K2 Kazushi Nakamura x Masori Fujii | SKIER'S TALK ROOM -Let's talk about gear-

"Let's talk about gear. It might help you get better quickly."

Everyone has their own way of improving at skiing. While practicing hard is of course important, how do you choose gear to improve using your favorite gear? This topic brought together some of the most skilled riders active at the forefront of skiing, from various manufacturers. So, we decided to change things up a bit and hold a cross-talk across genres, from freestyle to basics and alpine

This time, we have Kazushi Nakamura, who switched from alpine skiing to basics, and Masaori Fujii, who switched from moguls to freeride and is now competing in the FWQ. Both came from different genres and are expanding the scope of their skiing. They are also riders who are fans of the popular BOA boots. What are their thoughts on the brand and gear?

Lightweight and easy to operate, it can be used at a wide range of levels - Kazushi Nakamura

Kazushi Nakamura (hereinafter Nakamura): I've always been in the racing world, and I thought of K2 as a ski for backcountry skiing, so I was surprised to hear that he'd be competing in the All Japan Ski Technical Championships. The DISRUPTION Ti2 and STi skis I'm currently wearing are designed with a different concept than speed. They're very sturdy, and it made me realize that I'd been relying too much on the performance of the skis and neglecting the finer control.

Masaori Fujii (hereinafter Fujii): I have ridden the "DISRUPTION". It has good grip even on hard snow, and it turns easily just by turning it into a corner, so it was fun to ride.

Nakamura's "STi" is light and highly maneuverable, and can be used for carving and shifting on moguls, making it suitable for a wide range of riders from beginners to advanced.
The "Ti2" is for large turns. I'm 182cm tall, and it's heavy and long.

I can attack with all my might without panicking - Masaori Fujii

Fujii: I'm good at skiing at high speeds even on bumpy slopes, and I usually wear the MINDBENDER 116C. Despite being light, they don't flap around and have a firm grip on the snow, so I can go all out. There's little rocker at the tail and top, but you can still have fun and I like how I can put weight into my turns. The MINDBENDER is a fun ski even for racers. If you're on the slopes, I recommend the 108Ti. I ride it on the slopes and also use it for mogul lessons.

Nakamura also wore K2 boots for the first time. The new Boa equipped "RECON" size 130. He was the first skier to wear Boa boots in the technical competition, so he attracted a lot of attention at the venue.

Fujii: I use the same boots. The temperature changes in the mountains, so even if you fasten them the same way with four buckles, the fit is different. But with Boa, I can adjust them to the perfect fit, so I really like them.

Nakamura: The inside of the boots is warm, and I like that I can tighten or loosen them a little. I wear them quite loosely during practice to check the movement of the soles of my feet.

Fujii: I always like to wear them tight. Boa boots fit my heel well, and I feel like they're easier to use from tip to tail. They didn't break even when I used them hard. I enjoy skiing on flat ground more than the soft boots I used to wear, and I can ski on moguls without any problems.

Nakamura: I was surprised that they used the same boots even though they were used for different sports, but in that sense, they are boots that can be used for a wide range of purposes.

profile

Text＝Chiho Kuriyama

Information

K2 Skis

Official website: http://www.k2japan.com/Official
social media: Facebook | YouTube | LINE