Skis for Japan

[halliday]

I have a small unit so Id probably bring my Nomad 115s or a pair of older Noctas. You know, skis for guys with little weenies.

[XXX-er]

well I think with that recpro dude smaller is bigger

[TahoeJ]

I have a small unit so Id probably bring my Nomad 115s or a pair of older Noctas. You know, skis for guys with little weenies.

I had Noctas and they were perfect. 122 underfoot but also very easy to pivot through the trees.

[halliday]

well I think with that recpro dude smaller is bigger

rectumpro

[Dantheman]

"Don't bring pow skis to a global powder skiing mecca" is some of the stranger advice I've read here.

[2FUNKY]

When I go to Japan I’m bringing my monster 82’s. Gonna be so innit! Everyone will know I have a giant unit….


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[halliday]

When I go to Japan I’m bringing my monster 82’s. Gonna be so innit! Everyone will know I have a giant unit….


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Like a three legged skier

[Mike Pow]

Ski what you feel is your most enjoyable and manoeuvrable ski.

The snow is different here.

Most of the time it's as light as a feather, but it's deep with homogenous layers which let you in and in and in depending on what's under your feet.

Speed is your friend, otherwise you'll find yourself bogged in and encased very quickly.

Your lines may not be as sinuous as you're used to because if you overturn / turn for the sake of turning you'll feel your speed wash off pretty quickly and you'll be bogged.

To enjoy Hokkaido powder - to me at least - it's a game of constant, small movements and balance readjustments at speed over aggressive pole planting and quick to lateral turns.

When you watch the pros on the movies popping out of the powder performing 90 degree moves laterally creating huge explosions and then skiing through those powder clouds you have to remember that they are absolutely flying down the slope and are only able to perform 2-3 of these manoeuvres on each 'mini golf' section before hitting a cat track, a flat section or the piste.

If you're prepared to hike/tour or stump up the cash for cat and/or heli experiences then you'll enjoy longer, consistent pitches with many more turns to be had.

Each season I hear the same comments. The snow isn't as deep as it used to be.

And each season those skiers are skiing on wider and longer skis.

If you want to surf and pop and jump off shit then bring your favourite deep powder ski.

If like me you want to be in it, then ski something a little leaner underfoot.

And if we're lucky, and the snow falls like Snowglobe snow in a Hollywood movie, it won't really matter.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/BwMbvllFnkN/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cww0f1OMme7/?img_index=1

[gaijin]

FWIW for those reading, I’m selling—

184 Volkl M102 with a Baron Demo and skins.
186 Nordica Hot Rod Jet Fuel. 126-84-112 r20. Two sheets of titanal, no rocker. Groomer beasts.
183 OG Gotama/Fritsche.
186 2004 Rossi FIS GS.

Why? They’re all too narrow or obsolete for JP.

Answer to thread— buy an HL 120ST in your preferred profile and you’ll be stoked.

[LeeLau]

FWIW for those reading, I’m selling—

184 Volkl M102 with a Baron Demo and skins.
186 Nordica Hot Rod Jet Fuel. 126-84-112 r20. Two sheets of titanal, no rocker. Groomer beasts.
183 OG Gotama/Fritsche.
186 2004 Rossi FIS GS.

Why? They’re all too narrow or obsolete for JP.

Answer to thread— buy an HL 120ST in your preferred profile and you’ll be stoked.

Ha. This reminds me of the frequent questions from visitors to Whistler asking what size bike to bring. Advice will be offered then ignored and most come with the biggest stuff they can find and are overbiked

[pembyguy]

Wait; I should bring my bike? Ripmo or decoy?


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[pembyguy]

And thanks for everyone’s input; appreciated.


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[pembyguy]

Ski what you feel is your most enjoyable and manoeuvrable ski.

The snow is different here.

Most of the time it's as light as a feather, but it's deep with homogenous layers which let you in and in and in depending on what's under your feet.

Speed is your friend, otherwise you'll find yourself bogged in and encased very quickly.

Your lines may not be as sinuous as you're used to because if you overturn / turn for the sake of turning you'll feel your speed wash off pretty quickly and you'll be bogged.

To enjoy Hokkaido powder - to me at least - it's a game of constant, small movements and balance readjustments at speed over aggressive pole planting and quick to lateral turns.

When you watch the pros on the movies popping out of the powder performing 90 degree moves laterally creating huge explosions and then skiing through those powder clouds you have to remember that they are absolutely flying down the slope and are only able to perform 2-3 of these manoeuvres on each 'mini golf' section before hitting a cat track, a flat section or the piste.

If you're prepared to hike/tour or stump up the cash for cat and/or heli experiences then you'll enjoy longer, consistent pitches with many more turns to be had.

Each season I hear the same comments. The snow isn't as deep as it used to be.

And each season those skiers are skiing on wider and longer skis.

If you want to surf and pop and jump off shit then bring your favourite deep powder ski.

If like me you want to be in it, then ski something a little leaner underfoot.

And if we're lucky, and the snow falls like Snowglobe snow in a Hollywood movie, it won't really matter.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/BwMbvllFnkN/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cww0f1OMme7/?img_index=1

Awesome. Thanks.


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[teamdirt]

Kye shapes- your good!

[paige.]

I know we'd all like to think we're gonna get nothing but endless pow on such a pilgrimage, but if you're mostly hitting resorts, having something you can still enjoy during low snow is important.

It's also not incredibly steep or technical terrain generally, so bringing something that's still fun skiing 'hippy pow' style will likely bring the most joy.

I think the bent chetlers would make a great Japan ski. Super floaty but can still carve.

I think the Nimbus Independent En Route Japan video is 90% of the reason I bought Bent Chetlers for my Japan trip over a decade later. I had zero regrets.

[TahoeJ]

I miss Nimbus.

[muted reborn]

Skis work the same in japan as they do anywhere else.

[XXX-er]

For japan I want a ski that is good skiing in Bamboo while here its just willows

[Mike Pow]

For japan I want a ski that is good skiing in Bamboo while here its just willows

Hopefully the bamboo (sasa) will be long buried and won't be a factor

[XXX-er]

yeah a new experiance skiing thru the tops of the sasa cuz it was a lower snow year but there was still a lot of snow

But seriously I got a lot of skis but I was only going to travel with 1 set of gear that had to do everything, that was the lotus 120/ pair of Vulcans,

Its gona be a compromise somewhere but I was happy with my choice from the conditions I seen at Niseko

[garyfromterrace]

I had Noctas and they were perfect. 122 underfoot but also very easy to pivot through the trees.

Agree 100 %.

[tgapp]

thinking about taking a pair of bmt122s with kingpins for Japan

pros:

- amazing tree skis. absolutely amazing
- strong powder performance
- reasonable touring weight

cons:

- not an amazing crud ski
- not great at ice

thoughts y'all?

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[m2711c]

Skis that fat are going to lead to inevitable speculation upon the diminutive of size of your unit…


fact.

[Blaster]

thinking about taking a pair of bmt122s with kingpins for Japan

pros:

- amazing tree skis. absolutely amazing
- strong powder performance
- reasonable touring weight

cons:

- not an amazing crud ski
- not great at ice

thoughts y'all?

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Sounds pretty damn fun to me.

If it were me, I’d probably take my 109s over the 122s as I find the 109s more nimble in tighter trees and better in the resort/no new snow conditions with still quite good deep snow performance. However, i would take the 122s if I knew I was going the be almost entirely touring. Caveat being I have only done one trip to Japan but we have a similar bmt fanaticism.

Enjoy

[SKIman182]

4frnt renegade for Japan was ideal. Not sure I’d want to ride anything else for super super deep days