T3 Fork Prototype Test Ride in Tateyama, Japan Final Natural Snow Session of the 2026 Snowscoot Season
The 2026 snowscoot season is finally coming to an end on natural snow in Japan.
For this final ride, we headed back to Tateyama Murodo, one of Japan’s most iconic high alpine snow areas. July 1st is the official opening day of the summer mountain season in Tateyama, and while most visitors are preparing for hiking and mountaineering, we were there for one more snowscoot backcountry test session.
test ride movie
At this time of year, continuous snow does not remain all the way from the ridge below Mt. Oyama, so we did not aim for the summit. Instead, we focused on the remaining snow slopes around Jodo and Midorigaike.
The main feature of this late-season session was Tateyama’s unique “red snow.”
This year, the color was especially strong. The surface was stained deep red in places, creating a strange and beautiful late-season mountain landscape. But the riding conditions were far from easy. The snow had a spoon-cut texture, with hard sections, exposed rocks, and uneven spring snow transitions.
It was a difficult surface, but also a perfect place to test equipment.
For this ride, we used the TOOLATE T3 frame with the Double Arrow HD board set. The T3 frame’s ability to follow rough terrain, combined with the strong double-camber feel of the Double Arrow HD, helped the snowscoot stay controlled even on the tricky red snow surface.
We have ridden Tateyama many times over the years, and sessions like this remind us how much snowscoot equipment has evolved. In the early days, heavier frames and board systems that could not fully use flex made complicated mountain snow much harder to ride. Modern snowscoot design has changed that feeling completely.
This test was also a rare one in snowscoot development: a prototype fork-only test ride.
We are currently testing a short-leg lightweight fork designed to fit AR Series frames and the TOOLATE T3 frame. The goal of this ride was to check durability and riding feel in real mountain conditions, not just on paper or in a workshop.
The fork is still in the prototype stage, and it will take more time before any official release. But this kind of off-season development is an important part of how snowscoot equipment continues to evolve.
Ride, test, improve, repeat.
The 2026 riding season is almost finished, but development for the next winter has already started.
We will continue sharing snowscoot gear tests, tuning ideas, board information, and field reports from Japan. Whether you are already a snowscoot rider or just starting to get interested in the sport, stay connected with us for the next season.
From Tateyama, Japan — snowscoot never really stops.