Maybe it’s just our motherly instinct kicking in, but we like to think that our staff have pretty cool style…
While it was posed as a joke, in all seriousness, we do think that. Each and every one of our employees is hired based on skills, qualifications, and, most importantly, personal style. So when it comes to what gear we think will be hot each season, it’s our crew choosing what we get in stock, and in turn having a huge influence on the style around town every winter.
Naturally, it’s a hard task to take on, but as proven year-after-year, our crew have pretty darn good taste. So if you’re unsure what will be the best gear to shred on this season, what’s new and worth checking out or what outerwear options will have you looking like a hot-rat while smashing pow, read on, here’s a collection of our crew’s hot retail picks for this upcoming winter:
Justin’s Retail Picks (Retail manager, hakuba)
If you’ve ever gone into our Rhythm stores in Hakuba and come across Justin’s friendly face, you’ll be able to vouch for the fact that the dude just lives and breathes snowboarding. So as the biggest frother in the Hakuba Valley, here’s the picks that Justin’s frothing out over this season:
Korua Shapes - Pencil 2.0
"It's so good at carving it makes even the iciest days fun."
Flux XF- Disc Binding Men
"Underrated bindings. They still have the lowest warranty rate in the industry."
Burton - Men's Step On Split Binding
"Simplified from previous years but just does what a binding is meant to do."
Josh Davis’ Retail Picks (Assistant Store manager, Rhythm Wadano)
If you’ve ever visited the Rhythm Wadano store and didn’t find Josh holding down the forte, there’s only one explanation – he was out shredding. As one of the core crew members to hold down the da-to-day operations of our biggest Hakuba store, Josh has a wealth of invaluable knowledge about what’s in-season and worth tackling the gnar with.
Jones - Stratos
"This thing wants to go fast. So much fun and control on the steeps, great freeride board."
Lib tech - Mayhem Retro Ripper
"This board is epic. Shape, camber, flex and graphic are all on point. The perfect board for Japan."
Spark - Arc ST
"A staple for the backcountry. The chassis has cutouts to reduce weight coupled with a midflex highback making any board feel more playful. Highly recommended to anyone venturing into the backcountry."
Josh Fawcett’s Retail picks, Head bootfitter
What do the movies Like Mike and Cinderella have in common with Rhythm Hirafu’s Josh Fawcett? They all showcase a natural knack to always find the shoe that fits. A self-proclaimed ‘boot-slinger’, it’s safe to say Josh is a man who likes feet…and all the hottest new ski boots hitting the market.
phaenom - fs 01 120
"I probably haven't seen a new brand enter the boot market in almost 20 years, so it's super cool to see phaenom hit the shelves. We're going to be one of three shops in Japan that are going to sell these guys, which is really sick. Coming from the guys at Faction, phaenom offers a really cool looking boot orientated more towards freestyle."
Armada - Arv 112
"Anyone who's a skier has probably skied on an armada JJ, in Japan, the tried and tested powder slayer. No more. They've got rid of it and gone for the ARV 112, which I think is going to be really sick nimble ski, which is becoming the trend for powder skis – less focused on being wide, and more focused on being playful."
Candide - Resort 101
"We've got new Candide models. Nothing else needs to be said."
Ross’ Retail Picks (MERCHANDISE MANAGER)
Ever noticed how Santa always has a knack for picking clothes for you that’s perfectly your steez, even if you didn’t know it existed? Think of Ross as the Father Christmas of retail – he’s the one fronting the team who choosing your next jacket before the line has even dropped. A pretty amazing skill that can’t be taught, it just comes naturally when you have style.
And yes, before you ask, our team also makes sure we stock a bunch of Coal beanies in case you make the naughty list.
Nomadik- 777 Jacket - Tie Dye
"Born in Sapporo, Nomadik fuses Japanese streetwear design into technical outerwear. With a stylish tie-dye design, this Nomadik jacket will guarantee you're looking fresh while smashing pow."
686 - Gore Tex Stretch Dispatch Bib- Antler
"Designed by guides in Japan to be equally adept in both the backcountry and resort, the Dispatch bib will keep you dry no matter what Hokkaido's weather throws your way."
Oyuki- Tōya Down Insulated Zip-Off Pant
"The Oyuki Toya Zip-Off Pants provide serious style when you’re trying to stay warm. Packed with 60 grams of recycled down, simply zip them off when the calves get too hot and send all their warmth straight to your quads."
Find a store to secure your fresh load-out. Not ready to commit to a new set of planks but want to try out the new models? Pre-book rentals instead – we offer Japan’s largest fleet of ski and board rentals featuring some of the latest gear on the market.
