Dream Gate Co., Ltd. usually holds a test ride event during the peak season every year, specializing in powder, freeride, and heel-free skis for next season's new model skis. This time, it was held on the first weekend of March. The venue was Myoko Suginohara Ski Resort, famous for its long runs, and we report on the event
A 3km long ride under the blue sky!
Dream Gate Co., Ltd. is based in Kanda, Tokyo and operates professional ski shops including Aspen, F-Junk, Fuso & Boots Tune, and Ski Shop Vail, but this test ride event was mainly run by SKI SHOP VAIL, which is particularly strong in freeride. The exhibiting brands were all well-known and popular among powder freeride enthusiasts and telemarkers
4FRNT/ARMADA/ATOMIC/BLACKCROWS/BLASTRACK/BLUEMORIS/BLIZZARD/CANDIDESKI/DPS/DYNAFIT/ELAN/EXTREM/FACTION/FISCHER/ICELANTIC/K2/LINE/MAJESTY/NORDICA/RMU/SALOMON/SCOTT/SEASON/SIMPLY/VOLKL/WAPAN/ZAG…
The venue is located in the central area of Myoko Suginohara Ski Resort, and is compact in size. You can get a panoramic view of the entire venue, and it's convenient for walking around to decide which ski to try next. Just below is the 3km-long Suginohara Gondola station, so once you've strapped on your skis, you can head straight for the gondola. Saturday, March 1st, was a clear day with not a cloud in the sky, and from the gondola you could enjoy the spectacular views of Lake Nojiri and the mountains of Northern Shinano
The gondola top is at an elevation of 1,489m. After the Giant Course with a maximum gradient of 26°, you can take a long ride of 3km to the Shirakaba Course. The snow quality on the well-packed course was excellent, making for a test ride in perfect conditions
Find the model that's right for you with advice from professional riders and staff!
Many users say that test rides are great because they allow them to compare different models and hear detailed information from the staff about the boards they like. This time, each brand's booth was once again staffed not only by product representatives from the manufacturer, but also by several of their team's professional riders. The riders were riding each brand's model to the fullest in a variety of snow conditions
Not only are they rich in experience, but the skillful verbalization skills of professional skiers, such as "the skis' performance, riding feel, and the type of person they suit," are also excellent, and users can receive very helpful advice to understand the product and determine whether the skis are right for them. The knowledge and information gained through checking the lightness, flex, and shape of the skis while holding the actual skis in their hands, and communicating with the expert staff, is invaluable and cannot be obtained by simply looking at a catalog. This is the great appeal of test rides
What models were most popular? Check popularity
This test ride event was extremely popular from the time of advance reservations, and the initial capacity of 100 people (per day) was not enough to accommodate everyone, so the number had to be quickly increased to 140. Although advance reservations are free, on a particularly fine Saturday there was a 1,000 yen fee, and yet many skiers still participated on the day, creating a great atmosphere
Amidst such a successful event, what models from each brand attracted attention and were test driven in large numbers? Our editorial team walked around the booths to ask
K2 | LINE | VOLKL (EOC)
Comments from Fukushima (pictured right), who is in charge of product
"This time, the test ride event is hosted by SKI SHOP VAIL and F-JANCK, who are strong in freeride skis, so we've brought skis with a center width of 100mm or more, specifically for freeride. The skis that were popular among the test riders were the Reckoner and the Mindbender. The Mindbender 96C (women's) and 106C were well-received. I think the ease of handling and all-around performance unique to carbon are the reasons why users like them."
"The SAKANA was popular on LINE. It's popular for its impactful fishtail design and ease of handling. Also, the PANDORA received positive feedback for its solid skiing performance."
SALOMON
At SALOMON, the popularity of the "Départ 1.0" and "QST BLANK" was overwhelming, and the skis were never left on the snow. Users who tried the QST BLANK gave it very positive reviews, saying things like, "It has better spring and rebound than I expected, it's easy to ski on the slopes, and I can imagine that it will be able to go into powder as it is, and push through powder."
The QST has also been updated, and its length and appearance make it easy for women to wear, which has been well-received. Apparently, many women have test-ridden it. Many have commented, "It doesn't feel too strong, so it's easy to ride. It can be used by a wide range of people," and "It's a board that will make it easy for people who have been riding on-piste boards up until now to switch to riding thicker boards."
FACTION
The largest number of users gathered at FACTION. It seemed like there was a constant flow of people all day. The "Agent Series" was particularly popular. Lightweight, all-around, and with metal parts for a solid ride, it attracted a lot of attention from those who like to turn. The staff recommended the "Prodigy" for beginners and the "Studio" for speed-oriented and intermediate to advanced riders
ICELANTIC
The most popular model was the "Nomad 100." According to ICELANTIC staff,
"Many users who already own various skis and wanted to try a different type of ski tried it out. With this year's heavy snowfall, there's probably a high demand for wider skis. As a brand, we want to promote the 'Nomad' and 'Maiden' series, which were renewed last year. We hadn't received the '25-26 season models yet, but they will be arriving soon. Please look forward to future test ride events."
"Many users look forward to this catalog every year and collect it," he said. It might be a good idea to go to a test drive event to get a luxurious catalog
BLASTRACK
The highlight of the 2025-2026 season is the limited production model "VA-DT (Versant Dual Tail)" equipped with a uniquely shaped dual tail, which was in full swing all day during the test ride event
The "IMPROVE90," the first full model change in the series, and two new models that are attracting attention are the "ELIXIR," the fastest model "E" and the lightest model "L." The "ELIXIR" was frequently test-ridden, including by telemarkers. However, the popularity of the classic BLASTRACK model "FARTHER" remains strong. For the 2025-2026 season, a new mold and flex balance have been adopted, improving off-road performance, stability, and maneuverability
DPS
The rider Ryuichiro Shinoda, who was at the booth all day, highly recommended the all-mountain freeride model "KOALA111." It has been completely renewed with a new hybrid carbon structure, further improving its operability and stability
ATOMIC
All of ATOMIC's powder and freeride skis have undergone graphic changes for the 2025-2026 season. The freeride models are divided into three main categories: the MAVERICK, which is strong despite its width for on-piste skiing; the BENT family, which is fun for both powder and park riding; and the BACKLAND, which excels at hiking up and is ideal for the backcountry. The strength of ATOMIC skis is that they are very easy to choose for users with a clear preference for their skiing style
At this test ride event, we observed a trend of users with a clear purpose coming specifically to try out the skis, and the overwhelmingly most popular was, without a doubt, the "BENT" series. While the graphics are one reason for its popularity, a staff member explained:
"The BENT series has the handling characteristics of a typical ski, yet it's easy to ski in powder and is versatile enough to do anything. And yet it's incredibly lightweight. I think this is what users really appreciate. I think BENT has now become a mainstream choice."
SIMPLY
SIMPLY, a brand that originated in Switzerland and is now in its third year, has been in Japan since the 2024-2025 season. For the 2025-2026 season, they will be releasing three models, with the main focus being on recreational wear
This all-round model has a 100mm center. Its unique asymmetrical fishtail shape is particularly eye-catching. It looks tough at first glance, but is surprisingly soft. Its flex is fully usable all the way to the tail, making it easy to enjoy on any terrain. Perhaps due to its cool appearance and novelty, it was extremely popular at the test ride event. There was a constant stream of users wanting to test ride one after another. A wide variety of sizes were available, and it was impressive to see people riding it regardless of gender or age
RMU
According to RMU staff,
"The 'Professor' 101 and 111 were particularly popular this time. Overall, the 100-111 all-around models were consistently popular and were ridden frequently. RMU is produced in the same factory as Extreme, so I think the fact that we can offer high quality at a reasonable price is also appealing. The designer graphics were also popular with women because they are stylish."
The Professor 101 is a new model released for the 2025-2026 season (fourth from the right in the photo above). The unisex all-mountain skis, the VALHALLA 97 and VALHALLA 107 (two from the right in the photo), have also been updated with pink and lilac graphics
EXTREM
EXTREM is a Swedish brand that produces high-quality products in its Swedish factories while being mindful of the environment. For the 2025-2026 season, the graphics have been changed depending on the model, resulting in a stylish finish that exudes a Swedish feel
The most popular model this time was the "FACTORY102." It's touted as the "perfect" freeride model, highly versatile from powder to groomed runs, and is popular in Japan. Legolas of Vinter, who stocks the EXTREM in Japan, said, "I was unsure whether to bring it to Myoko..." The fat "FINAL OPINION" ski designed for deep powder was surprisingly popular, with many people wanting to ride it
The FORMURA 88 is a bike that we would love to see you try out at a future test ride event. With an 11.5m radius and a very strong side curve, it has excellent maneuverability and is extremely fun to turn on groomed runs
WAPAN
WAPAN skis were a particularly striking presence at the venue. Since the brand's inception, they have been popular for their bold, Japanese-inspired graphics, as their name suggests, and for the 2025-2026 season, three new graphics have been released, including "I," "RO," and "HA," allowing customers to choose their preferred graphic for each model and size, a style unique to WAPAN. The structure and materials of the skis will remain unchanged from the 2024-2025 season
The first graphic image is "flame" (right in the photo above). It is said to be inspired by the flames on the back of Acala. It has a somewhat spiritual and powerful look, and is sure to look great on snow. Then there is the white heron graphic (next to the left of the flame). The graphic was designed by a local female snowboarder from Zao, and features feminine, soft brushstrokes and a gentle, elegant feel to the colors. And then there is the sparrow graphic (next to the left of the white heron). It is said to be the work of a designer who runs a snowboard shop in Okope Town, eastern Hokkaido. The sparrow is seen as a symbol of Japan, and has been combined with patterns from the designer's local Ainu people
BLACKCROWS
The model held by the skier in the photo is the "Sato," a hot item for the 2025-2026 season. Unusually for BLACKCROWS, this model is designed with flat terrain and resorts in mind, with a 90mm waist. It's ideal for resort skiers who want to cruise the slopes with ease and freedom. Apparently, the "Sato" was the model that was most popular during this test ride. Other models that were popular included the "mirus cor," a carving machine with a waist of 87mm, and the "justis," an all-mountain model with a waist of 100mm
According to the staff, they will be bringing the full lineup to the next Dream Gate test ride event in Naeba (March 22-23), so they would like people to try out other freeride models such as ``atris,'' ``corvus,'' and ``anima.''
ARMADA
When we asked the staff at the ARMADA booth about the trends among users at this test drive event, they gave us the following explanation:
"ARMADA's classic line is definitely the 'ARV'. Many people who try ARMADA for the first time start with this one. The ARV has attractive designs every year and is well-known for its ease of riding. This time too, the demo skis were constantly being ridden. However, since the ZERO series came out, I feel that it has also become popular.
Also, the 'JJ' has remained overwhelmingly popular in Japan. Many people come to the demo event specifically asking, 'Can I try the JJ?' This time too, the 'White Walker' has been constantly being demoed. Many ARMADA users are serious freeriders. Those who hit big kickers and parks like the White Walker from the start. It's lightweight and easy to maneuver in various situations.
And then there's the 'Diclivity series'. Until now, many people chose the twin-tip when trying wide skis for the first time, but recently, more and more people are appreciating skis with relatively flat tails that allow them to use the edge firmly all the way to the back of the tail, and which excel in on-piste carving turn performance." The 'Declivity-X,' which allows for stylish carving turns, was also popular at this test ride event."
STEEP is currently implementing the following initiatives!
In addition to reporting on the new model test ride event, our editorial team had a major mission for this visit: to gather honest, unbiased test ride impressions from general users. How we will handle this is still a secret, but we asked users at the event to rate the skis' performance and ride feel, as well as write down their impressions
The editorial team will continue to collect user impressions at the next test drive event hosted by Dream Gate (March 22-23). If you would like to test drive a new model that catches your eye and provide your impressions, please apply to be a reporter
Finally, a message from Manager Ikeda of "SKI SHOP VAIL"
"The weather was good on the first day, and we had a lot of customers. My impression was that all types and brands of models were selling well this time. After test riding, many people were able to narrow down the boards they wanted, and they said they were going to make a reservation at the store!
This time, the capacity of 100 people per day was quickly exceeded, so we increased the number of slots, and in fact, nearly 150 people came on Saturday. However, if we increase the number of slots too much, everyone will want to ride the same board, and it would be bad if they had to wait, so we would like to come up with some ideas to make everyone happy
We want to continue to be a store that is always there to help our customers so that they can make happy gear selections
Please come along to our next test drive event in Naeba!"
Dream Gate's next test ride event is coming soon!
March 22nd (Sat) - 23rd (Sun) @ Naeba Ski Resort
The next event will feature a wider range of new models, including racing and demo models, so why not come along and take part in this hugely popular test drive event, where many different brands will be gathered?
◆Details:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGXEW5PyrYv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
◆Registration:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nwFzCj—GZZgT_kVvxq6ae_6GVuJfYUJr6dgSHfgCd8/edit