J Skis Discussion

[waxloaf]

I would mount at rec unless you have a good reason to do otherwise. All J’s have a big sweet spot though, so if you want to go a little forward or back I’m sure youll be fine.


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[DoubleBogey]

There are two mounts on the toe and one in the heel for a smaller BSL and different bindings so that’s kind of why I was asking. I have s 335 BSL so I don’t think I’ll have a problem but if do run into a problem, is there a side of the recommended mount point to favor? I’m a directional skier, don’t really jump or spin. Still want the ski to be loose though.

[DGamms]

Indeed, J Skis have a big sweet spot. Even when you over-rotate your invert as an old man, you can usually ski it out.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/hKOtUgqYtyM

[waxloaf]

There are two mounts on the toe and one in the heel for a smaller BSL and different bindings so that’s kind of why I was asking. I have s 335 BSL so I don’t think I’ll have a problem but if do run into a problem, is there a side of the recommended mount point to favor? I’m a directional skier, don’t really jump or spin. Still want the ski to be loose though.

If you need to go either forward or back I’d go back in your situation


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[DoubleBogey]

Thanks

[Muggydude]

Got on my 187 (newer version) Masterblasters for a couple more days at Squaw this weekend. Spring conditions, but crunchy in the morning, soft in the afternoon. I previously had a couple days on them stock at -1.2cm from center, which I really disliked them. Very unpredictable and hooky, and slow to pivot and turn.

Fresh coat of wax and some tip and tail detuning helped a lot (factory wax sucked), but they still seemed liked they needed a lot of work and speed to carve and were kind of sluggish.

I moved the bindings up to +.4cm. Wow! Made a huge difference. Turn initiation is much easier and faster, and they are a breeze in the bumps. Super predictable, can make fast turns, carves, and pivots from a more centered stance or pressuring the shovels hard. The harder you push them, the more they can dig in and carve.

They do a really good job of smoothing out crud and chop, especially if it’s a bit softer. Very good suspension.

Comparing to 184 Mantra 102 and M6 - the MB beats them out in soft snow, mashed potatoes, deep variable crud, and moguls. Easier to pivot, and considerably bigger sweet spot.

Both Mantras definitely hold an edge on icy hardpack noticeably better. The MB isn’t bad, but you really have to lean into it to carve hard and you can feel the limits of your edge grip levels. The MB is very predictable at least, I never was surprised by washing out the tails a lot or anything like that. I skied these faster than I probably should have, and they stayed pretty composed. If you’re backseat going Mach 1 the tips can start to bounce and chatter a tad.

Once the groomers get soft, the Masterblaster gets a lot better/easier to carve and closer to the Mantras carving.

I’d still say the M102 is a better crud buster than the MB. M6 closer to MB, but still probably better. In variable snow though the extra rocker on the MB makes it a little more predictable and easy.

I felt both the M6 and M102 required you to be on your game technique wise and driving the shovels, but rewarded you for it. MB more laid back, and allows you to ski more neutral and won’t kick your ass if you’re tired.

I’d love to compare these to the new Volkl M7, and I’d also like to add a more aggressive tune to the MB to see if that helps the hardpack grip a bit without hurting the maneuverability too much. I may have detuned the tips and tails too much originally when I was figuring out why they were so bad out of the plastic (wax).

TLDR - Don’t size down. 187 is the right length for me at 5’10 200 lbs as a west coast hardpack daily driver. Get Masterblaster if you value maneuverability and mogul performance more, have a more neutral stance, or just want an easier ski. Buy the mantras if you value hardpack and icy groomer carving more, or really like pushing things fast and driving the shovels hard all the time - because they do reward it handsomely.

Also - mount these on the line. I went slightly forward with my remount due to spacing with the old holes, but I feel the sweet spot would be smack dab on the line. Maybe -.5cm if you’re a big guy and ski fast, but no further than that.

[365wp]

I've got a couple seasons on my Escalators now. I was skiing on 2013 184 Mantras before, and wanted something with a shorter turn radius as the majority of the skiing I do is tree skiing in the east. My time on skis is split pretty much 50/50 touring/lift served, so while I've been looking at J Skis for a while, I waited a season for the Escalators to come out before pulling the trigger because they're marketed as being a 50/50 ski.

They have been really the best all around ski I've ever tried. Going from Mantras with Guardian frame bindings and Salomon Quest Pro boots to the Escalators mounted with Shift bindings and Salomon Shift boots took a little getting used to at first, I think because turn initiation is so easy with the Escalators that at first I didn't trust them.

But once I pushed them a little, I realized that somehow J has designed a ski that can really hold an edge and carve but also smear turns almost effortlessly. It's been amazing to me how the ski is able to carve big fast turns on groomers and excel in the trees and bumps.

They've also held up really well to being used about 50 days a season on typical east backcountry conditions, which is to say variable. I've done one PTex repair, but that's about it.

I'm now looking at other J Skis, with the goal of having something a little wider to get a little more float on powder days.

I got the Pomoca skins that are pre-cut to fit the skis. It was worth it for me. I appreciate both the precise fit and skin performance from glide/glue perspectives.

Also, if you haven't been to their HQ, it's worth checking out if you happen to be in the Burlington area. They do demos, $40 a day.

[DoubleBogey]

How does the Escalator handle choppier snow or late day resort conditions?

[MD12]

Got on my 187 (newer version) Masterblasters for a couple more days at Squaw this weekend. Spring conditions, but crunchy in the morning, soft in the afternoon. I previously had a couple days on them stock at -1.2cm from center, which I really disliked them. Very unpredictable and hooky, and slow to pivot and turn.

Fresh coat of wax and some tip and tail detuning helped a lot (factory wax sucked), but they still seemed liked they needed a lot of work and speed to carve and were kind of sluggish.

I moved the bindings up to +.4cm. Wow! Made a huge difference. Turn initiation is much easier and faster, and they are a breeze in the bumps. Super predictable, can make fast turns, carves, and pivots from a more centered stance or pressuring the shovels hard. The harder you push them, the more they can dig in and carve.

They do a really good job of smoothing out crud and chop, especially if it’s a bit softer. Very good suspension.

Comparing to 184 Mantra 102 and M6 - the MB beats them out in soft snow, mashed potatoes, deep variable crud, and moguls. Easier to pivot, and considerably bigger sweet spot.

Both Mantras definitely hold an edge on icy hardpack noticeably better. The MB isn’t bad, but you really have to lean into it to carve hard and you can feel the limits of your edge grip levels. The MB is very predictable at least, I never was surprised by washing out the tails a lot or anything like that. I skied these faster than I probably should have, and they stayed pretty composed. If you’re backseat going Mach 1 the tips can start to bounce and chatter a tad.

Once the groomers get soft, the Masterblaster gets a lot better/easier to carve and closer to the Mantras carving.

I’d still say the M102 is a better crud buster than the MB. M6 closer to MB, but still probably better. In variable snow though the extra rocker on the MB makes it a little more predictable and easy.

I felt both the M6 and M102 required you to be on your game technique wise and driving the shovels, but rewarded you for it. MB more laid back, and allows you to ski more neutral and won’t kick your ass if you’re tired.

I’d love to compare these to the new Volkl M7, and I’d also like to add a more aggressive tune to the MB to see if that helps the hardpack grip a bit without hurting the maneuverability too much. I may have detuned the tips and tails too much originally when I was figuring out why they were so bad out of the plastic (wax).

TLDR - Don’t size down. 187 is the right length for me at 5’10 200 lbs as a west coast hardpack daily driver. Get Masterblaster if you value maneuverability and mogul performance more, have a more neutral stance, or just want an easier ski. Buy the mantras if you value hardpack and icy groomer carving more, or really like pushing things fast and driving the shovels hard all the time - because they do reward it handsomely.

Also - mount these on the line. I went slightly forward with my remount due to spacing with the old holes, but I feel the sweet spot would be smack dab on the line. Maybe -.5cm if you’re a big guy and ski fast, but no further than that.

nailed it. Mine are mounted on the line. Also they have better edge hold with Lange shadow boots (compared to Hawx ultra).

[SnowMachine]

How does the Escalator handle choppier snow or late day resort conditions?

I bought my Hotshot for that. I'm not super amped on now they do on icy groomers, but it's hard to expect that of a 106 wide ski.

They truck variable snow.

[DoubleBogey]

My idea was to be able to do shortish tours with them and ski resort out west. I don’t tour much out west but I do short tours in Minnesota on our 300 vert, so 3-4 laps I’m at 1,000-1,200 feet. I don’t think I want to drag the Hotshot around, so my next idea was casting the Deathwish 104 (2100ish grams) since I’m very curious about triple camber.

[365wp]

How does the Escalator handle choppier snow or late day resort conditions?

They're light but not noodley. They do fine in choppy pow.

[Muggydude]

Got another 3 days on my 187 Masterblasters at A Basin. Love these skis now, they rip. Exactly what I want in my low tide ski.

Great in moguls and trees, can lay trenches anytime it’s slightly soft, any turn shape, cut through crud great. Predictable on icy groomers, even if they don’t have best in class edge hold.

Mounted +3mm ahead of the line, they’re perfect for low tide and spring skiing.

A Basin had a solid 15” of heavy Pow yesterday. First run out was kind of miserable, bases were super sticky and slow (have I mentioned how much I dislike the factory wax on these before? I had a light coat of all temp wax on them a 4-5 days ago, but the base factory wax is just terrible). Regardless, they just tip dived and sunk and were pretty unsupportive in deep snow.

Went inside, put some rub on wax, and moved the bindings back to -12mm behind the line (I have two sets of inserts in them).

Much much better in the deeper snow. Balance point was a lot better. Still not enough ski for me on a pow day, nor would I recommend them as a ski for 10+ inches, but I still had a great time. In the afternoon when things were more bumped out, they were still great and easy to throw around.

Originally I really disliked the -12mm mount (why I remounted to +3mm) - but yesterday it was really good. Not sure if I’ve just gotten used to them, or the rearward mount works a lot better when it’s soft. Maybe the edges have dulled a bit.

I think if I could remount again (for the first time) I’d go -.5cm. If you want them to be do-it-all skis for hardpack and powder, might be a good candidate for demo bindings.




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[muted reborn]

Just mount them at the line and forget about it.

[DoubleBogey]

I have some 181 Masterblasters with Griffon 13 bindings that I’m selling. I’m guessing they have 15 days max on them, they’re mint. What should I be asking for price? If anyone wants them, make me an offer before they do on gear swap.

edit: top sheet is the trout on white.. maybe my favorite graphic ever but I need something longer.

[tang]

Interested, PM'd ya

[Muggydude]

Just mount them at the line and forget about it.

That’s a very un-TGR thing to say [emoji848]

Just sharing my experience. I found very little from people who had played with the mount point on these before I mounted mine

~ on the line in deep heavy snow was not fun. At all.

[tang]

Finally got out for the first time on some J Hotshots I picked up from waxloaf. Super fun, heavy and damp, can really lean em over as long as not straight-up ice. Heavy, but soft enough to bend em into a turn. And plenty of tip/tail rocker to make em pivoty through the moguls. I went short (183 vs usual mid to high 180s) as a low ish tide, moguls and trees/tight spaces daily driver. I think it will serve that roll very well.
I probably would've been better off with the Masterblaster to serve this role, but a shorter Hotshot is proving great and saved plenty of $$$ with em used.
FYI, mounted em 5mm behind the line, seem great there - and sounds like a wide sweetspot on mountpoint anyway.

[lrn2swim]

Finally got these suckers mounted up. These graphics are just so delightfully absurd. Look tasty with those pivots if I do say so myself!

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[tang]

Blister gear 30 pod reporting that the new new Proto Hotshot replacement is lighter - no bueno, I’m still bummed re 4frnt lightening up its whole line 5-6 years ago. Time for more hoarding

[DoubleBogey]

I want the Hotshot bad and trying to deal with people on Facebook marketplace is like trying to deal with fucking children.

[gaijin]

Yeah— at some point you kinda realize what you want, what you’re unwilling to deal with and ultimately how much you’re willing to spend on new shit.


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[DoubleBogey]

J Skis are going to be expensive next year (allegedly), being made in Canada and all.

[S_jenks]

Huh. My wife’s shipped from a location in Kentucky, so I figured Jason hired some of the local yokels down there to build his skis.


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[DoubleBogey]

Maybe a warehouse more centrally located. They are made in Quebec.