REVIEW: 2009/10 4FRNT CRJ 188

**marshalolson** · 01-15-2009, 04:57 PM

i got to spend a day on the new CR Johnson pro model skis last week, and am pretty darn impressed.

1st impressions:
-medium/stiff underfoot, mid-soft tip and tail.
-very light
-great graphics IMHO.
-118mm waist, 28m radius, 188cm length
-rockered tip/tail with early taper, slight camber under foot.
-nice pop out of the body of the skis.

skiing them:
-they rail soft groomers. handled very nicely and predictibly. less "windshield wiper" turning than the rossi s7, felt more stable and skied longer than the JJ.
-ski everything soft amazingly well. very smooth ride quality in all snow conditions.
-super versatile in various turn styles: slices into windcrust, floats pow, butters, smears, pivots.
-amazing pop. they literally BOOST you off lips, in a good way.
-the tail was more supportive than the flex would indicate. i had no issues with "wheeling".

normally i would not ski something this soft and short, but after this experiance, i may be less pig-headed and ego driven. these things make skiing FUN. you don't have to feel like you are doing squats to haul ass and rip some pow, and don't have to fight to shred some trees.

i did not have the chance to get them off anything big, but 10-15 feet landed pefectly with no ill effects from the rocker line or stiffness. i don't think there will be any liability there for hacks such as myself.

i, personally, am going to sell a couple pairs of skis this spring and get in line to get a pair ASAP. they will see usage in basically all situations... inbounds, backcountry, and spring/chute skiing. they are light enough to skin all day like a champ, have enough edge to get into some sketchy chutes, and perfect for all but the hardest of days inbounds.

they definately deserve consideration from the dynafit crowd too, as the weight, edge and powder performance will compliment the binding nicely.

finally, kudos to 4frnt for offering a full size run (188, 180, 172, 164) so my wife can end get a pair in the fall too!

**summit** · 01-15-2009, 05:04 PM

good review!

Sounds like a softer, more playful, carvy EHP.

**marshalolson** · 01-15-2009, 05:12 PM

exactly right.

**encore** · 01-15-2009, 05:15 PM

I'm liking the sound of these. 118 seems to be prime Colorado ski width.

What are the tip and tail dims?

**Ender** · 01-15-2009, 05:15 PM

Anyone have a pic of the graphic?

**squirrelmurphy** · 01-15-2009, 05:16 PM

Sweet! That pretty much sounds liek the perfect touring rig. Also, I love 4frnts. I will buy. I will dynafit. !!!!!

**flip** · 01-15-2009, 05:26 PM

ETA?

Sounds like my cheap alternative to a Lhasa 186.

**kidwoo** · 01-15-2009, 05:43 PM

....or this

http://praxisskis.com/praxis-ski-sho...&category_id=1

So many good skis around or coming up. And 4frnt is good peeps.

**squirrelmurphy** · 01-15-2009, 05:54 PM

True. Marshall, you got an actual weight on those? kidwoo, any idea on the weight of the 189 rx?

**kidwoo** · 01-15-2009, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by squirrelmurphy

True. Marshall, you got an actual weight on those? kidwoo, any idea on the weight of the 189 rx?

I haven't weighed a pair but my 188 mountain jibs which are a similar shape but just a tad narrower came out to just over 9lbs. I'd imagine these would be squarely in the 9.5 range. Just a guess.

FWIW, I'm planning on using a pair of 183 mtn jibs for hiking. They're about the same weight as the gotamas I'm using now and lighter than the made'n AKs in a 179 I used to ski BC.

**marshalolson** · 01-15-2009, 06:06 PM

something like 135-118-126 or so... i will pull it up this evening

i am going to guess about 8.5#, but that is just a guess.

**marshalolson** · 01-15-2009, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by flip

ETA?

Sounds like my cheap alternative to a Lhasa 186.

won't be available till the fall, but worthy of lusting after all summer for sure!

**stuckathuntermtn** · 01-15-2009, 06:31 PM

pics?
......

**emr** · 01-15-2009, 07:28 PM

I can't wait to get on a pair of these. Are the tips as soft as the S7 or in between the S7 and EHP? I like how the EHP handles chop compaired to the S7 where they tend to deflect (s7) instead of plow through (EHP). Does it pivot as well as the EHP or does the slight camber limit this in anyway?

Thanks for the review...

**marshalolson** · 01-16-2009, 09:31 AM

they definately pivot as well or better than the EHP, but are a little softer in the shovel. they tip is much lower than the s7, rise similar to the EHP, so that helps limit deflection... you are basically skiing on the whole ski, where on the s7 due to the high rise of the shovel/tail you are skiing on a much shorter length.

**BigLineSeeker** · 01-16-2009, 10:49 AM

Quick google search came up with http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoID=34561279.

**marshalolson** · 01-16-2009, 11:44 PM

BUMP FOR PICS!

**stuckathuntermtn** · 01-17-2009, 10:55 AM

did you get a chance to ski them on firm snow?
I know that's not what we talk about here, but obviously they'll be great in pow and tracked pow.
MT has been pretty variable, and it hasn't snowed at all this week. Firm edgehold, while skiing straight down the fall-line on fast groomers is a must (admit it, it's still fun). The EC in me still needs to carve. Actuallly, I'm quite spoiled from last year, and groomer bombing is a little boring after a while, but I need something that feels like it can rail under me..
ok enough blablabla.

**marshalolson** · 01-17-2009, 06:42 PM

the majority of the test was on chalk, or a few inches on hardpack. prolly only 3-4 runs in legit pow.

now they certianly are not GS skis, but they definately are solid on hardpack.

**mtskier** · 01-17-2009, 07:18 PM

can't wait to see these at SIA in 2 weeks. i'm already sold on the 188cm.

**KskiK** · 01-21-2009, 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by marshalolson

BUMP FOR PICS!

Does anybody have real pics of the graphic?
also,
how much $$ do you think it will be?

**marshalolson** · 01-21-2009, 09:03 AM

what do you mean? just click on the thumbnails.

**frorider** · 01-21-2009, 12:12 PM

thx for the useful review, as always. the availability of the shorter lengths for the GF is a big plus.

**PowTron** · 01-21-2009, 12:16 PM

Nice work, M...

These sound really fun. I will admit that I have been on some skis lately that gave me the same feeling...not as long and stiff as I usually like, but just super fun and make skiing so easy. My ego has also taken a paycut

.

This is turning into the best, all around ski category (S7, Caylor, CR pro, EHP, etc)