I want something different from everyone else. I want to do something that no one else is doing. That desire and drive are what create new things and values.
In a mysterious shack whose location is kept secret, a single craftsman silently creates ski poles called "POLEFREAK," each with an extremely unique shape, color, and name. This passionate love for ski poles connects users with smiles, and the number of "freaks" is currently growing.
A rare pole made by just one craftsman
"We have ultra-lightweight yet sturdy poles that can be customized by hand bending. You can also choose the color of the colorful powder rings and natural leather straps to suit your taste. Since they are made by only one pole craftsman, there is a limited supply, making them very rare!"
This information was sent to us by a professional ski shop in Osaka. The message continued, "Last season, when I went skiing at Hakuba Norikura on my own, I was approached by a stranger in the pouring rain, who was holding the same model POLEFREAK as mine."
A single craftsman hand-bending the poles? Strangers are coming over...?! These mysterious poles are quietly crafted in an even more secretive hideout. Let's take a closer look at the true identity of the intriguing "POLEFREAK."
The Beginning
"POLEFREAK" was created by a skier who simply loves to ski.
Kosuke Kumono attended a vocational school that trained ski instructors during his student days. Although he aimed to become a ski instructor, he ultimately chose the path of a businessman and, after graduation, joined a manufacturing company called Yamazaki Corporation. Yamazaki Corporation produced poles under its own brand, "Mount," and also manufactured poles for various other brands through OEM, showcasing its high level of technical expertise.
"At the time, rather than having my eye on Paul, I thought that if I joined a small manufacturer, it would be easier for my opinions to be heard and I would be able to create something more core. I continued working in sales at Yamazaki while also helping with manufacturing, and built up the foundation for what I do now
Before I knew it, more than 20 years had passed, and seven years ago Yamazaki went out of business. I considered other jobs, but at the time, I wasn't able to do as much as I wanted to, including promotions, at the company, so I thought if the company was going to go out of business, I might as well do it myself."
I want something different from others
"I didn't have the feeling that it would definitely sell, but I wanted to do what I wanted to do. That's what I thought. I'm the kind of person who wants things that are different from other people. I'm very attracted to things that are different from other people. I don't want to have the same things as everyone else. When you pursue what you love, you want something more core, something unusual, right?
That's why when I fish, I don't use commercially available lures, but rather handmade ones. I like things that are made with care in small factories. Japan is a manufacturing country, so there are a lot of things like that. I think it's very important to be particular about things. I think there is a lot of value in things that are made by people who love what they love."
"POLEFREAK" has arrived!
So, I opened my own business seven years ago (2017). So where did the name "POLEFREAK" come from?
"I've only ever made ski poles for 23 years, so I wanted to name it something like 'Pole ○△× (something).' I thought about 'Pole Mania' or something else, and then I asked an acquaintance who speaks English if there was a similar word with a similar meaning to 'mania.' They told me that the word 'freak' not only means a friend or an enthusiastic fan, but also has slang connotations of an eccentric, weirdo, or weirdo. I thought, 'Wow, that's good!' (laughs). Plus, I liked the sound of 'FREAK'and the way it looked when spelled in English. I could immediately picture the logo, and I really liked it, so I decided on it."
When you imagine Kumono working alone in a secret base-like workshop, silently crafting poles, and even more so bending each pole by hand while staring at them one by one, you can't help but feel like he's a real FREAK. His skill and passion for poles, which he says "can't be beaten by anyone," are now in the realm of artisanal craftsmanship. So what kind of poles does he create?
POLEFREAK's proud products are known only to those in the know
Currently, the POLEFREAK lineup consists of five models. In terms of shaft material, they are the titanium "TITAN," the carbon "NOT-B," two aluminum shafts "FAT-blast" and "FAT-slim," and the junior model "CHILL."
"TITAN" is the revival of titanium poles, which had disappeared from the industry in recent years! It was released last year in 2023-2024, and is a much-anticipated product. The carbon and aluminum "NOT-B" and "FAT" series have been popular models since the brand was founded. Check out the features of each product here
Of these five models, four—"TITAN," "FAT-blast," "FAT-slim," and "CHILL"—support "hand-bending." Furthermore, hand-bending is a custom order service. You might be wondering, "What's customizable?" It's the "degree of bending of the shaft." In other words, "which part to bend and how to bend it, and what kind of curve the shaft will have." Users can design the degree of bending of the pole to their own liking.
For example, it looks like this. Even requests for subtle bends can be accommodated. Since it's difficult to express in words, we often receive orders with drawings saying, "Please bend it to look something like this."
This is amazing! You can create a pole with the streamlined shape of your dreams, which is one of a kind in the world. You can also choose the color of the powder basket, the type of strap (genuine leather/nylon), and the color
My pole, which brings together all of your personal preferences, is sure to become the perfect companion for you on the snowy mountains
Why "bend"?
"Bending" is synonymous with POLEFREAK. Why does Kumono bend his poles?
Bent poles have been around in the ski world for a long time. Many people have seen them used by alpine racers, especially in high-speed events like downhill (DH) and super-G (SGS). In timed events where every tenth of a second counts, reducing wind resistance as much as possible is essential, so racing poles are curved to fit the contours of the racer's body. No one will question this
However, POLEFREAK's main target is still freeskiers.
"Why? Because it looks cool. I understand bending GS poles to fit your body, but to me, putting powder rings on GS poles is a bit different."
In fact, powder freeriding and bending have a history, and from the late 1990s until around 2010, SMITH had a pole called "Z Bend." As the name "Bend" suggests, it had a unique curve (bend). In "Icon 1" and "Icon 2," which were pioneering freeskiing movies in Japan at the time, freeskiers like Kazu Miyano were seen using this Z Bend. Everyone saw it in the popular videos and admired it. Those poles were a big seller at the time. After that, SMITH stopped selling them in their home country, but they continued to sell them in Japan."
This "Z Bend" had a very stylish appearance, coupled with a beautiful curve. I'm sure there are some hardcore skiers from a generation ago who remember it and think, "Ah, that's it!"
"Right now, it's popular among freeskiers to use bent poles. I often see them at events like the Chanmero Freeride Open and FWQ. Everyone wants something that stands out, something cool. This trend started with the old Z Bend and has continued ever since. But you can't buy a Z Bend anymore, so I thought I could make the same thing (laughs)."
I'll never lose when it comes to bending
"If you start out on your own and do things on a small scale, you won't be able to compete unless you have a distinctive feature. I've been bending products for a lot of different manufacturers for a long time, so I definitely can't lose to the big companies. I wanted to make the fact that I can bend a lot of products a strength."
Incidentally, the "TITAN" model is available for custom hand-bending orders, but it's absurd to even bend such a hard material as titanium in the first place (laughs).
"I said I could bend it (laughs). Titanium isn't just hard. It has the toughness of aluminum, the resilience of carbon, and it's hard. It's definitely the best material for ski poles! I'm probably the only one in the ski pole industry who can bend titanium," says Mr. Kumono.
The poles that Kumono makes are characterized by their beautiful, flowing, streamlined curves. Such bending cannot be achieved by machines alone. Kumono uses a hand-bending machine
"I inherited this machine from Mount Co. It has 23 years of data stored on it, and it's truly a precious treasure to me. I set the pole in the machine and bend it minutely, adjusting the amount of force I apply, making it deeper or shallower. I do it all using my own senses and the data in my head, so bending like this is quite difficult. Even major manufacturers can't imitate it."
Check out this video to see how Kumono uses this machine to make POLEFREAK
In fact, bending has more meaning than just looking cool
When the Z Bend was on sale, Kumono actually made an inquiry to SMITH headquarters
"I asked riders why they use bent poles in powder and big mountain skiing. They told me that bending the poles adds a suspension function, which results in better maneuverability and makes them easier to swing. That made sense to me
In other words, bending the shaft makes it no longer straight, creating two bending points. If the distance between those two points is just right, the shaft will flex when the pole touches the snow, absorbing the impact. However, if the distance between the two bending points is far, as with GS poles, there will be no flex at all. This is why the position of the bend is so important, and you need to get that distance just right
However, not many people know that bending the pole makes it easier to swing, and I feel like that's not something that's in demand yet. So basically, I just say it looks cool (laughs)."
The dedication of a craftsman with 23 years of experience in pole making
The bent poles are made with the utmost care and skill of artisans, and each one is one of a kind. However, Kumono's attention to detail doesn't end there
"It may seem like bending = POLEFREAK, but actually, the thing I'm most particular about is the shaft. It's the material and swing balance. It's the feel. I think it's the easiest shaft to use. Shafts vary in many ways, such as material, shape, and thickness. Materials include high-strength aluminum, carbon, and titanium. POLEFREAK is of course an original shape, and I'm particular about things like the saging (tapering) distance
There is only one type of grip. I use the one used by Mount, which is the easiest to hold and has the least quirks. Since there are a variety of gloves used by users, I chose one that anyone can hold for a long time without getting tired, and is made of elastomer, so it doesn't harden even if the outside air is cold. The cost is high though (laughs)
The strap can also be customized. It is usually made of nylon hand leather, but genuine leather is also available. The hand leather, shaft, powder ring, bend, and length can all be customized
Speaking of POLEFREAK, their unique coloring is also impressive. Below is an Instagram post from when the 2024-2025 colorway was unveiled
"I hope that it will lift the user's spirits even a little. Even if the weather is bad in the mountains, if they have poles in their favorite color, their motivation will increase. That's why I want to offer colors that major manufacturers don't have
For example, one of the colors we recently created is "Nando (storeroom) color." It's a unique hue that's a subtle blend of blue and green, and is a traditional Japanese color that has been used in crafts and other things since ancient times, and it reflects Japanese culture and aesthetics. As with the color choices, we also try to make the names of the colors delicious and fun. This season's colors include "Shine Muscat," "Cookies & Cream," and "Monaka"!
Another reason we focused on the color is that we want users to pick up the POLEFREAK first. When they see it on display in the store, they're drawn to the color, and when they actually pick it up, they realize how light it is and how easy it is to swing. That would be great."
Kumono makes his poles with the idea in mind that the poles he holds will increase his motivation to ski and make him feel happy being on the snow. His love for poles is truly extraordinary, and he is a true "freak."
The creator is the skater. The skater is the creator
With his passionate love for poles and masterful skills, Kumono continues to create poles that are unlike any other in the world, always skiing with a POLEFREAK in hand. He regularly enjoys fun sessions on the snow with regular POLEFREAK fans, and when good snow falls, he often leaves work and goes skiing
"POLEFREAK is more of a hobby than a job. I love making things, and I enjoy thinking about and deciding on colors. When I'm making them, I think about the amazing smiles on the faces of the people who will use them
When freeskiers, telemarkers, and trail runners pick up these poles, they'll instantly become friends with everyone they meet in all sorts of fields, exclaiming, "Hey! You're a freak, too!" We want to make poles like that. That's how POLEFREAK was started
I've heard that it's also becoming a tool for picking up girls in the mountains these days (laughs). It seems like more and more users are talking to each other in the mountains. I definitely think it's become a rather interesting communication tool. What I hoped for when I started POLEFREAK is now actually happening, and I'm really happy about that."
The makers are the skiers, and the skiers are the makers. This wonderful cycle is possible because it's such a garage-like brand.
The more they make and the more they ski, the more friends POLEFREAK will bring in, and the more freaks will multiply on the snowy mountains.
Conclusion
When buying poles, I usually decide on something like "Well, this is good enough," and think, "I'll keep using these until they break." I'm the last to replace my gear. If this applies to you, why not try getting a pair of poles that you'll love and want to use for a long time?
The person who taught me
Kosuke Kumono
Born in Tokyo, currently living in Nagano. He started skiing when he was in elementary school, and upon graduating from a vocational school, entered the world of ski pole manufacturing. He works diligently in his secret workshop, exploring the ins and outs of POLEFREAK every day
POLEFREAK
Official SNS:@polefreak_PB