The rider himself talks about his impressions of his favorite gear that he used this winter.
This time, based in the Hachimantai area of Iwate Prefecture, after participating in competitions such as moguls and big air, this gear is favored by Allen Kajita, who shoots in freeride competitions such as FWQ and JFO and in the BC area.
Allen Kajita
Born September 13, 1985.
Born in Takizawa City, Iwate Prefecture. He started skiing at an early age due to the influence of his Swiss mother, who is only a 15-minute drive from the nearest ski resort, and fell in love with snowboarding with his father when he was in elementary school.
He encountered mogul sports when he was in junior high school and participated in the national polity and junior Olympics. After graduating from high school, he went through free ski competition activities such as Big Air, and then went on to backcountry skiing. In recent years, he has been participating in freeride competitions such as FWQ and JFO while shooting mainly in the backcountry area of Tohoku.
Recent Tournament Results
2019 FWQ Hakuba 3STAR 3rd
FWQ Kiroro 3STAR 3rd
2020 FWQ
JFO Hakuba 4th
2021 FWQ Hakuba 4STAR 3rd
JFO Hakuba 5th
Instagram: @alain_natural
Allen Kajita setup
Skis: BLACKCROWS NOCTA 190cm (140-122-134) '20-21 model
Boots: TECNICA COCHISE 130 '20-21 model
Bindings: MARKER DUKE PT16 '20-21 model
Ratings and reviews for each gear
ski reviews
BLACK CROWS NOCTA
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 conditions
Season: All seasons
Location: Backcountry (Hachimantai, etc.)
Conditions: Powder, packed snow
●Review
Radius is 26m with full rocker.
It is exactly the board made for powder. You can do everything from carving to sliding turns, and it feels like it can turn without much effort. I personally don't have the impression that it's heavy or light, especially in powder, it feels like it's floating. What I love about it is that it can handle any condition. It is a board that can be enjoyed in various styles from big turns to slide turns. The graphics are simple and don't change much every year, so it's easy for everyone to accept, and I feel that it's a design that can be used for a long time.
boot reviews
TECNICA COCHISE 130
●Five levels of impression of hardness (★1=soft←→★5=hard)
Lower shell:★★★★☆
Upper:★★★★☆
5 levels of suitable scenes
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★★☆
Park: ★★★☆☆
Moguls: ★★☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★ ★
●Comfortable use of the walk mode function
Switching point has been changed from a string to a firm one, and a lock mechanism has been added. When I used it in an extremely cold environment, it sometimes froze and I had trouble switching. The boots have enough range of motion for walking.
●Frequently used situations (time, location, conditions, etc.)
Season: All seasons
Location: Everything from ski resorts to backcountry skiing.
Conditions: Everything from powder to snow.
●Review
These tour boots are equipped with a walk mode and are intended for use in the backcountry, but they feel very close to alpine boots. It is light and easy to handle, and the buckle and walk mode switching lever are easy to operate. The standard thermo inner fits the shape of your feet. It has a flex of 130, but it's a good impression that you can put it on and take it off smoothly.
binding review
MARKER DUKE PT16
●Five levels of impression
: ★★★★★
Reliability: ★★★★★
use: ★★★★☆
: ★★★☆☆
Operational feeling of climbing mode change: ★★★☆ ☆
Heel lifter operation feeling:★★★☆☆
5 levels of suitable scenes
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★★★
park: ★★★☆☆
Moguls: ★★☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★ ★
●Usability comment of the walk mode function
You can enjoy the best sense of security and operability among the tour bindings. The climbing support in walk mode is only one step, so walking on medium slopes requires some getting used to. It's also a good idea to learn route fighting so you can climb without difficulty.
●Frequently used situations (time, location, conditions, etc.)
Season: All seasons
Location: Everything from ski resorts to backcountry skiing.
Conditions: Everything from powder to snow.
●Review
This is the most secure binding among tour bindings, and you can enjoy direct operability when skiing. At the time of gliding, the riding taste is no different from alpine bindings. It is heavier than the lightweight tour bindings, but it has a firm hold and an overwhelming sense of security.