'24-25 Pro Shop Recommends "Fat Skis for Experienced Alpine Skiers"

Alpine skiers, who compete against speed in a world of fractions of a second, generally have high skiing skills. Undaunted by icy race burns and able to unleash their strong mentality in stoic pursuit of time, they're sure to enjoy freeskiing at a high level. But what kind of fat skis are best for enjoying deep powder? That's where pro shops come in. Pro shops offer persuasive advice, allowing them to test ride numerous models on the snow and integrate their extensive knowledge to provide a multifaceted evaluation. We asked current and former alpine skiers, who are looking to branch out into freeriding in the 2024-2025 season, to share their skis that will help them demonstrate their technical abilities

*All prices shown include consumption tax

ATOMIC｜ MAVERICK 105 CTI

◆Official website: https://atomicsnow.jp/

These skis perform well even on bad snow or groomed runs. The TITANIUM LAYER prevents the skis from moving wildly, making them ideal for skiers who want to speed down the slopes at high speeds

KASTLE | PARAGON 101

◆Official website: https://www.kaestle.com/jp/

The semi-sandwich wood core and TITANAL construction provide a decent grip and stability for a freeski that will satisfy even beginner and alpine skiers. Additionally, the 100mm center width, 135mm top width, and double rocker ensure excellent buoyancy and maneuverability. The KASTLE ski's unique Hollowtech vibration absorption also feels effective throughout

LINE｜ OPTIC 104

◆Official website: https://lineskis.com/ja-jp

These freeride skis feature the same metal technology as LINE's "BLADE," called "Gas Pedal Metal." They offer just the right amount of stiffness, making them suitable for even the toughest of slopes. Alpine skiers who know how to push off will find them easy to handle

ROSSIGNOL｜SENDER FREE 110

◆Official website: https://rossignol.co.jp/

These skis may feel a little stiff for freeskiers, but alpine skiers will have no problem gliding on them! The titanium plate underfoot provides a firm edge grip, allowing for sharp turns in all snow conditions. These solid and stable skis offer excellent traction and speed!

SALOMON｜QST BLANK

◆Official website: https://salomon.jp/

When it comes to fat skis from SALOMON, the first thing that comes to mind is the "BLANK." With the recent increase in Salomon stations, you'll see them appearing at more and more ski resorts. They offer excellent buoyancy and maneuverability, and their camber makes them great for powder and cruising on the slopes. At first glance, you might be surprised by their width, but once you ride them, they're easy to handle, making them a great choice for racers looking to get into fat skis

The board itself is very strong, but it also flexes flexibly, so for racers who are skilled at bending their skis, I think this is the ski that can do anything. You can really do anything! Because the board itself is very strong, it's best to choose the boots and bindings to go with it from a specialist who has experience and is skilled at skiing. The reason I didn't recommend directional skis in the basic skier section is because I want you to approach the snow with a more playful spirit, without being confined to a "type." Here too, I deliberately chose a freeride model

VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports ｜FREERIDE 98

◆Official website: https://vandeer-redbull-sports.com/

This is one of Marcel Hirscher's favorite models, and thanks to its carefully selected materials and numerous "magic" features, it offers outstanding float in powder, grip on hard snow, maneuverability, and stability. Just like our race skis, everything from the wood core to the manufacturing process is done in the race room. Perfect for off-piste skiing near the slopes and on-piste freeriding, this all-mountain freeride ski is highly praised by skiers