The "Ranger Series" is in its second season of full model change. A complete lineup that expands the target group of free rides

2023/11/10

The Ranger series has undergone major changes in its second season | The reasons for the easy-to-use characteristics of each model

With freeride as its core concept, the lineup has been completely redesigned to make it easy to choose based on your riding style and the field you're riding in. With six different models available in different waist widths (116, 108, 102, 96, 90, and 84mm), it's clear that the Ranger covers almost every situation

A major feature that sets the Ranger series apart is its Shaped TI.
Each model features a titanium sheet cut to a different width, length, and cut angle. The wider the ski, the shorter the seat, which is laid out from the center, and the narrower the ski, the longer the seat is. The longer the titanium sheet, the more effectively it holds down the tip and tail, so skis with waists of 100mm or less provide stability on packed slopes, and skis with a width of 102mm or more can be moved closer to the center to handle any slope.

The center section also features a "flex cut" in the sheet.
The wider the ski, the deeper and wider the cut, while the narrower the ski, the thinner and smaller the cut. This cut adjusts the flex and torsion stiffness, and when you touch the skis, it's immediately obvious that the wider the ski, the softer it feels, while the narrower the ski, the quicker it responds and the more stable your feet feel.

Thanks to the exquisite layout of the titanium, which maintains buoyancy and lightness while maintaining stability during gliding, this series offers a lineup that can be enjoyed actively in all mountain skiing.
So, we asked two people, a freeride skier who has been using Ranger for many years, and a queen of basic skiing who has been using Ranger for two years, about their impressions and explored the appeal of Ranger.

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I want to enjoy the mountains more with Ranger | Mirai Kuriyama's case, second year of use

Mirai Kuriyama

Born in Toyama Prefecture in 1985, she began skiing at the age of three, competing in the Inter-High School Championships and the National Athletic Meet as a junior. She then switched to basic skiing. Despite her small size, she is fast and boasts a large, crisp gliding style, which has earned her four wins at the All Japan Technical Championships. She currently works as the head instructor at GALA Ski & Snowboard School and as the representative of GALA Kids School

Instagram: @kuriyamamiku

"I want to pick up my skis, climb a mountain, and ski in the great outdoors."

Kuriyama Mirai, who started using the Ranger with the 2021-2022 model, said she felt that way the moment she picked it up.
Having won the overall championship in the ski technique competition four times, she is undoubtedly a top player in the world of basic skiing. Even she imagined the Ranger as a way to freely glide and fly across vast mountains, enjoying skiing however she wanted. Having thought of it as a ski she would like to try someday, she ended up getting her hands on the bright pink Ranger 102 (163cm) (2021-2022 model).

Kuriyama usually bases his skiing at Gala Yuzawa. As the area experiences heavy snowfall, the Ranger 102 comes into play when fresh snow piles up. His satisfaction with the high performance of the skis, which allow him to ski freely regardless of the quality of the snow or whether it is packed or not, is skyrocketing

I was attracted to the color of the '21-22 Ranger 102

"I was drawn to the Ranger 102 because of its color. Just imagining the pink shining against the white snowy mountains made my heart beat faster. The color shows up well even in the dark, so I get excited even when I'm skiing.
The reason it's short at 163cm is because I mainly use it at Gala Yuzawa. The snow at Echigo Yuzawa is deep and a little heavy, and there are many short runs. To enjoy it all day, I thought that these skis should be able to ski quickly both in deep snow and on the piste, and also be able to enjoy rough runs with well-trodden runs to the fullest. I started with the color, then decided on the length and width."

"Compared to the racing skis he normally uses, the waist width of the Ranger 102 is 2 to 3 cm wider. I asked him about his impressions of this

"The difference in waist width is huge, but the power of the skis and the feeling of cutting through the snow are unique to Fischer and are very similar.
The waist width is wider than the skis I normally ride, so it feels like the skis are floating and moving with my body. Another feature is that the skis move vertically, which gives you an exhilarating feeling.
Racing skis are like they dive and cut through, but the Ranger 102 cuts through while floating. The difference becomes clearer when carving on hard, packed slopes or in deep powder, and the more different the snow conditions, the more obvious the difference becomes.
But both have a sense of stability and a solid footing. They have excellent balance and are skis that suit each situation. It's fun to rediscover how easy it is to ski by changing skis to suit the snow conditions and situation."

Having broadened his enjoyment of skiing, Kuriyama says that for the past two years he has been heading to Mt. Tateyama every spring. Carrying his skis for long periods of time, walking with skins on, and skiing freely down natural slopes feels completely different from skiing at a ski resort, and is refreshing and comfortable. In an unmanaged mountain, you have to think for yourself about which slope to ski, what route to take to get there, the line to ski, how fast to go, what to do if there is a risk, and so on. It gives a sense of accomplishment that is on a different level to skiing at a ski resort

In the spring of 2023, I skied down Mt. Tateyama on the fully redesigned Ranger

"When I go to the mountains and face nature, it feels like all my little worries just fly away. I feel like I want to try it again when I feel so engrossed in nature. I want to enjoy the mountains more with the rangers."

The quality of the groomed slopes is improving every year, making skiing more enjoyable. | Case of Kazushige Sekiya, a ranger with 10 years of experience

Kazushige Sekiya

Born in Obuse, Nagano Prefecture in 1980. He devoted himself to competitive skiing until high school, and after graduating, he was drawn to the freestyle movement and went to study in Colorado, USA, where he entered the world of freeskiing. He currently runs "SKINAGANO," a private guide service for inbound tourists based in Kijimadaira Village in Northern Shinshu, while also participating in freeride competitions and taking photographs. https://www.goskinagano.com

Instagram: skinagano

Kazushige Sekiya has been using the Ranger for 10 years, even before the model change. He uses three types of the new Ranger series: 116 (187cm), 108 (185cm), and 102 (176cm), depending on the situation

"The 116 is for deep snow and tree runs at resorts, and the 108 is mainly for backcountry skiing, and is suitable for powder, ice, and granular snow. The 102 is used mostly at resorts, and is the most fun ski for groomed slopes."

What was Sekiya's impression of the Ranger, which was aimed at freeriding in an era when the lineup consisted of both directional TI and twin tip FR? We asked him to talk about the 116, which he felt was a particularly big change

"The 116 has an excellent balance of size, ski width, flex, and torsion, allowing for smooth skiing even in deep powder. The skis flex beautifully, allowing for a good rhythm of sinking and floating when making tight turns. When making wide turns, you can maintain your speed and turn with a precise arc. In stream terrain, you can pull your turns to heights that you couldn't reach before, and you can maintain your speed and land the turn.
The biggest attraction of this full model change is the improved maneuverability. Turn initiation is smoother, and the initiation of turns, which is the most difficult part of skiing, is easier, making it easier to start turns. I felt this when I was able to carve on packed slopes without any discomfort, even though the twin tip has a waist width of 116mm. There are no problems with switch skiing either."

The 116mm waist width skis provide comfortable gliding in deep snow, and the fact that they are not limited to any particular situation is testament to the high performance of these skis. Let's dig a little deeper into the feeling they have in conditions other than powder

"The skis are strong at high speeds, and even when making wide turns at high speeds on flat terrain, the skis didn't flap at all. With a 20m radius, you can only carve wide turns. However, the Ranger series has the ease of getting into the next turn, so long turns are comfortable. The skis are 116mm underfoot, so they don't have the quickest response. In that respect, you might feel a slight weight.
It feels almost the same on rough slopes when there is no snowfall. If the snow is particularly soft, you can handle them without any major issues. The 116 has the most curvature in the nose and tail of the series, The skis are a tough type with a soft flex, so they're easy to shift and drift even on loose, rough snow, and offer excellent off-road performance. However, there's a fair amount of impact from uneven surfaces, so the width of the skis makes them more likely to pick up on the snow. On hard slopes, the 108 or 102 should be able to handle it without any issues. The movement when you launch into the air depends on the mounting position of the bindings. If you're 180cm tall and mount the bindings 1cm forward of the manufacturer's recommended position, you'll find it easier to perform spin tricks. If you're thinking about lines that incorporate air tricks, the 108 or 102 is recommended.

I wonder what impression he had of BC, which involves walking

"The 116 has the least titanium sheet of any ski in the series, weighing in at 2,150g per shoe. It's not that heavy considering its thickness, and you don't feel it's heavy even when hiking. All Ranger series skis have a skin hook support on the tail when attaching skins, which makes it difficult for the hook to come off while walking.
I tend to go pretty fast in powder, but no matter how fast I went, I never felt scared. The flex is soft, making it easy to handle uneven terrain. The skis have the maneuverability and stability to handle everything from tight tree runs in deep snow to big turns at high speeds on open slopes. Shifting and drifting are easy, too."

Sekiya says that his powder skiing skills have definitely improved since continuing to ride the Ranger series. In particular, since getting the new Rangers, he has been able to hit the "lip" of stream terrain that he previously couldn't reach due to lack of speed, and he is now able to make high-speed turns on slopes that were too deep to gain speed on. Sekiya says that the skis' performance has helped him in many ways. The Rangers are now an indispensable part of his riding, as he has achieved good results in freeride competitions and reliably captures images when filming