Armada

AK JJ 2.0 Ski

Alaska holds an undeniable sway over certain types of skiers. The huge lines, deep and stable snow, untouched faces, and endless mountains are a shredder's paradise, and the Armada AK JJ 2.0 Ski is the dreamboat that'll let you make the most of your Chugach pilgrimage. Though it's been tweaked since last year, there's nothing particularly tricky about the AK JJ--it's still a powder-crushing fun machine, with 120mm of float underfoot, a giant shovel and tail, and Armada's five-dimensional sidecut for easy slashing and surfing, making it quicker at slow speeds and easier to handle in tight terrain. The tapered tip and tail are as distinctive as ever, but the contact points have been moved farther out, creating a longer turning radius and giving the AK JJ more effective edge for better stability at speed and improved performance on big no-speed-limit faces.

The camber profile's the same, with Armada's EST Freeride Rocker--traditional camber underfoot and a decent amount of rocker in the tip and tail--offering a primo combination of soft-snow performance, slashability, and edge grip. The AK JJ's still at its best when you ski it with a half-smile, as it's more comfortable getting slightly drifty than it is rolling on edge and running like a race ski, but it has the ability to make it down some hardpack without making you need to change your pants at the bottom. For a ski of its size, the AK JJ is unique in that it doesn't have any metal, opting instead for the light, playful feel of a fiberglass matrix laminate over the Hybrid Ultralight wood core, which keeps this monster surprisingly quick, maneuverable, and jibby. It's always been one of the most nimble pow skis around, and it's not likely to disappoint anytime soon.