Photo: RIKI JAPOW GUIDE
Backcountry with long walks, climbs and gliding on pristine slopes. For those who have never been there, it is an unknown world, and there are many things that they do not know what to do with even a single tool. So, let's ask professional guides who have escorted many beginners on backcountry tours to tell us about their recommended gear setups for backcountry beginners.
*The “BC beginners” here are those who have little or no BC experience, but skiing skills on the slopes are assumed to be skiers who can manage to control the board and come down any slope. and
Set up skis that are easy to operate even in powder and boots that are light and easy to hike
GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers
SKI: K2｜MINDBENDE 99Ti
BINDINGS: MARKER｜KINGPIN10
BOOTS: K2｜MINDBENDER 120
It is a setup with light bindings on a board that is easy to operate even in powder, and boots that are light and easy to hike.
The MINDBENDE 99Ti skis are not too fat and are buoyant in powder. The swing weight is also light, and it is easy to operate left and right even in powder. The KINGPIN10 is also highly reliable and reduces the overall weight underfoot.
There is a sense of security and stability of the heel hold at the time of gliding. The MINDBENDER120 boots are easy to put on and take off even at low temperatures. The weight is also very light at 1675g, which reduces fatigue during hiking. The range of motion is as wide as 50 degrees back and forth, allowing you to take a big step when hiking. In addition, it is easy to switch to alpine gliding with one touch. Flex 120 is also the hardness when gliding, giving you a supple yet secure altitude and stability.
Reviewer
Kagura Powder Station
Kazuya Igarashi
[Main guide area] Enter from the BC gate at the top of Kagura Ski Resort No. 5 Romance Lift / Others: Tateyama, Mt.
Gassan
, Mt.
It is just right for having fun like a slope in BC
GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers
SKI: FACTION｜agent3.0
BINDINGS: G3｜ zed12
BOOTS: SCARPA｜ Maestrale
If you are a BC beginner and are unsure about climbing (no climbing experience, no physical strength), we recommend lightweight gear.
Whether you're wearing skis or carrying them, your body will be exposed to loads that you don't normally experience. Let's lighten the gear and reduce the handicap with the surroundings. For those who are worried about slipping, skis that are easy to operate regardless of snow quality and terrain are recommended.
It is light, about 100-110 cm in the center, and the length is about your height. If the tail is a little soft, it is relatively easy to operate even in bad snow such as monaka snow, and you can enjoy powder. In that sense, the setup I would like to introduce is...
SKI: Center 106cm, not too thick and not too thin.
The thickness is just right so that you can feel the floating feeling of the powder and get a solid edging. It is light and has moderate tension and is easy to handle, and it is designed just right to enjoy playing on the BC like a slope. Binding: Of course it's light, but it's simple and has few bugs.
Boots: The range of motion of the ankle is wide, making it easier to climb in places such as steep slopes where BC beginners have a hard time.
Occasionally, I see beginners who are at the mercy of handling over-spec gear and have no time to enjoy the backcountry itself. First of all, please enjoy a day in the mountains with comfortable gear suitable for your level.
Reviewer
Vertical Land
Yuki Ito
[Main guide area] Around Hakuba Village, Nagano
Prefecture
,
Northern
Alps
Cover the parts that beginners are not good at in BC. First of all, a setup that you can control without falling down
GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers
SKI: VÖLKL｜ BLAZE106
BINDINGS: G3｜ ION
BOOTS: SCARPA｜ Maestrale
VÖLKL's BLAZE10 is loose in a good way, and even if you move backwards, it won't run suddenly, so you can ski with confidence even on bad snow.
Even when the snow is good, the easier-to-operate board allows you to ski more aggressively, so you can have more fun. Bindings are easy to wear, easy to walk, and moderately lightweight.
G3's ION is recommended because it has been used in many areas for several years and has a sense of security. Few beginners can tell the difference in performance of bindings in powder, so I think it would be good to choose one with high walking performance for climbing, which beginners are not good at BC. So are the boots. You can't ski without walking, so the goal is to wear comfortable boots and stand on the slope without getting tired. Unlike the slopes, it is not a place where patrols help you, so it is important to ski without falling and to control your speed at about 70%. Hard boots like those used for racing may be better after gaining a little more experience.
Reviewer
Makoto Kuroda Kuroda Mountain Guide Office
guide
] Focusing on Joshinetsu, to the area of your choice
A selfish setup that doesn't want to compromise on sliding, but wants to be as light as possible
GEAR Set Up
SKI: Vector Glide | nadurra185
BINDINGS: Marker | KINGPIN m-werks12
BOOTS: K2 | MINDBENDER130
There are some important points to keep in mind when choosing gear for BC beginners. Online shopping is convenient, but we recommend that you purchase at a ski shop as much as possible.
Ski boots will inevitably come out that don't fit your feet, so I think it's a good idea to try on all the boots that the clerk has selected for you and choose the one that fits you best. Of course, each brand and model of skis has a different feel, but if you are using one for the first time, you may not know what kind of skis you like, so if the center width is around 110mm, the design and the feel are different. The best choice is the ski that attracts you the most, including the price.
The photo shows the setup I'm using, and I think it's the setup that most users want, who want to be as light as possible, but don't want to compromise on slippage.
The nadurra is a wide model with a center of 115mm, but I was able to play with this one throughout the season, from the airy deep snow of Mt. Asahidake, the alpine snow quality of Mt.
The side curve of the ski is not too tight, so the edge grip works well even when climbing hard snow or downhill, giving you a sense of security. I've been using KINGPIN for about 5 years now, and it's one of the gears I trust without any major problems.
When you're not wearing boots, keep the toe piece down (the spring is in a contracted state), and remove the snow before changing modes. The risk of breakage should be greatly reduced. MINDBENDER is wide, warm, not too heavy, and can be recommended for everyone. Decrease boot flex depending on riding level.
ReviewerCIRCLE
GAME guide
serviceShohei Sasaki
[Main guide area] All of Hokkaido
[Qualifications]
・JMGA Climbing Guide Stage Ⅱ
・JMGA Ski Guide Stage Ⅱ
・JAN Avalanche Operator Level 1
The first thing you get is a model that is good at all-round performance
GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers
SKI: TONES SKI｜HANDS Light taste
BINDINGS: FRITSCHI｜Tekton 13
BOOTS: K2｜MINDBENDER110
Reliability is ensured by the quality of TONES SKI, a domestic ski, and FRITSCH's Techton.
For the first ski you get, choose a model with good all-around performance. Creates buoyancy for all types of snow, and also requires gliding performance on compacted snow. HANDS Light taste is recommended for BC beginners because it has a well-balanced torsion function that works in a relatively reliable sense of rigidity, and it has excellent rotation in all situations. Also, in binding, we want to ensure balance performance against risk.
The FRITSCH Tekton was equipped with a well-known opening function in the toepiece, and was characterized by high safety. K2's MINDBENDER120 is also certified for its quality.
Among the boots of this kind, it has a very good balance, such as comfort from walk mode to ski mode and reliability of each part. From the feeling of putting your feet in to the feeling of gripping the snow surface with the sole of your foot, you can expect that the feel of skiing will increase. Whether it's skis, bindings, or boots, I want to choose products that are highly reliable and don't sag. If you do, you will surely continue to be one of your buddies for many years.
Reviewer
COLOR SPORT CLUB
Tomohiro Tonegawa
guide
area] Hakuba VALLEY (Hakuba, Otari, Omachi) / Others: Tateyama, Senjojiki,
Myoko
, Mt.
Highly accurate, reliable and well-balanced all-rounder
GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers
SKI: Blastrack | Blazer / NA
BINDINGS: G3 | ZED12
SKIN: POMOCA | CLIMB PRO S-GLIDE
Blastrack products are made only in Japan and are highly accurate and reliable.
Among them, I recommend the Blazer, a very well-balanced all-rounder. With a center 97mm, it is a basic thickness that can handle from slightly hard snow to powder, and it is not too light and does not sacrifice stability when speeding up. In addition, there is a wide variety of lengths from 164 to 185 cm, and it is also attractive that you can choose the length that suits you without overdoing it. It's best to find boots that fit your feet. Looking at the guests, I think stickers are very important. My recommendation for stickers is POMOCA CLIMB PRO S-GLIDE.
Reviewer
Epic Japan
Akiko NAKAE
]
Togakushi
, Tateyama / Others: Hokkaido: Asahikawa, Furano area, Eastern Hokkaido, Niseko Completion
Recommended setup for those who want to start telemark skiing from alpine
GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers
SKI: Blackdiamond | Helio Recon 95
BINDINGS: 22DESIGNS | Outlaw X
BOOTS: SCARPA | TX Pro
We will introduce a setup that emphasizes ease of handling rather than lightness, with a center width that is easy for telemark ski beginners to handle. If anything, alpine skiing that can ski anywhere on the slopes is the recommended setup if you want to start telemark skiing.
Reviewer
Infield
Toyokazu Nakano
/
Kubiki Others : Mt. Tate, Mt. Chokai, etc.
First of all, I want you to have a well-balanced all-around set including lightness
GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers
SKI: VÖLKL | BLAZE106
BINDINGS: MARKER | KINGPIN 10
BOOTS: DALBELLO | LUPO AX120
The first set that we would like guests who are new to BC to have is an all-round and well-balanced set that includes lightness for playing various situations of BC.
This setup can cover everything from powder to granulated or groomed slopes. I also use various types properly, but after all, this is by far the most frequently used.
If you usually use skis with a center of 60 to 70 mm on the slopes, a center of 106 mm will look very thick, but if you want to go to BC in the high season, I think it would be better to have this level of buoyancy. As an introductory model for women, VÖLKL's girlfriend's BLAZE106 W is recommended.
The reason is the same as the men's model, I think that it is well-balanced regardless of the condition and easy to handle regardless of the skiing skill level. I have been using VÖLKL skis for a long time, and I feel that the concept behind VÖLKL skis is ``a ski that satisfies advanced skiers, but is difficult for beginners and intermediate skiers,'' and ``a ski that is easy for beginners and intermediate skiers, but not satisfactory for advanced skiers. Can skiing be called good skiing?”
I feel like I'm trying to develop a product that challenges that question. So, even though it's a high-end model, it's not a difficult model to handle, and even though it's a "W (women's)", the specs are almost the same as those for men, and regardless of gender, you can choose according to your size and graphics. No problem. Don't get me wrong, you can still enjoy BC without BC gear. Gear developed specifically for BC is easier and more enjoyable. However, it is more important to actually experience BC skiing than buying gear. At LOCUS GUIDE SERVICE, you can rent the above set including the sticker, or a tour binding set that can be used with your current boots, so please take advantage of it.
Reviewer
LOCUS GUIDE SERVICE
Kazuya Furuse
[Main guide area] Hakuba area
[Qualifications]
JMGA Ski Guide Stage II
JAN Avalanche Operator Level 2
Excellent setup for lightness, operability, and slip sensitivity
GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers
SKI: ROSSIGNOL | ESCAPER97 NANO
BINDINGS: DYNAFIT | ST Rotarion
BOOTS: ROSSIGNOL | All TRACK110
The length of the ski is about my height and the width is about 100cm.
For bindings, I personally recommend the TLT type, but I think the ST Rotarion (Dynafit) is more secure and easier to use. I think light boots are good for people who don't have physical strength. The best recommendation is All TRACK110 (Rossignol). The last width is wide, so you can wear it for a long time. The slip sensitivity is outstanding while providing lightness.
Reviewer
RIKI JAPOW GUIDERiki
NakajimaRiki Nakajima
[Main guide area] Around Tomamu, Around Furano, Around Asahikawa / Others: Niseko, Rusutsu, Nozawa Onsen
[Qualifications]
JMGA Climbing Guide Stage II
, JMGA Ski Guide Stage II
, JAN Avalanche Operator Level 1
The setup of the center 100mm level which is recommended as the first one
GEAR Set Up recommended for beginner BC skiers
SKI: ATOMIC | BACKLAND100
BINDINGS: ATOMIC | SHIFT
BOOTS: ATOMIC | HAWX URTLA XTD110
We recommend skis with a center 100mm range as the first ski, and can be used from the beginning of the season to the powder high season and the spring season.
Even if you buy a second or third board, the 100mm board will come in handy as an all-rounder. The binding is SHIFT. Unlike tech bindings, the binding doesn't stick to your feet when hiking, so it feels light, and the fulcrum is close to your toes, so it's easy.
When you slide, it becomes a step-in binding, so it has forward pressure and is highly recommended for tracking and safety. Hawks boots are not only light but also have thick inner boots and a high fit. Considering only the powder, I think that the flex does not have to be so hard at first.
ReviewerDaichi
Trui _
[Main guide area] All of Hokkaido
[Qualifications]
・JMGA mountain guide stage I
・JMGA ski guide stage II
・JAN avalanche worker level I
