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Gear Review
Armada JJ Ski
Well made but not the ski for me...
By Mark from Seattle
Ranked #82 - Big Mountain Freeride Skis
October 23, 2011
First off I am a tele skier, so my feedback is a bit specific, but I have skied it in both alpine and tele turns, and I am a certified instructor. It is a very "poppy" ski, which can be fun, or it can be terrifying, depending on the snow conditions. I would not recommend this as a one-ski quiver: it is squirrelly on groomed, and downright unpleasant on hardpack. You can never relax on these skis, because the uber-tight sidecut makes them very prone to edge-catching, especially on long, fast cat-tracks.
They are definitely NOT good for skinning: the dual-rocker reduces the effective surface area of the ski, so it can be hard to get traction. They are also not good for stomping landings: they sink in more than a conventional ski.
As far as tele skiing is concerned, the reduced surface area creates similar issues when you need to put extra weight on your back foot: it just seems to "fade" away. Very unforgiving.
For powder skiing, I strongly prefer my Line Prophet 130's: they are just as quick in trees and they have more flotation.
View Details: Armada JJ Ski
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
Tech Specs:
- Dimensions:
- [165 cm] 136 / 115 / 133 mm; [175 cm] 136 / 115 / 133 mm; [185 cm] 136 / 115 / 133 mm
- Turn Radius:
- [165cm] 12 m; [175cm] 12 m; [185cm] 14 m
- Profile:
- rockered tip & tail
- Construction:
- AR50
- Core:
- wood
- Base:
- 50/50
- Tail:
- twintip
- Binding Included:
- no
- Recommended Use:
- all-mountain, powder
Change me.
7 Comments Last Reply: April 4, 2012 By: Jack Wizo
These are my go-to tele boards. I turn on autopilot when I land, and stomp it every time. I skin with ease up steep and deep, or icy skin tracks. I float over everything. The only thing Mark from Seattle got right with his review is that they are poppy. The Prophet 130, however is a ski that I hate. Too hooky, too traditional, boring, and not forgiving enough for my slarvy, slashy, hard charge and throw it all together style of skiing. The JJ is as forgiving a ski as you could ask for, and Mark must just have his mounted way too far back, needs to go to some skinny, traditionally cambered skis, or needs to adjust his style for the ski. I will second that the ski is not at fault here. The JJ rules everything.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
WORST REVIEW I'VE EVER LAID EYES ON. The first thing that grabbed my attention was the stomping issue, I've taken these bad boys off some monstrous back country kickers, and have hucked some huge cliffs with these, and let me tell you I would want no other ski for such an occasion, they do not sink. As a matter of fact, I've would argue that they float better then any other ski on the market. Next issue groomers and hardpack, I do 50% of my skiing on the east coast, and while they not going to handle as good as a traditionally cambered ski, they still get down with minimal sliding out, I ski fast and rarely do I have a problem with edge hold. The only time I find it happening is when going fast as possible, I mean straight pointing it, on icy conditions, which pretty much all skis would have a problem on. Third issue skinning, I've hiked places from Breck and Snowbird to Stowe on the east coast, and have NEVER and I mean EVER had a problem skinning with these, like I said earlier these things are incredibly stable and floaty under your feet thus making it easier to get up to the peaks. I don't know if you are actually experiencing these problems or in reality just don't know what you're talking about, but the only way you could, is if you incorrectly mounted the bindings, or you purchased a ski that is too short for you. Either way it would be your own fault, not the skis. You really don't seem to know at all what you're talking about, and judging from that let me say I probably wouldn't want you as a ski instructor.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
wow this is different from most peoples view on this ski. But thanks for the review. It reminds us that skis don't work for everyone out there.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Seriously, this sounds crazy? Did you mount them boot center or chord center? If you went chord center (conventional tele mount point) then you would have no tail and tele'ing the JJs would be a disaster. I bought these skis specifically for a mix of east coast groomers with west coast vacations(and dreams) - they delivered. Boot center.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Mark, could they possibly be mounted too far back or something? I'm skiing them with telemark gear and have never skied anything so easy or confidence inspiring in all conditions.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
You're way off base. I bought a pair 2 years ago and I am in love with them. Other than being a little squirrly goin fast on the cat tracks, these skis are not in any way grabby in my opinion. Ski the pow, mank, crud, and even the groomed when I am forced to with them. They are by far the most versatile ski I have ever owned. When I get the money I am putting both of my daughters on them. I think you may have a technique issue if you find these skis anything other than rideable ++. I agree with Ian Provo I love these skis and would not part with them. So they don't ski groomers well, who wants to ski groomers anyway.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Im very biased here, but this review is way off. You have to keep in mind these skis were designed for skiing "down" in powder snow. As far as skinning, while they are not the "best", I have spent 4 years on these skis in the wasatch, skinning to the top of all the big peaks, with folks who set the steepest skinners in the world, IMO. They handle it. I think its important to remember that with such a radical design, you have to adjust your technique, going up and down. It sounds like your technique is a bit off. And they definitely stomp landings, Im very certain of that. Im very passionate about how these skis perform, and how they have changed the way I ski. I understand that they are not for every skier.
Helpful Votes: 8 Yes