Eric ‘Hoji’ Hjorleifson is a bit like the mad scientist of backcountry ski gear. His designed and creations feature in every product that bears his name, from skis to boots to clothing. His work with 4FRNT skis has brought some top touring skis into the world, in addition to the 4-LOCK Skin Integration System available on all pairs of skis in the 4FRNT Hoji collection.
The thought process behind the 4-LOCK skin system is this: skins are the only piece of equipment that won’t impact downhill performance if they weigh less. Of course skins are still necessary for the uphill performance, and cutting away too much in the wrong location could make going up a whole lot less fun.
Through Eric’s experimentation, he found that a hole, eventually called the “Hoji Hole”, placed 20 centimeters from the tail of the ski could reduce skin length by up to 12%, improving uphill efficiency by reducing weight while having little to no impact on the downhill portion of backcountry skiing.
A self-locking skin strap is threaded through the hole, locking the skin to the ski while eliminating tail clip slip or failure. The folded skins are more compact, the weight is killed by a few hundred grams, and you’re a happier skier.
The 4-LOCK Skin Integration System is available on all four options in the 4FRNT Hoji collection. This includes the Raven (104mm underfoot), the Hoji (112mm underfoot), the Renegade (122mm underfoot), and the Nevar (104mm underfoot).