By Olivia Bennett
4Front Hoji
Overview
The Hoji is a pro model built around one clear idea: surfy, effortless float through deep snow with playful release. It feels like a precision tool for big mountains — light enough to make uphill approaches pleasant, yet with enough volume and rocker to stay buoyant in soft snow. This ski suits riders who want to save weight without sacrificing powder performance, offering a responsive, lively personality that excels in untracked, variable conditions. It rewards confident input and encourages creative line choices in challenging terrain.
Construction and Specs Explained
Construction blends an aspen–maple wood core with pre‑stretched carbon stringers and sidewall construction, plus a sintered UHMW base and a neoprene Neotip for damping. Key specs explained: rocker (full/predominantly reverse with neutral underfoot) increases float and rapid turn initiation; tip/waist/tail (~128/112/120 mm at 184 cm) influence flotation and swing weight; radius (~30 m) governs natural turn arc and stability; weight (~1.9–2.1 kg per ski, length dependent) affects uphill effort and swingability. Each element targets surfy powder performance.
On‑Snow Performance and Handling
On snow the Hoji skis like a surfboard on snow: exceptionally easy to initiate turns, playful and forgiving in soft, variable snow, and impressively maneuverable in tight trees or steep chutes. The pronounced tip rocker lifts the nose, while the relatively narrow waist allows quick edge-to-edge transitions and short-radius arcs when you want them. Drawbacks appear on hardpack and icy groomers where edge hold and high-speed composure are limited; chatter can show in fast, aggressive conditions. The tapered tail enables release and playful moves but reduces absolute tail power in heavy compression.
Who It's For and Final Verdict
Who should buy this ski and what’s the bottom line? The Hoji is best for advanced to expert freeriders who spend most of their time in powder, big‑mountain zones, and backcountry laps, and who appreciate a light, surfy platform. If you prioritize high-speed stability on hard snow or absolute edge bite for icy groomers, this isn’t the best match. Compared with other powder-focused skis, the Hoji leans lighter and more maneuverable — perfect if float, agility and uphill friendliness matter more than brute stability at speed.
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