Daikura Ski Resort & Snowboard School Director Yuji Usui × SP Bindings

The start of the 25–26 season came with a bit of uncertainty due to limited snowfall, but now we’re blessed with an abundance of incredible snow. Daikura Ski Resort is known for its perfectly balanced slope angles and wide runs, making it an ideal place to practice carving turns—and it’s always buzzing with riders. When fresh snow falls, the resort also offers just the right conditions for enjoyable powder runs.

This resort attracts many riders who love freeriding, and we see a lot of SP users here as well. My own riding is centered around carving while constantly pursuing freeriding performance. What I love about SP bindings is the absence of a heel cup, which allows me to fully lay the board over on heelside turns. That freedom makes it possible to push for deeper, sharper turns—and that’s what makes riding so much fun.

Because there’s no rigid heel cup wall, I can continuously adjust my position throughout the turn. This lets me create turns that are powerful yet smooth, and ultimately more beautiful. When I catch a glimpse of those turns from the lift, it genuinely makes me smile.

SP uses a rear-entry system with a fold-down highback, but quick entry is only part of the story. The real advantage lies in the fit and feel. The highback seems to wrap around you, almost fusing the boot and binding into one. That sensation is the hidden strength of SP bindings.

If I had to use an analogy, bindings are like the rudder of a snowboard.
When you think of it that way, you really realize just how important bindings are.

To everyone reading this—if you get the chance, come visit Daikura Ski Resort.
And let’s talk about SP through riding on the mountain.