cm. D=121-92-117. R=16m. 1800g
173cm. D=123-94-119. R=16.5m. 2000g
180cm. D=125-96-121. R=17m. 2000g
The only high-speed skiing model in the SEASON SKI lineup to use Titanal aluminum laminate. The responsive flex balance, mid-waist, and tail metal parts allow you to powerfully push off wherever you ski on the mountain.
●kin
163cm D=137-95-133. R=15m. 1750g
175cm. D=139-97-135. R=15m. 1800g
181cm. D=140-98-136. R=15m. 2000g
The kin is a hybrid of all-mountain, race, and freestyle skis. Deep sidecuts, long contact edges, and a soft flex allow for a variety of turn shapes.
●Pass
167cm. D=138-114-134 R=15.5m 1600g
178cm. D=140-115-136. R=16.5m. 1700g
185cm. D=142-116-138. R=18.5m. 1800g
The Pass, like the Nexus, has been reshaped with a more versatile design. Needless to say, it is more suitable for backcountry use.
With these five bikes, you can imagine that you can get the best performance on any snowy mountain depending on the situation. This time, we used four of the bikes (excluding the Pass) as test bikes and had five average skiers try them out
User impressions
The test ride took place at Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort in Niigata Prefecture from late December to early January. At this time of year, Niigata's unique pebbly snow falls heavily, causing the snowfall to increase dramatically. Fresh snow continued to fall on the test ride day, and the slopes were in powder condition. Even the groomed courses were lightly covered with snow
User Review No.1
Uemura-san, 20s
He is a skiholic who enjoys a wide range of skiing, from park to backcountry skiing, and loves to ski on any type of ski
Review ▷
I learned about season from seeing on social media that Eric Pollard had left LINE and started his own brand. I had the impression that he mainly develops skis for powder and backcountry use, but after trying them out this time, I felt that they are also easy to use in the park. My favorite ski was the Kin. It's a comfortable ski that doesn't lose speed even when carving. I think it's a great ski that will be very useful on groomed slopes.
The next ski I liked was the Nexus. It's a ski that you can enjoy both on-piste carving and a little powder.
The Aero wasn't suitable for the heavy snow conditions this time, but it seems like it would be good on nice groomed runs and moguls. I'd like to try it out for spring skiing as well. If you're skiing in the backcountry, a ski as wide as the Forma might be good, but I want to ski all-around and also ski switch in the park, so if I were to buy one, I think the Kin or Nexus would be good.
User Review No.2
Sato-san, 40s
Owner of Sato Sports, a sports shop in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. Recently, he has become obsessed with backcountry skiing
Review ▷
I learned about season when a customer brought in a ski they had purchased online for binding installation. During the binding installation process, there's a step where holes are drilled, and it was surprisingly difficult to drill through, which made me realize they use a good core material. (Cheaper skis drill holes easily.) The graphics are simple and cool, a design that won't get boring even after several years of use, giving the impression of long-term use.
I usually use LINE's pescado, so I was curious about the forma. With a 150mm tip, the buoyancy is excellent. Even on rough, uneven powder, the stiffness of the skis provided stability. On groomed slopes, the speed further enhanced the feeling of stability. Despite being a fat ski with a small radius of 19m, it turns more easily than it looks. It's a ski that makes carving fun. I would recommend it to both racing skiers and recreational skiers. For
my second ski test, I tried the nexus. It has a slightly narrower shape than the forma, and I felt it had a lighter swing weight. Even if you lose your balance at high speed on uneven terrain, it recovers well. On groomed slopes, like the Forma, the board doesn't chatter even during high-speed carving, so I think it's a high-quality board. What I can say about both boards is that they are good on groomed slopes and I felt like I wanted to try them in the backcountry as well. Also, the sintered 7500 base makes the board glide nicely, which is great. The board is solid, so I think stiffer boots are better. In my opinion, a flex of 100 or more is ideal.
Overall, the feel is good, and we would like to consider stocking Season boards in our shop.
With just one Nexus, you can ski comfortably in most places
User Review No.3
Shita, 50s
Recently, he has been mainly skiing down the slopes. He continues to break the record every year for how long he can perform a rodeo 540
Review ▷
As expected from a ski designed by Eric Pollard, the construction is solid. It's a stylish ski that anyone can ride, regardless of skill level. I usually ride LINE's SAKANA and Pescado, and while the Forma is also a fishtail ski, it felt a little heavier, but that also meant it offered better high-speed stability. The tail section is also slightly different from the SAKANA and Pescado, and felt even stronger. The appeal of a fishtail ski is that the tail floats, allowing snow to escape, which doesn't limit the turn radius. I felt the Forma had a good balance in that regard. Because it's a little heavy, hiking uphill will require some leg strength, so a full hike in these skis would be tough for an old guy like me (lol). It's best suited for sidecountry accessible by lift or on wide slopes. The sidecut is 19.5m for a 183cm ski, so it might be a little difficult to maneuver in tree runs. It seems best suited for sliding the skis down open powder slopes.
For the feel of turns, the Nexus was better. You can turn exactly the way you want. I initially thought it was a ski for mountain skiing, but it's actually perfect for cruising on groomed slopes. The Aero has an incredibly light swing weight and is very responsive. Personally, I'd like to try it in the park as well. It might even spin a little too much for rotational tricks.
Since it's a black board, it's easy to match with any outfit and you won't get tired of it. It's great that you can keep using it for a long time.
User Review No.4
Koshiba-san, 40s
He used to be a snowboarder, but in recent years he has rediscovered the joys of skiing and has become a dedicated skier
Review ▷
As someone who does both skiing and snowboarding, I was very interested in season because it's a brand that Eric Pollard and Austin Smith are involved with. Since it's a brand created by two legends of yesteryear, I initially thought it might be selective in terms of skill level, but I felt that it's a board that even intermediate riders like myself can enjoy. It's not that anyone can handle it, but I felt it was easier to handle than I expected. It felt like it had no quirks in a good way.
Aero is for groomed slopes, Forma is for powder, and Kin can be used switch, and I felt that each one has its own niche. If I had to buy just one of them, I would choose Nexus. It's an all-rounder and you can have fun in any situation with just one board. Of course, if I had the money, I'd also want a Forma (laughs).
Eric Pollard is known for his artistic designs, but season's design pleasantly surprised me. It's a clean, all-black design that makes me think it's reached the ultimate level of design.
Excellent stability even on jumps and rough slopes
User Review No.5
Matsuzaki-san, 20s
A working skier who balances his hobby with his family life
Review ▷
Even though the lineup changes with each season, I was drawn to the luxurious design and shape. The all-black graphic, which is surprisingly rare, is undeniably cool. It gives off the image of a sophisticated adult ski.
The Forma has a wide, pointed tip, making it excellent for straight-line driving in powder. Yet, it's also easy to maneuver, as you can turn just by leaning your body. I felt that the fishtail not only has a visual impact, but also makes it easy to create spray, which looks great in photos and videos. The next ski I tried was the Nexus. I felt this ski was a true all-rounder. The tip and tail are soft, making it easy to play around with. However, even at high speeds, the footing is stable, so I was able to ski through rough slopes with ease. If you're unsure which skis to choose, this is the one. However, the recommended binding position is closer to the middle, so personally, I would have preferred it to be a little longer.
I would like to buy this as my next pair of skis! However, the price is not exactly affordable, which is a concern.
Froma and Nexus for Miyuki
Review by Onozuka from Steep Editorial Department
Editorial Department Onozuka, 30s
Having returned to a snowy region last year, she now enjoys the luxury of skiing only in the mornings every day. Apparently, she's considering dieting because her knees hurt when she skis
After actually riding the Season, I got the impression that it's a brand that makes solid boards overall. In the video linked at the beginning, Eric only talks very briefly about each board. However, I felt that it was precisely because of the limited lineup, despite the limited amount of words, that they had carefully designed them to differentiate them
Test ride the Aero on a sunny day. Enjoy skiing down the slopes and playing with the terrain
The Forma is a ski that inherits Eric Pollard's signature fishtail. This tail feature allows it to slide through the snow well, and in powder, just putting a little weight of your body on the tail gives you the impression of picking up a lot of speed. Combined with the unique pin nose shape, it cuts through the slightly heavy powder that is unique to Niigata without the nose getting caught. You can ski with a floating feel, or you can dig into fresh snow, and it's a ski that really gets you speed in powder. The overall flex is stiff, and it's not light, so it feels a bit difficult to handle in slightly heavier snow. I think it's just right for skiing wide arcs on wide slopes
Forma has a fishtail and pin nose
The Nexus was a good first impression. As per the concept, it can be skied in any situation. The board responds well and carving is fun. Although it is a little stiff, the flex is well-balanced, making it easy to ski on rough slopes. In fact, I found this board more enjoyable on uneven freeriding slopes after skiing through powder than on deep powder snow. Carving performance, stability, and ease of handling make this a well-balanced ski
How the nose rocker rises. From the right: Aero, Kin, Nexus, Forma
The Aero is the slimmest ski in the lineup, but despite its small size, its built-in titanium allows it to traverse rough slopes without any wobbles. The bindings on the test ski were in the middle, so the nose felt short. I worried it might be unstable at high speeds, but my fears were unfounded. I'm amazed that something this short can provide such stability. The Aero isn't designed for powder skiing, so it has a short nose rocker and a long contact edge. This results in a light swing weight and excellent maneuverability on the slopes. I think it's a ski that provides an outstanding feeling on groomed slopes
My first impression was that the Nexus was my favorite, but ultimately, my personal favorite was the Kin. The Season boards are surrounded by thick sidewalls from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. I think this sidewall is one of the reasons why they feel so solid overall. However, the Kin is the only board with a thinner sidewall on the nose and tail. This makes it easier to perform butter-type tricks. Furthermore, like the Aero, the contact edge is long, making the swing weight light and easy to handle, and it's also easy to perform spinning tricks. Furthermore, the 15m radius allows for a small turn radius, allowing for free and easy gliding on the slopes. This "freedom" is what makes the Kin so appealing. The nose is slightly wide, so you don't have to worry about small powder or bumps
The season skis have a stiff flex overall, and I felt that each ski was easy to ski, whether it was high-speed skiing on rough slopes or on hard-packed night skis. They're cooler and tougher than they look, and can withstand any snow conditions. They're built tough, and the design is easy for all ages to use, with a sophisticated all-black color that goes well with any outfit. I especially recommend them to anyone who wants to keep their favorite skis for a long time
If you are interested in the season, you can rent a forma through the rental service at Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort, so please give it a try
season instagram▷https://www.instagram.com/seasoneqpt/
web site▷https://seasoneqpt.com/en-jp