J Skis Discussion

[DoubleBogey]

Long, long, long shot but if anyone has a 189 Hotshot with the Sunrise top sheet that they’d want to part ways with, I’m a buyer.

[DoubleBogey]

[SnowMachine]

Long, long, long shot but if anyone has a 189 Hotshot with the Sunrise top sheet that they’d want to part ways with, I’m a buyer.

I love that graphic, also. Huge Hotshot fanboi here.

Yesterday was a perfect example of why I like that ski so much. Day after storm cleanup: soft bumps, tight tree and chute skiing. It really is the perfect ski for those conditions.

[Fishskisurf]

I love that graphic, also. Huge Hotshot fanboi here.

Yesterday was a perfect example of why I like that ski so much. Day after storm cleanup: soft bumps, tight tree and chute skiing. It really is the perfect ski for those conditions.

It’s a great leftovers/chop ski, love it for our maritime PNW funky snow.
Have that Sunrise graphic and could part with it, but only on a trade for another topsheet in same 189.

[DoubleBogey]

What kind of shape are they in?

[MD12]

Mounted my 189 hotshots this week. If we get some fresh snow this weekend I’ll be taking them out for a spin in a few days. After loving the masterblaster in 187, pretty sure I’ll never ski the 183 hotshots again unless I’m feeling super lazy on the east coast. The 189s just scream perfect to me.

[Fishskisurf]

What kind of shape are they in?

Good. I’d give them a B. Some scuffing on tips and tails (topsheet only) over a few years of use, but no issues edges or bases. Warden 13’s.
I bought them secondhand and had to remount (currently at a 326BSL on the line) so pointing that out as well. Located in Seattle.

[Fishskisurf]

Total unicorn but a Trutta topsheet in a 189 would be interested if anyone’s holding

[SnowMachine]

Mounted my 189 hotshots this week. If we get some fresh snow this weekend I’ll be taking them out for a spin in a few days. After loving the masterblaster in 187, pretty sure I’ll never ski the 183 hotshots again unless I’m feeling super lazy on the east coast. The 189s just scream perfect to me.

I'd love to try the 189, but honestly the 183 is such a great ski for cleanup with the kids. So easy. I'd add the 189, also, but I have other skis to rage on when I don't have kids with me and the snow is soft. A 186 would be irrestiable for me.

I'd also love to try the Masterblaster.

[DoubleBogey]

The Masterblaster is a great ski, so much fun, super easy to ski.

[DoubleBogey]

Good. I’d give them a B. Some scuffing on tips and tails (topsheet only) over a few years of use, but no issues edges or bases. Warden 13’s.
I bought them secondhand and had to remount (currently at a 326BSL on the line) so pointing that out as well. Located in Seattle.

Damn, not sure how I feel about being the third mount.

[DGamms]

Love my J Skis. But too much overlap.

My 186 Vacations are for sale. They were my first pair, and I still think they are great. But I own 186 Metals for soft days, 184 Allplays as a daily driver, and 182 Joyrides for firm snow now…

[MD12]

I'd love to try the 189, but honestly the 183 is such a great ski for cleanup with the kids. So easy. I'd add the 189, also, but I have other skis to rage on when I don't have kids with me and the snow is soft. A 186 would be irrestiable for me.

I'd also love to try the Masterblaster.

just had my first day on the 189 hotshots (186 actual length). I’ve skied the 183 the last two years probably 30 days as an east coast powder ski and on the west coast. I’m 6’2, about 200 lbs (little over, working on it) and not in great ski shape currently. Skied today on the east coast with 6-8 inches of fresh snow on top of a very firm base. the 189 hotshots were absolutely perfect and better than the 183s in every way. so easy to ski, didn’t feel too big at all, and there’s no way I’ll ever go back to the 183s. so easy to ski across all conditions - some untracked runs (we went under some ropes) but mostly we were skiing small/medium sized pushed around bumps, some larger, sometimes with pretty firm/scraped off areas in between, and a lot of very tight spaces. they are heavy as shit picking them up, but the easiest skis ive been on for these conditions and i found them easier than the 183s because the 189s provide the right sized platform to never feel off balance while sacrificing nothing in maneuverability. the increase in length (6 cms longer than the 183s) combined with how forgiving they are, how you can pivot and slide the tails and the rest of the ski at any speed on soft or even firm conditions (honestly felt just as easy as the 183) gives a platform that felt much much more comfortable to me than the 183s with literally no drawback. yeah they’re heavy picking them up, but swingweight feels so much lighter that I never noticed it other than the first two seconds of skiing on a super low angle run before you get a little speed going. and when I was beat at the end of the day, just let them do the work and they absorb everything. i could get bigger airs than i could on the 183s and was more comfortable skiing faster knowing knowing the extra lengh had me covered and didn’t matter if i landed off balance. they feel more forgiving than the 183s. i’m honestly really surprised that despite im not currently in the best ski shape they were so easy. wouldn’t have lasted as long today on the 183s. i will never get rid of these skis, like ever. even if you’re smaller than me, DO NOT be hesitant to size up on these skis. unless you’re a bunny hopper - they’re too heavy for bunnies. i wouldn’t change one thing about this ski.

oh and one last thing about mount point. recommended feels perfect on the hotshot. on the 187 masterblaster, thinking maybe should have gone back .5 or 1 cm from recommended but that’s more mental for me - skis great on recommended.

[lrn2swim]

Super excited reading the above post. Got home tonight and found a present waiting for me, can't wait to wait to get them out!

Have a the 186 Metals too, anyone been on both have a reason to keep those too? Also, am I crazy or do these have a bit more tip rocker than other pairs I've seen out there?

[MD12]

Tip rocker on those skis looks right to me but just based on other pictures I’ve seen (can look at blisters rocker pics from their review years ago). Your pics remind me a bit of what my 183 hotshots look like.

I just picked up the 189 friends given how much I love the 189 hotshots. Two ski resort travel quiver this year will usually be two of 187 masterblaster, 189 hotshot and 189 friend depending on conditions.

[SnowMachine]

Tip rocker on those skis looks right to me but just based on other pictures I’ve seen (can look at blisters rocker pics from their review years ago). Your pics remind me a bit of what my 183 hotshots look like.

I just picked up the 189 friends given how much I love the 189 hotshots. Two ski resort travel quiver this year will usually be two of 187 masterblaster, 189 hotshot and 189 friend depending on conditions.

I'm curious to get more first hand accounts of the 189 Friend. I really liked the 183, but didn't feel like it was quite enough ski sometimes.

[MD12]

I’ll be on them in 10 days for some cat skiing. Will update you.

snowmachine I think you’re about my size. Strongly recommend you try the 189 hotshot. Banditman would love these too. They are incredible. Easier to ski than the 186 enforcer free. Only person I wouldn’t recommend them to is someone who prioritizes spinning and air tricks - they’re heavy. 180s and vertical air they’re awesome.

oh and volkl mantra and kendo’s getting updated next year.

[Muggydude]

Getting ready to mount my 187 Masterblasters. They measure 185cm tip to tip. Factory mount point is -7.85cm from center.

Right now I have my template set up at -9cm from center (1.15cm behind the line). Seems pretty good considering how much I liked the Mantra 102 which is mounted -11.35cm but has less tip and tail rocker and is shorter by 2cm

Scoured the internet and couldn’t find a single person who had reported actually mounting these or Fast Forwards behind the line though. I did measure the waist width, and there really isn’t much taper underfoot - pretty much straight for a few inches in front and behind the factory line, so I’m thinking they should be pretty accommodating

Anyone have any other input before I start drilling?


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[MD12]

I mounted my 187s on the line. They are great there. If doing again I would consider going -1 (325 bsl). I wouldn’t do more than that. This is a forgiving ski and can still be driven pretty hard even on the line.

[lrn2swim]

Super excited reading the above post. Got home tonight and found a present waiting for me, can't wait to wait to get them out!

Have a the 186 Metals too, anyone been on both have a reason to keep those too?

Last check before I rip the pivots off the Metals and put them on the Hotshots. Anyone?

[muted reborn]

Last check before I rip the pivots off the Metals and put them on the Hotshots. Anyone?

The hotshots are an upgrade, no need to keep the metals IMO. I have those exact length/design hotshots too and as you know - selling my metals - and moved my pivots over to the new ones.

[Bandit Man]

just had my first day on the 189 hotshots (186 actual length). I’ve skied the 183 the last two years probably 30 days as an east coast powder ski and on the west coast. I’m 6’2, about 200 lbs (little over, working on it) and not in great ski shape currently. Skied today on the east coast with 6-8 inches of fresh snow on top of a very firm base. the 189 hotshots were absolutely perfect and better than the 183s in every way. so easy to ski, didn’t feel too big at all, and there’s no way I’ll ever go back to the 183s. so easy to ski across all conditions - some untracked runs (we went under some ropes) but mostly we were skiing small/medium sized pushed around bumps, some larger, sometimes with pretty firm/scraped off areas in between, and a lot of very tight spaces. they are heavy as shit picking them up, but the easiest skis ive been on for these conditions and i found them easier than the 183s because the 189s provide the right sized platform to never feel off balance while sacrificing nothing in maneuverability. the increase in length (6 cms longer than the 183s) combined with how forgiving they are, how you can pivot and slide the tails and the rest of the ski at any speed on soft or even firm conditions (honestly felt just as easy as the 183) gives a platform that felt much much more comfortable to me than the 183s with literally no drawback. yeah they’re heavy picking them up, but swingweight feels so much lighter that I never noticed it other than the first two seconds of skiing on a super low angle run before you get a little speed going. and when I was beat at the end of the day, just let them do the work and they absorb everything. i could get bigger airs than i could on the 183s and was more comfortable skiing faster knowing knowing the extra lengh had me covered and didn’t matter if i landed off balance. they feel more forgiving than the 183s. i’m honestly really surprised that despite im not currently in the best ski shape they were so easy. wouldn’t have lasted as long today on the 183s. i will never get rid of these skis, like ever. even if you’re smaller than me, DO NOT be hesitant to size up on these skis. unless you’re a bunny hopper - they’re too heavy for bunnies. i wouldn’t change one thing about this ski.

oh and one last thing about mount point. recommended feels perfect on the hotshot. on the 187 masterblaster, thinking maybe should have gone back .5 or 1 cm from recommended but that’s more mental for me - skis great on recommended.

Just read this. First time I’ve ever clicked on the J Skis thread. Appreciate the info on 183 vs 189. Sounds like I need to snag some Hotshots from the Blem sale. Told my wife I was done buying skis this year. Looks like I’m going to have to backpedal on that “commitment” [emoji6]

[lrn2swim]

The hotshots are an upgrade, no need to keep the metals IMO. I have those exact length/design hotshots too and as you know - selling my metals - and moved my pivots over to the new ones.

Now that's the info I was looking to hear, thanks. Love the Metal but always wish they were a bit longer and mounted slightly further back so the Hotshots seem like a no brainer

[Fishskisurf]

can’t recommend the hotshot enough for PNW conditions

[MD12]

Just read this. First time I’ve ever clicked on the J Skis thread. Appreciate the info on 183 vs 189. Sounds like I need to snag some Hotshots from the Blem sale. Told my wife I was done buying skis this year. Looks like I’m going to have to backpedal on that “commitment” [emoji6]

i strongly recommend this. Reading your posts over the past few years and how much you like the optic 104, katana, og mantra102, mfree 108, I really think you’ll find the 189 hotshot incredible. Think it may feel like the 190 optic 104 in a slightly shorter package with better suspension. And like the katana and og mantra 102, it has that special feeling that just makes you want to smile and have as much fun as possible but across a wider range of conditions and styles and no matter what you’re doing - sliding and slashing at moderate speeds through bumps or trees or saying f it and raging like a 15 year old again getting to the bottom as fast as you can no matter what’s in your way. Haven’t had this much fun skiing in years.