Yonex first released a snowboard under the brand name GATTA in 1995.From the first model to the present, Yonex Snowboard, which has been sticking to full carbon board, will celebrate its 20th anniversary this season.However, carbon processing technology began developing badminton, tennis rackets, and golf shafts long before snowboarding.Its high technological development ability has already been recognized worldwide.Snowboards made using the high carbon technology are evolving year by year.We talked to Mr. Yaegashi, who is in charge of the development, about various things.
World-class Yonex technology development capabilities
The first thing I was interested in was the background of choosing carbon fiber as the material for snowboarding and the reason for continuing to use it.Most of the snowboards on the market usually adopt a wood core structure, and many of them are reinforced with glass fiber or the like.However, Yonex has never used wood cores.The reason is, "Trees exist in the natural world, and the way they shine and absorb water is different, so I think that each tree is different and cannot be balanced. In that case, the quality of the product is unified. Strictly speaking, it cannot be made absolutely evenly. ”It is not well known that the predecessor company of Yonex was actually the manufacture and sale of wood products.There was a reason why Yonex, who specialized in wood, changed course.The wooden racket at the time when we started making sports equipment was made of aluminum with the times, and it was carbon that we found when we were looking for a new material to keep up with the competition.After repeated research, we developed a technology called nanotechnology that changes the characteristics of carbon at the atomic level.The research team makes various test pieces, calculates various data such as strength and lightness as numerical values, and the development staff of each sport sees the numerical values and considers versatility.After that, the rider's feeling test is performed using the prototype board.It will be closer to completion as a product by having people feel a sense of discomfort and points for improvement that are difficult to prove in science.
Reasons for sticking to domestic factories
All Yonex snowboards are produced at our own factory in Nagaoka, Niigata.The reason why we didn't make it at an overseas factory where labor costs were low was surprisingly simple. "The current situation is that our manufacturing method is so special that there are no factories overseas that can shape this structure. And overseas, we cannot supply materials such as carbon that are of acceptable quality as our products. The situation is not limited to snowboards, but rackets, golf shafts, and other bicycles are the same, and everything that requires high processing technology is produced at our own factory.In the current situation, it seems that it is not possible to actually make a problem when seeking high performance and high quality.And at our own factory, there are many craftsmen who have been keeping the snowboard line for 20 years, and we do not neglect quality checks in various processes.It's all the result of thorough quality control. "It's a workshop rather than a factory," he says, and his skillful craftsmanship supports Yonex's snowboard making.
New structure, ability of STOMPTECH 2.0
This season, a new structure called STOMPTECH 2.0 has appeared.Introduced last year, STOMPTECH was created with the concept of effectively converting power from drop-in to bottom run and vertical with a power cycle in mind.It is said that the force applied to the board by drop-in is converted into propulsive force, and the propulsive force is converted into repulsive force that passes through the lip.In 2.0, which evolved it further, instead of the ABS resin contained in the nose and tail, the ISO core material was extended to the nose and tail to form a frame.As a result, the tip is lighter, the weight is closer to the center, the center of gravity is stable, and the swing weight is 3% lighter. "When I hear 3%, it seems like it's not a big deal, but for example, 1080 makes it easier to turn 3% more than usual, which is a calculation that turns about 30 degrees. It feels like a slight difference. It may be, but this is important for improving the accuracy of landing. That much more room for movement in the air. This difference is big for players, isn't it? "
High performance recognized by the world
Yonex snowboards are currently only sold domestically and in South Korea.However, in the last few years he has signed professional contracts with five overseas riders.Is that speculation a move that envisions overseas expansion? "Although it was supposed to be expanded overseas in the future, the approach was all from overseas players." The players who saw the slip at the world championship of Ryo Aono wanted to get on the Yonex board. I will be contacted.However, Mr. Yaegashi, who is also in charge of the rider, has set up a test period of six months to one year so that he can use it after understanding the performance.During that period, he rides on the Yonex board and contracts if he really wants to ride.I have so much confidence in the product.In fact, all the professionally contracted Yonex sliders use specially tuned boards.As the size of the half pipe and kicker increases, the rigidity required for the board also changes.One of Yonex's strengths is its technological capabilities to meet the demands of professional riders.In addition, opinions from general users at test drive events held all over the country are indispensable for product development.Both feedbacks are used in Yonex products.
To increase the number of future snowboarders
Yonex is also focusing on nurturing kids.We are actively creating opportunities to interact with snowboarding by gathering children who are interested in snowboarding on our website.Mr. Yaegashi explained the reason as follows. "Isn't all the kids playing games everywhere? If everyone goes to the virtual side like this, the sports scene will die. So creating something like a classroom will give you an opportunity to start snowboarding. Maybe it's a reason to play outside. ”If children stop snowboarding, the number of snowboarders in the competition will naturally decrease.Yonex will continue to focus on nurturing kids in order to continue to liven up the scene.
The possibilities of snowboarding that Yonex dreams of
Armed with world-class carbon processing technology, Yonex snowboards are changing and evolving every year.Therefore, the reliability of the performance of Yonex products is very high.Moreover, Yonex, which also handles sports equipment other than snowboards, has a wide range of development and has infinite possibilities.In addition to research on materials at the atomic level, research on structures that maximize the characteristics of boards cultivated over many years, and confirmation of important feelings by top professional riders.The fact that all of these processes have been carried out without any compromise may have led to the trust in the current Yonex snowboards.And by focusing on training the kids who will grow up in the future, we will spare no effort to connect the baton to the next generation.
Interviewed and edited by
Atsushi Yamanaka (Atsushi Yamanaka: Former Editor-in-Chief of Snowboard Magazine FREERUN)
