Skis for Japan

[pembyguy]

Sooooo off to Japan (Hokkaido) end of Jan. After some research, sort of settling on taking my Line vision 108 with atk tour bindings. We’re starting at Niseko and then driving around to explore the other ski areas.
Whatcha think? Thanks.
Other ski I could take is a Whitedot Altum 114 with alpine bindings


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[gaijin]

Take this opportunity to justify investing in a new ski. Heritage Lab FR120ST.

Your other two options are kind of up to you based on your binding choices, imo. I've seen plenty of people happy on 108ish skis in the dryer pow, but my fresh/storm ski is a Renegade and my DD (will be) an HL R110.

Another option is bring your touring option, and rent a bigger ski if you get a storm cycle.

[m2711c]

Praxis Protest...




fact.

[HWY12]

Sooooo off to Japan (Hokkaido) end of Jan. After some research, sort of settling on taking my Line vision 108 with atk tour bindings. We’re starting at Niseko and then driving around to explore the other ski areas.
Whatcha think? Thanks.
Other ski I could take is a Whitedot Altum 114 with alpine bindings


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Been to Japan skiing a couple of times. I took a pair of DPS Lotus 124 in a touring set up and they were great. Much of the best skiing I found was side country or a short climb above the lift served area. I also took my ON3P Billy Goats (116) with Shifts that were great on days when we just skied inbounds.

[pembyguy]

Thanks guys.


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[pfluffenmeister]

Take this opportunity to justify investing in a new ski. Heritage Lab FR120ST.

Your other two options are kind of up to you based on your binding choices, imo. I've seen plenty of people happy on 108ish skis in the dryer pow, but my fresh/storm ski is a Renegade and my DD (will be) an HL R110.

Another option is bring your touring option, and rent a bigger ski if you get a storm cycle.

Oh, this!
The R120STs are sublime and the FR120ST would be surfier.

[XXX-er]

It was maybe 6 yrs ago so I took 2011 lotus 120's with verticals and I was pretty happy with that chioce for some touring and at Niseko

also took a spare heelpiece from another setup just in case

[bamboocoreONLY]

sender free 118 w/duke PT is what I'm bringing when I go this coming winter (yes, I much prefer those over CAST haha)

[Mike Pow]

You'll be fine on either of those

if you intend touring take your lighter set up

[pembyguy]

Thanks again. Probs overthinking it lol. I was considering the blackops 118 but thought they might be too much ski for some of the terrain


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[Mike Pow]

Thanks again. Probs overthinking it lol. I was considering the blackops 118 but thought they might be too much ski for some of the terrain


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Go with what you enjoy skiing the most and which works the best in mixed conditions.

If you're touring then the snow conditions and snowpack will be pretty consistent.

In resort and the slackcountry there will be a combination of untracked deep powder with short sections of piste and/or out tracks to get to the next patch.

Often the best conditions are in the trees, especially when it's puking. So choose a ski that you feel comfortable on in the trees.

For reference I've centre mounted dynafit bindings to a bi-directional twin tip which covers me from teaching on the beginner slopes to touring into the backcountry, and everything in between.

Currently on Movement Zoo skis, similar set up in the video below
177cm
115-84-106

I'm 6' 2" and 210lbs

The set up allows me to get deep, is very nimble in the trees, and is light for touring

For example

[pembyguy]

lol. That’s great; thanks Mike.


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[thedeepend]

Good post. Thanks for the info. I'm heading there in Jan/Feb too. It's my second trip. Last time I brought a pair of QST 118 on Shifts and they worked pretty well. I'm looking at the Heritage Lab 120ST this time around, but open to other options.

[eSock]

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.

[m2711c]

good quality low tide skis are easily rentable, good quality fatassed fuckin' powderboards similar to praxis or dps? not so much.


bring your dream powder ski cause there is a very good chance you'll get to use it as the designer intended...

[Recreationpro]

Everybody, listen to Mike Pow... He knows more than you first time posers with your fatties.... Yup, I am being assertive (maybe it was that double shot of High West Bourbon ??), but you Amerikans want to think your super fatties are the way to go... It's not the size of your tool, but how you use it...... I have only done 8 trips to JapPow ( 4 weeks each..) and ski over a 100 days a year in Utard snow (second best in the world after Hokkaido...). My JaPow max mid with ski is 105 and my JaPow touring sk is 96 mid with. No reason to go wider unless you got dinkie shrinkage....

[JackSkier]

Having to straightline to keep moving in Japow isn't the way I'd want to do it... Just saying... Fat skis exist for a reason

[McDee]

Sure you can drive a Mini round a circuit and have fun, but where else are you going to let that Lambo reach its full potential?

There are 2 other things never really mentioned in regard to skiing japan, that might be more of a euro thing

1. There is virtually no artificial snow, which makes the pistes a joy no matter how fat the skis are.

2. Ski length and trees. I'm more used to sking open terrain in tirol than trees. Tree line is lower here, so conditions have to be in for trees.
I took 190s with me to japan that were absolutely fine, just occasionally when it got very tight in the trees I would have preferred something just a little shorter.

This is all just based on one trip, never skied in the US and my shitty skiing abilities so take that into consideration. Or not

[boltonoutlaw]

Don't waste your time with skis, bring a snowboard

[Jimty]

Went to Japan in Jan / Feb this year and stayed in Niseko. Did a mix of backcountry, side country and resort, plus a day of cat skiing. Will be going back hopefully for a week of backcountry in Jan 25. I took a pair of RMU 106 and a pair of Saba 117s, both with Shifts. Skied the 106s pretty much every day except for the cat day, and the Sabas on the cat day. Plenty happy with the RMUs - great in trees and bumps and floated surprisingly well for their width. Not the stiffest out there by any stretch for crud, but did the job. Sabas were super fun - awesome ski in deep pow and trees. Will be taking both with me in ‘25. May also take one of my other skis - have the Wailer 112, Lotus 124 and 138 Spoon to choose from. Not sure I really need any of them though, unless doing a big tour day where the lightness of the DPS will be useful.

[Mike Pow]

Don't waste your time with skis, bring a snowboard

[bamboocoreONLY]

Everybody, listen to Mike Pow... He knows more than you first time posers with your fatties.... Yup, I am being assertive (maybe it was that double shot of High West Bourbon ??), but you Amerikans want to think your super fatties are the way to go... It's not the size of your tool, but how you use it...... I have only done 8 trips to JapPow ( 4 weeks each..) and ski over a 100 days a year in Utard snow (second best in the world after Hokkaido...). My JaPow max mid with ski is 105 and my JaPow touring sk is 96 mid with. No reason to go wider unless you got dinkie shrinkage....

your whole post is dinkie shrinkage.

[tang]

1) Prob should be tech talk, but its japan so I guess its cool
2) You ask advice, you're gonna get it. And everyone's entitled to an opinion. But please don't take mid 80's waist, short skis to japan. No matter the size of your reproductive organ
3) Good points re tight trees, but otherwise bring what you're comfortable with planning for pow. Don't overthink it - you're going for pow and culture, so bring your pow-happy skis and an open mind

[TahoeJ]

I brought two pairs of skis to Japan: 108 underfoot and 122. The 108's never left my ski bag.

[XXX-er]

THis ^^ I never remotely thot about shleping 2 pairs of skis or 2 pair of boots, just that spare heelpiece

I went on a low snow year so the snow was only shoulder deep on the main road and I never wanted for a narrower ski ,

IME take a wide ski with some camber in case you actualy need to carve something but probably not, lots of early rise and be happy