J Skis Discussion

[SnowMachine]

You will love them!
Interested to hear your thoughts though.

I'll post as soon as I get them out. Definitely going to get some corn days with them. Hopefully we get some more pow, too (likely the Sierra cement variety instead if the light stuff we've had this year).

[Fishskisurf]

I'll post as soon as I get them out. Definitely going to get some corn days with them. Hopefully we get some more pow, too (likely the Sierra cement variety instead if the light stuff we've had this year).

Come to think of it, I think they'll perform well for spring skiing

[Muggydude]

Anyone have any time on Masterblasters and Volkl Matras? Different skis for sure, but both damp and heavy and similar condition applications. Curious to hear from someone who’s been on both.

Also wondering if I like the Mantra M6 and 102 in 184cm (183.2cm straight pull) if I’d like the 187 MB (184.5cm straight pull) or the 181 MB (178.9cm straight pull).

Also curious if the older MB might be a better comparison than the new 99mm waist version and if the older one holds an edge better

[SacTo]

Anyone have any time on Masterblasters and Volkl Matras? Different skis for sure, but both damp and heavy and similar condition applications. Curious to hear from someone who’s been on both.

Also wondering if I like the Mantra M6 and 102 in 184cm (183.2cm straight pull) if I’d like the 187 MB (184.5cm straight pull) or the 181 MB (178.9cm straight pull).

Also curious if the older MB might be a better comparison than the new 99mm waist version and if the older one holds an edge better

Haven’t been on the M6, but I had the OG Masterblaster in 181 and it felt like a ripping wide GS ski. I shouldn’t have sold it. The newer version is softer and I would buy it in the 187.

[rightcoast]

I have the 96mm Masterblaster in a 187 and it has become the ski I grab the most often. I prefer it over the M6, which is great but doesn't have the pop and liveliness that the J has. If you like the 184 Mantra, I wouldn't be afraid of the 187. It has significantly more tail splay.

[SnowMachine]

Here it is:

J Ski's The Friend 183

Day 1: After 3 days of cold, awesome, snow this week, today was leftovers. Chalky goodness mixed with soft chop, refreeze and some left over, sun affected pow. Basically a classic mixed bag.

For reference, I'm 6' 155lbs. 72 (I think) days this year.

This ski just plain works for me. Usually it takes a couple of runs to size up a ski. Not this one. I headed straight to the steep stuff. It is VERY easy to ski. It turns and pivots on a dime. I found myself making small corrective turns in places I wouldn't normally consider. It also wants to run. It just crushes chop and make turns wherever you want. The crazy part is that it's heavy, but doesnt feel like it. For a wide ski, I had zero issues carving it on-piste (soft groomers). It rolled right up on edge and went where I want. I actually feel like I could daily this ski.

The downside: It definitely doesn't have the edge hold of my Enforcer 110. I skied up into some high consequence areas over exposure. It was quite a bit icier than expected and it just didn't have the locked in feel of the 110. Maybe the extra width. Maybe the fact that it just doesn't feel quite as stiff.

I got it into some deeper snow, but nowhere that I could really test the float. Hopefully that'll come later this week.

So far, so good. Hopefully I'll ski it more this week. Honestly, I think this ski is a good comparison for the Enforcer 110. It's a bit looser and less precise, but also more forgiving. My opinion is that it's a softer ski (it might be really similar with some metal).

I like it and I'll keep skiing it. Now I'm very curious about the Hotshot. The 183 works for me, but I could easily see sizing it up. I'll let some time in deep snow decide on that.

For reference, my Enforcer 110's are 185 and mounted +1 (I mentioned it before, but there it is again...) I feel like there is some redundancy with the E110 and Friend. If I could only have one pair, it would be the Enforcer, but that isn't the point here. I really like both skis.

[muted reborn]

Mounting issues with the short boot length otherwise I'd snag this - located in SLC

https://classifieds.ksl.com/listing/70257759

[SacTo]

Here it is:

J Ski's The Friend 183

Day 1: After 3 days of cold, awesome, snow this week, today was leftovers. Chalky goodness mixed with soft chop, refreeze and some left over, sun affected pow. Basically a classic mixed bag.

For reference, I'm 6' 155lbs. 72 (I think) days this year.

This ski just plain works for me. Usually it takes a couple of runs to size up a ski. Not this one. I headed straight to the steep stuff. It is VERY easy to ski. It turns and pivots on a dime. I found myself making small corrective turns in places I wouldn't normally consider. It also wants to run. It just crushes chop and make turns wherever you want. The crazy part is that it's heavy, but doesnt feel like it. For a wide ski, I had zero issues carving it on-piste (soft groomers). It rolled right up on edge and went where I want. I actually feel like I could daily this ski.

The downside: It definitely doesn't have the edge hold of my Enforcer 110. I skied up into some high consequence areas over exposure. It was quite a bit icier than expected and it just didn't have the locked in feel of the 110. Maybe the extra width. Maybe the fact that it just doesn't feel quite as stiff.

I got it into some deeper snow, but nowhere that I could really test the float. Hopefully that'll come later this week.

So far, so good. Hopefully I'll ski it more this week. Honestly, I think this ski is a good comparison for the Enforcer 110. It's a bit looser and less precise, but also more forgiving. My opinion is that it's a softer ski (it might be really similar with some metal).

I like it and I'll keep skiing it. Now I'm very curious about the Hotshot. The 183 works for me, but I could easily see sizing it up. I'll let some time in deep snow decide on that.

For reference, my Enforcer 110's are 185 and mounted +1 (I mentioned it before, but there it is again...) I feel like there is some redundancy with the E110 and Friend. If I could only have one pair, it would be the Enforcer, but that isn't the point here. I really like both skis.

Good review, I really think it needs a bit less side cut and strip of metal down the middle. I need to try it in the longer length. I definitely like my 183 Hotshot better and I also think I need to try it in the 189. Need to detune it a bit more too.

[SnowMachine]

Good review, I really think it needs a bit less side cut and strip of metal down the middle. I need to try it in the longer length. I definitely like my 183 Hotshot better and I also think I need to try it in the 189. Need to detune it a bit more too.

The tips of the Friend are a bit floppy, but I didn't really notice it, even skiing runouts pretty stupidly fast. I'm a light weight guy, though. I think my preferences on skis and reviews are pretty committed to sub 170lb folks. I think weight plays so much into how a ski works.

I couldn't help myself, I ordered some of the blem Hotshot's for $499. I already have another set of STH2's floating around.

If I like the Hotshot's as well as the Friend's I could see my E110's headed to the classifieds. Hard to do that to a ski that's been great to me this season, but they're a bit dead feeling. I'm hoping for the same damping and edge railing ability in a poppier package. Plus, spring is coming and my narrowest all mountain ski is a 110 right now, so a narrower option sounded good.

[SacTo]

The tips of the Friend are a bit floppy, but I didn't really notice it, even skiing runouts pretty stupidly fast. I'm a light weight guy, though. I think my preferences on skis and reviews are pretty committed to sub 170lb folks. I think weight plays so much into how a ski works.

I couldn't help myself, I ordered some of the blem Hotshot's for $499. I already have another set of STH2's floating around.

If I like the Hotshot's as well as the Friend's I could see my E110's headed to the classifieds. Hard to do that to a ski that's been great to me this season, but they're a bit dead feeling. I'm hoping for the same damping and edge railing ability in a poppier package. Plus, spring is coming and my narrowest all mountain ski is a 110 right now, so a narrower option sounded good.

I’m 5’11” 165, so same size as you. I drive my tips pretty hard and ski aggressively.

[SnowMachine]

Finally got a chance to get the Friend into its element. Squaw got 2' overnight Tuesday so I was able to give them a workout in fresh and then tracked out pow. So far so good. They seemed to float just fine and are maneuverable everywhere. I got them into the trees and opened up some straight, fresh, lines. All good.

When things got choppy, I have to say that I think I would get along with the 189. Honestly, not only is 183 borderline short for me, but these skis are short. They are almost 2" shorter than my Enforcer 185's. When really smashing through soft chop I felt a few times like I was burying the noses. I never went out the front, but got that sensation a few times.

I would love to AB them compared to the E110's in pow, but things get tracked so quick that you'd have to have both skis on the hill with you. I think they do float better, but I've been very impressed with the E110. I've yet to have them sink on me and they seem to run out chop better. I think you need to carry a bit more speed for the Enforcer to plane, but they are a lot of fun at high speed in soft snow.

That said, the Friend really excel at being easy to ski, pivot and turn. They just feel like they know what you're thinking. I wouldn't generally ride a ski this wide days after snow, but I'm torn about what I'm going to ski tomorrow. The Friend's honestly feel lighter than the E110. I want to put them on a scale because even in hand they feel lighter than the Enforcers.

I wish the Hotshot's were here to try out, but alas.... Both pairs of skis got fresh wax today. I'll make the call in the AM. First world problems.

[SnowMachine]

OK, last update... I rode the Friend's on true firm snow yesterday. I won't purposely do that again. It's just too much ski and they feel like it. They take some effort to roll up onto edge and don't quite have the edge grip I'd want in those conditions. They're still fully skiable on hard snow, buy they wouldn't be my first choice. I do think the Enforcer 110 has the edge here, but they're quite a bit narrower, so not really a fair comparison.

Anyway, I'm backing away from my comment about skiing these every day. You could, but I certainly wouldn't choose to. I'm excited to get my hands on the Hotshot's. I plan to daily those. We've had so much soft snow this year that I think a 100 + width makes for a great daily. I might change my mind if things firm up in the AM rolling into spring/summer. I might want something in the 90's. We'll see.

Again, so far, so good. I'm headed out on vacation and think I'll probably come home to full spring. This might be it for the Friend's for the season. I'll also get back to the Hotshot's on my door step, so I'm excited.

[SacTo]

OK, last update... I rode the Friend's on true firm snow yesterday. I won't purposely do that again. It's just too much ski and they feel like it. They take some effort to roll up onto edge and don't quite have the edge grip I'd want in those conditions. They're still fully skiable on hard snow, buy they wouldn't be my first choice. I do think the Enforcer 110 has the edge here, but they're quite a bit narrower, so not really a fair comparison.

Anyway, I'm backing away from my comment about skiing these every day. You could, but I certainly wouldn't choose to. I'm excited to get my hands on the Hotshot's. I plan to daily those. We've had so much soft snow this year that I think a 100 + width makes for a great daily. I might change my mind if things firm up in the AM rolling into spring/summer. I might want something in the 90's. We'll see.

Again, so far, so good. I'm headed out on vacation and think I'll probably come home to full spring. This might be it for the Friend's for the season. I'll also get back to the Hotshot's on my door step, so I'm excited.

You will love those Hotshots!
They absolutely crush in day-after-storm conditions like we had on Thursday in Tahoe.
Slice and dice anything remotely soft. Stable, yet poppy AF!

[Skaramanga]

Fellas, I am on the fence with the Hotshots. I like the geometry and the mounting point, but they are around 2350 grams per ski. That sounds kind of hefty. Do you have any issues with the weight? I´m worried that they could be pretty tiring with the metal and everything.

I used to ski for years the old Bacons (the ones that were not noodles and had a maple core, at around 2175 grams per ski), and I am looking for something surfy, but that does not get knocked around when the snow is chopped up.

[Fishskisurf]

Not for me. Blister gave them low end of “maneuverable” spectrum but I don’t find them to be that nor tiring. They have metal and weight but IMO are still accessible.

Being in the PNW with a maritime snowpack, I take a counter stance to the heavier skies are more tiring than light skis debate. Way easier on the legs to ski a heavier ski that can handle chop vs getting bounced around on something light, as a personal opinion given my weight/height and where I ski.

[phil_dirt]

I find them to be very maneuverable, and I don't notice the weight on snow. If you're in the air throwing spins you will notice it. Overall I find them to be my least tiring ski, as it doesn't require you to be super active all the time. Combined with the relatively round flex pattern and the slightly short turning radius I find them to be very easy going.

[SacTo]

I find them to be very maneuverable, and I don't notice the weight on snow. If you're in the air throwing spins you will notice it. Overall I find them to be my least tiring ski, as it doesn't require you to be super active all the time. Combined with the relatively round flex pattern and the slightly short turning radius I find them to be very easy going.

100% this. I think their biggest flaw is the shortish turning radius. I also think they could stretch out the lengths to 186 and 192.

[Jim S]

Fellas, I am on the fence with the Hotshots. I like the geometry and the mounting point, but they are around 2350 grams per ski. That sounds kind of hefty. Do you have any issues with the weight? I´m worried that they could be pretty tiring with the metal and everything.

I used to ski for years the old Bacons (the ones that were not noodles and had a maple core, at around 2175 grams per ski), and I am looking for something surfy, but that does not get knocked around when the snow is chopped up.

They don't feel that heavy to me. If I had not known the weight I wouldn't have guessed they that many grams.

[Jim S]

Took the Friend 189 out and detuned the tips and tail about 4cm more. Even nicer than before. Not as slarvy as my Protest or Praxis Q but they are incredibly smooth in pow and crud ; really very little effort to shred on them.

Epic 4,500 foot vert Mt Rose summit to David Creek Park bc...

[SnowMachine]

100% this. I think their biggest flaw is the shortish turning radius. I also think they could stretch out the lengths to 186 and 192.

Mounting mine today. I also wish they were a bit longer. Took me a long time to pull the trigger on the 183. I hope I don't regret buying a ski that short. We'll see.

[Muggydude]

I was really on the fence about sizing with the Masterblasters, I ended up retiring the 181cm and going 187


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[SupreChicken]

What do TGR old man park types like for firm days in the J skis catalog?

[SnowMachine]

Yeeeee. Them Hotshot's is fun. Slurpee skiing today and tons of fun. I'm not sure how J makes heavy skis feel light. They don't feel dead and heavy like my Enforcers. These could easily be my daily drivers. Tomorrow I'm going to do a full day on them. I'll report back.

Edit: Rode them all over Palisades OV today. Icy groomers in the AM. Soft groomers and corn mid day. Refreeze in the afternoon. Oh boy, what a great ski. Smooth and damp. Poppy and quick. No chatter and no apparent speed limit. I think the factory tune is spot on. I gave them some fresh wax, but that's it.

I'm REALLY enjoying these!!

[Fishskisurf]

I figured they’d make a nice spring ski in addition to a DD.

[phil_dirt]

Other people seem to think the hotshots are too soft, or that their speed limit is too low. I've clocked myself going 60 on 183cm, and I don't really want to go faster on any ski at all so I kind wonder how fast people are skiing at resorts.

The skis are soft, and I think part of the reason people think they chatter is due to how early the rocker starts in the shovel. That said they go plenty fast for a ski with this radius.