Goldwin's backcountry wear "Alice series" | Athletes talk about its charm

In mid-March 2021, the location is the Tokachidake area in Hokkaido. Goldwin athletes Kazushige Sekiya and Katsuyuki Kono have arrived. Stay in the snowy mountains for 3 days, hike up, and draw your own line.

The purpose is to test the latest Alice Jacket & Bib and explore further improvements. The Alice series, which has reached its fifth season since its birth, has evolved in this way.

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■ Encounter with each Goldwin

Kono: Since when did Sekiya-san wear Goldwin?

Sekiya: It started a year before Goldwin rebranded the 2015/16 season, so this is the 7th season. The first ones I wore were two layers of Gore-Tex with a cotton top and bottom. It's nice to stay warm if you're just turning the slopes, but if you're hiking up with a backpack on, you'll overheat. That's why I asked them to make me a 3-layer Gore-Tex jacket for the backcountry. The result was the Alice Jacket and Bib.

Kono: That kind of quick response is a good point and strength of Goldwin, which has development and factories in Japan and is close to the athletes.

Sekiya: Katsu joined the Goldwin team after rebranding and becoming 3 layers, right?

Kono: Yes, it was the Alice jacket and bib from the beginning. Until then, I was wearing overseas brands that used unique waterproof and breathable materials instead of Gore-Tex. In addition to the highly reliable waterproof and breathable membrane called Gore-Tex, the GOLDWIN is carefully crafted with stitching and details. That's why I can now enter the snowy mountains with more peace of mind.

Sekiya: I'm glad Katsu joined the Goldwin team. Because the activity area is close, we can meet and talk often, and we can skate together. It became easier to move as a team, saying, "Let's shoot." The style of skiing that seeks enjoyment from alpine to freestyle is also similar. There are a lot of basic skiers and competitive skiers around Goldwin, so I was simply happy to have a freeride companion join me. And it became easier to pass feedback to development.

Kono: It's more persuasive to give feedback as two people's opinions rather than one person. And if Yusuke Fukasawa from Otari Village is added, the three of us will attack even more (laughs). From this season, Hakuba Cortina's Yuki Shibata will join us, so it's going to be a good flow. Goldwin is in a period of transition to expand the world of skiing from alpine skiing to backcountry skiing.

Sekiya: Due to my job, I often observe overseas brand wear in the field, but the domestic Goldwin wear is overwhelmingly well made. You can feel the delicacy of Japanese people, from fine cutting that does not hinder movement, consideration for comfort such as chin guards, and careful sewing. You can feel the high performance especially when skating in the humid environment of the island nation of Japan.

Kono: Mr. Sekiya, you've been involved in the development of the Alice Jacket & Bib for a long time. What do you think is attractive about it?

Sekiya: I like the design and appearance. It's simple. Even if you compare the Alice jacket from 3 or 4 seasons ago with this season's model, the basic concept has not changed. You never get tired of it. And it's not just skiing, it's casual enough to be worn around town or at camp. Outdoor brand wear is so heavy that it's hard to wear it outside of the snowy mountains.

Kono: It's simple, but the main points that should be suppressed are properly suppressed. The range of motion of the joints is cut three-dimensionally, and there is no stress at all. The shape of the hood and the position and length of the ventilation are good. Great honors student. Did you make various improvements before finishing this high degree of perfection?

Sekiya: The first Alice was a little tight in size and short in length. People who do freeriding have to raise their hands, bend down, twist their bodies, and do a lot of other movements, so I thought it would be better to have a looser silhouette. And she gave me feedback that since she carries a bag on her back, it would be better to lengthen the length so that the waist harness and the hem do not interfere. The bib was also tight in the early model. So, little by little, it became a relaxed, loose fit.

Kono: It's true that when I first wore it, it was hard to layer thickly. It became a relaxed silhouette so that it can be used for various layering. Also, the colors are nice. Has this calm earth color continued from the first generation?

Sekiya: Yes, it hasn't changed since the first generation. Even though it's red, it's not bright red, and it comes out with a nice calm color somewhere. I don't claim it, but it shines when you enter the snowy mountains. The coloring is very popular both in Japan and around the world.

■Alice series that goes well with layering items

Kono: With the recent launch of Goldwin's outdoor division, there are a wide variety of base layers and middle layers that can be layered with outerwear.

Sekiya: Last year, the thin fleece “Wool Grid Zip Hoodie” looked great.

Kono: Oh, I wear it all the time. It's almost like it's going to break from rubbing (laughs).

Sekiya: It's thin, but it's warm and wicks sweat away. This also has a wide temperature range where you can comfortably spend time. You can wear it when it's warm in spring, and it's warm even when it's cold, so it's easy to layer.

Kono: That balaclava "Woolgrid Balaclava" is also in great condition.

After all, all of them were born from the know-how cultivated by outdoor brands such as The North Face under the Goldwin umbrella, so they are reliable and easy to layer. Because it's coming at me from head to toe.

Sekiya: The "Wool Grid Balaclava" is definitely the best balaclava I've come across so far.

What kind of layering did Mr. Sekiya wear in the Tokachidake backcountry in Hokkaido this March?

Sekiya: The "Wool Grid Zip Hoodie" is in good shape, so it's simple and unambiguous. In addition, the bottom insulation pants "Side Open 3/5 Down Pants" were worn during stagnation. This is the model I've been asking for for a long time. Easy to put on and take off because the side can be fully opened with a button. You can also wear down pants over the shell without taking off your boots. It was very useful because the waiting time is long when shooting.

Kono: Just like the Alice jacket, the designs of the other pieces of clothing are also casual, so they can be worn comfortably in everyday life and are highly versatile. It's not related to skiing, but I really like trekking pants and shorts, and I wear them every day. If I like a model, I buy it in a different color online (laughs).

Sekiya: Goldwin is a brand that has grown as an alpine ski brand, but in Japan we have begun to focus on outdoor and lifestyle branding. It is reassuring because I have the know-how and technology so far.

Kono: Recently, isn't it getting serious about what we are asked to do? It's the same with Hokkaido this time, but there are a lot of scenes where I think, "This is Eisen," and what I'm doing has become harder (laughs).

Sekiya: That's what I thought too. But we are lucky to be surrounded by items we can trust from head to toe. And I think the development power and imagination of Goldwin, which creates new things every year, is amazing. We have to be mentally and physically prepared to live up to that expectation as athletes.

[Goldwin Athlete Arris Series Setup]

Goldwin Co., Ltd.: https://www.goldwin.co.jp/goldwin/

Photo / Takanori Ota, Takeshi Wakabayashi (YUKIMI STUDIO)
Text / Shinya Moriyama
Recorded in November 2021