She is the only Japanese rider with a signature board for Elan Snowboards. She has been with Elan Snowboards her whole life, and has been riding with this brand. What kind of characteristics does the board that has supported her snowboarding have? We will unravel the secrets of the board in a conversation between the two, including Elan Snowboards Sales Manager Takeda, who is also a close friend of Miyazaki..
Photo: Kentaroufuchimoto.com, Yoshikazu Aizawa
Because it is made in Japan, it is suitable for the physique and appearance of Japanese women.
Development can be tailored to suit your leg strength
Elan Snowboards has switched from a production system centered overseas to domestic production of many models, releasing higher quality snowboards. Last year, they made a big splash with the release of the "TITAN," which combines a traditional directional shape with bamboo, but they also have a lineup that covers all kinds of scenes, such as the Inverse, which pursues carving at high speeds, the Day Walker, which excels at freestyle riding, and the Day Tripper, which focuses on powder. With the technical expertise of Blue Morris, a long-established factory that has been in business since 12, Elan's snowboards have further refined their appeal.
Elan's lineup has a strong impression of unisex models, but in fact, they also have a wide range of models and sizes for women. It was around the 18-19 season that they started to put more effort into developing women's models. The background to this was, of course, the transition to Japan-made shoes.
"It was much easier to make it in Japan and adapt it to Japanese specifications than to make it overseas (Slovenia). The same went for the ladies' models." When making ladies' models, Elan places great importance on maneuverability. They are easy to handle for Japanese people with their physiques and leg strength, and they turn automatically when you stand the board up. With such a board, you'll be able to ride freely through the tight Japanese mountains.
The twin tip has a rear camber structure with a camber set further back than usual, which creates acceleration when starting out of a turn. The foot is designed with a V-shaped flex structure so that you can draw a free turning arc. This is an all-round mountain board for women that you can enjoy everything from carving to all-mountain.
Miyazaki Ikumi has won the SAJ technical competition seven times and has been a demonstrator for nearly 7 years. The LEELOO-mi is her signature board and is a representative model of Elan women's snowboards that continues to support her snowboarding. One of the reasons she has been able to compete with other strong competitors in the technical competition, which requires speed and strict board control, is the high propulsion of this board. In the world of technical competition, where high-spec, high-performance boards from each company gather, Miyazaki, who tried out the LEELOO-mi, which initially had a common camber shape, said, "I want to accelerate more forward." In order to meet this request, Takeda adopted a "rear camber" in which the center of the camber is shifted slightly back from the usual.
When you put weight on your back foot, you store up power and accelerate the board by pushing it out. Therefore, the more you push down, the more the board moves forward. The rear camber shape fits her style so well that Miyazaki, who rode the improved version, gave the OK right away. Hammerhead boards, which are often used in technical competitions, have their own advantages, but because they are so stable, you leave a lot of your movements to the board, which means you end up relying on the board for your turns. On the other hand, the LEELOO-mi allows you to control the board as you wish, and it is a board that leads you to the best performance you desire.
I want to create a board that gives you the feeling of "pushing in" and "controlling."
To improve your carving skills, you need to "push down on the board" and "control the board." When developing the board, Miyazaki wanted to create a board that would allow you to master both of these things.
"What I requested of Takeda was a good balance between the stiffness of the overall flex and the toe flex. In my opinion, if the core is solid, the flex itself doesn't need to be that stiff. I want the center to be softer so I can move the board myself. That balance is really well-balanced."
The flex structure of the board makes it bend in a V shape instead of a U shape when you step on it, allowing you to fully utilize the torsion of the board. It's perfect for controlling the board as you wish, just like riding a manual car.
"There are people who can control the board to a certain extent but can't use the board's rebound to push down, and conversely, people who can ride on the center of the board but are not good at subtle board handling. I think the LEELOO-mi is a board that can improve your skills in a well-balanced way for both types of people."
What board will help improve your skills?
Some people may think that the signature board of a technical battle champion will be difficult to handle, but the LEELOO-mi is actually not that difficult to operate.
"Even people who are not sure if they can stand the board upright when carving can ride it. It's stable and the sole is good, so it runs well. This can be said of all Elan models, but the side curve is set strong, so if you stand up the edge, it turns quite smoothly," says Takeda. He goes on to say, "I think it's up to the individual to decide what the board's specs are in relation to their own ability. In the past, many people would deliberately ride boards that were over-spec. If they could ride them, it was an indicator of their own improvement in their skills. For those who have that kind of feeling, I recommend the LEELOO-mi, even if they're not that good yet."
The LEELOO-mi is priced at an intermediate level or above in the women's size lineup, but if you're someone who is determined to work hard and improve, giving it a try may be a quick way to improve your skills.
You can also experience the fun of skating in a variety of situations.
Good balance
LEELOO-mi has a strong image of carving, but in fact, the more beautiful the hexagon on the suitability chart, the better the balance of performance, making it useful in a variety of situations. When asked about the scenes in which it is particularly effective...
"Our philosophy is that pipe riders are all about cutting. They have a track record in carving, which has something in common with half-pipe, where a board that can be cut is essential, so I think this board will work well for half-pipe as well (Takeda)."
On the other hand, Miyazaki recommends long runs and powder scenes in free runs. In particular, in powder, he says, "The rear camber is effective. It lifts the board well even in deep powder, so I don't set it back unless it's really bad."
Miyazaki is a snowboarder who trained on the big mountains of Nozawa, Nagano Prefecture, and participated in snowboard cross and slope competitions before making technical competition his main field. Having enjoyed a variety of scenes, the LEELOO-mi is packed with the all-round ease of use that allows you to do anything with just one board.
Because we value ease of control
Friendly to women
The LEELOO-mi also has a ride feel that leads to sharper turns. The excellent controllability that allows you to smoothly head to the point you want to go will surely lead many women to the joy of turning. If you are not confident in carving, you may want to try the Mahalo, Outland, or Spike, which are designed softer than the LEELOO-mi. Each board will help you master the turns that Elan aims for.
Click here for information on elan's latest lineup.
elan BRAND PAGE
