Let's talk about the impressions of the favorite gear that riders used this winter.
This time, it is the gear that Yuki Kuwabara loves, who has been active in BC and FWQ competitions after competing in moguls and halfpipes.
Yuki Kuwabara 40 years old
Born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, 40 years old raised in Nagoya.
Ever since he was little, he has lived in an area where it rarely snows and has a strong admiration for the existence of snow.
When he was 10 years old, he went on a family trip to a ski resort for the first time and was captivated by the fun and charm of skiing. He wanted to stand on the snow as much as possible, so when he was in high school, he stayed in the mountains to work as a park digger and experienced freestyle skiing. At the same time, he participated in mogul competitions and worked as a salesperson at a pro shop in Nagoya. After switching from moguls to halfpipe due to an injury on the way, after participating in the world championships and the World Cup, he has expanded his field to the backcountry in recent years, and has been competing in nature, which is different from man-made objects such as halfpipes. Intrigued by skating on raw terrain. In the last few years he has been competing in freeride competitions such as the FWQ. Instagram: @yu_ki_b
Yuki Kuwabara's setup
Ski ①: Extrem FUSION CARBON 95 cm (129-95-117) '21-22 model
Boots ①: LANGE XT3 130 '21-22 model
binding ①: Set with MARKER KINGPIN 13 release value 11 '16-17 model
ski ②: Extrem FINAL OPINION 118 187cm (142-118-132) '22-23 model
binding ②: LOOK P18 (+CAST custom) set at release value 11 '07-08 model
Ratings and reviews for each gear
Ski ① Review
Extreme FUSION CARBON 95
5 levels of impression of hardness (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★☆☆
Center: ★★★☆☆
Tail: ★★★☆☆
5 levels of suitable scenes
Powder: ★★★★☆
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★☆☆
: ★★★☆☆
Moguls: ★★☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★ ★
●Frequently used situations
Grooming barn at the beginning of the season and spring backcountry.
●Review
This model uses carbon, and is not just a ski for lightness, but a ski with high resilience, responsiveness and gliding performance. An all-mountain ski with a firm edge grip for comfortable carving and fun even in powder. It has a good balance between weight reduction and gliding performance, so I like it because it is perfect for spring backcountry. Recommended for those who want to enjoy climbing even a little and enjoy sliding.
Boots ① Review
LANGE XT3 130
●Five levels of impression of hardness (★1=soft←→★5=hard)
Lower shell: ★★★☆☆
Upper: ★★★☆☆
5 levels of suitable scenes
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★
★★★☆☆
Moguls: ★★★☆☆
Touring: ★★★★ ★
Frequently used conditions (time, location, conditions, etc.)
Season: December to April
Location (slopes, courses, ski resorts, mountains, etc.) BC
conditions other than ski resorts and long touring (5 hours or more hiking): Not selected
●Comfortable use of the walk mode function
There is sufficient range of motion in the ankle when climbing the seal, and switching between modes is simple and easy to use.
●Review
Last width is 100mm, so you can spend the whole day comfortably. However, they are not loose boots at all, and the heel, ankle, calf, and shin hold well, and power is transmitted well. Because it is lightweight, you can fully feel the benefits of its lightness when hiking in the backcountry. I like this pair because I can go from bumps, parks, grouts, freerides to backcountry where seal climbs are required.
Binding ① Review
MARKER KINGPIN 13
● 5 levels of impression
Power transmission feeling: ★★★☆☆
Reliability: ★★★ ☆☆
use: ★★★★ ☆
Lightweight feeling: ★★★★★
Operation feeling of climbing mode change: ★★★★ ★
Heel lifter operation feeling:★★★★★
5 levels of suitable scenes
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★☆☆
park: ★★☆☆☆
Moguls: ★★☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★ ★
●Comfortable use of the walk mode function
Simple operation makes it easy to change modes and raise and lower the heel lifter.
●Frequently used conditions (time, location, conditions, etc.)
Backcountry, early season and spring with coarse grains, and often used in powder.
●Review
I like the balance between lightness, hold and transmission.
Mode change switching is simple and easy to use. We recommend pairing it with skis that are lightweight and have good glide.
Ski ② Review
Extreme FINAL OPINION 118
5 levels of impression of hardness (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★★☆
Center: ★★★★☆
Tail: ★★★★☆
5 levels of suitable scenes
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★★☆
Park: ★★☆☆☆
Moguls: ★☆☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★ ☆
●Frequently used situations
This model is mainly used during the season, such as free running on the slopes, trees, and backcountry during the high season. Perfect for when conditions change during the day. Of course, deep powder days are a must.
●The flex is a little strong throughout the review
, and there is little flapping even on hard packs. The 118mm waist width and moderate rocker in the nose and tail provide buoyancy even in deep powder. And it's easy to handle and stable in rough off-piste, spring grain, and crust conditions. Also, I like the fact that it is easy to shift even in the low-speed to high-speed range and you can operate it as you wish. This is a ski that can be used in a wide range of situations, so it is recommended for those who are looking for an easy-to-handle fat ski for aggressive riding.
Binding ② Review
LOOK P18
● 5 levels of impression
Power transfer feeling: ★★★★★
Reliability: ★★★★★
use: ★★★★★
Lightweight feeling: ★★☆☆☆
Operating feeling of climbing mode change: ★★★☆ ☆ *When using CAST
Heel lifter operation feeling: ★★★☆☆ *When using CAST
●Five levels of suitable scenes
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★★★
: ★★★★★
Moguls: ★★★★★
Touring: ★★★☆ ☆ *When using CAST
●Comfortable use of the walk mode function
(when using CAST) It is necessary to remove the toe piece when changing modes, so it takes some getting used to, but being able to use the Look P18 in the backcountry is very convenient.
●Frequently used situations (time, location, conditions, etc.)
Can be used all year round regardless of location or conditions, such as ski slopes, backcountry, or competitions.
●Review
When skating, power transmission to the toe side is very good. I like the fact that the shape of the heel piece allows the mounting screw to be closer to the center of the ski, and the unique turntable function allows you to maximize the flex of the ski.
Photo by Takashi Takenaka