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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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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.
Praxis Protest...
Attachment 497012
fact.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by pembyguy
Thanks guys.
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Oh, this!Quote:
Originally Posted by gaijin
The R120STs are sublime and the FR120ST would be surfier.
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
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)
You'll be fine on either of those
if you intend touring take your lighter set up
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by pembyguy
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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtAmXrVgOp0
lol. That’s great; thanks Mike.
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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.
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.
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...
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....
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
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
Don't waste your time with skis, bring a snowboard
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.
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by boltonoutlaw
your whole post is dinkie shrinkage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Recreationpro
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
I brought two pairs of skis to Japan: 108 underfoot and 122. The 108's never left my ski bag.
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
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.
well I think with that recpro dude smaller is bigger
I had Noctas and they were perfect. 122 underfoot but also very easy to pivot through the trees.Quote:
Originally Posted by halliday
rectumproQuote:
Originally Posted by XXX-er
"Don't bring pow skis to a global powder skiing mecca" is some of the stranger advice I've read here.
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 skierQuote:
Originally Posted by 2FUNKY
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
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 overbikedQuote:
Originally Posted by gaijin
Wait; I should bring my bike? Ripmo or decoy?
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And thanks for everyone’s input; appreciated.
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Awesome. Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
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Kye shapes- your good!
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by eSock