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The radius is way too short. I was not a fan. Good weight, flex and construction, but the ski does not feather large turns, pulls across the fall line at speed, I’d almost call it hooky.
This was the 189, I think the 183 would be a better fit for the ski design
That's interesting feedback; I've got the 186 metal and don't find it hooky at all, but I know they played with the sidecut a bit for the hot shot. I'm also a pretty aggressive detuner so that could play a part
I’m on the 185 enforcer 110 which has a radius of 18.5m the 189 hotshot has a radius of 19m. The radius of 18.5 works for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_pretzel
So I guess my question is do you dislike all non groomer skis with a radius under 20 meters or was there something else specific to this ski? Any other similar skis you can compare too.
On paper the hotshot checks a lot of boxes for me twintip, forward mount, playful shape and flex, but solid weight and construction.
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I always detune to contact points on every new ski so it wasn’t the tune.Quote:
Originally Posted by poleplant
I have a 187 masterblaster that I think skis better in large radius turns than the hotshot did. I am partial to larger radius skis, but have gotten along with a bunch of skis with short radii before like the enforcer line.
They just pull heavily across the fall line when you initiate a slarve which is really annoying when trying to control your speed in variable terrain. The weight, construction and flex encourage fast skiing, but the shape doesn’t as much IMO. I like playful and forward mounted skis, but the hotshot sort of didn’t fit in either category.
I think some of this would go away with the 183cm length which I think would be a better fit coming of the 186 enforcer, the 189cm feel similar in length to the 191cm enforcer.
Also this was my comment on blister : “ My issue with the ski is the sidecut, it’s just too short for how I like to ski. It’s really fun on groomers and can really pull you into a turn, but going fast in variable you either have to skid the ski or carve a “tight” radius, it doesn’t like the slow slarve that allows you to control speed and direction while flying through crap. I’m going to keep skiing them because they are really fun, but that’s my main critique. They are also fun in the air and the swingweight is great for how heavy they measure on the scale.”
That's all good feedback. On paper the ski checks a lot of boxes, but the shorter radius has me wary. My experience with shorter radius skis is similar, and I end up going overboard on detuning to try to compensate, which is a shitty bandaid solution. But it's also increasingly hard to find skis with a longer radius...
Sounds like I’ll keep asking the metal
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_pretzel
You have so much knowledge on all the skis! I swear, half of the info I get on here comes from you.
have you skied both the Friend and the Hotshot?
I have both the Metal in a 186 and the Master Blaster in a 187. I'm 6'3" 190lbs. I got the Metal first two years ago and they are great in anything other than the two extremes of very deep or very firm and icy. On any soft groomer where you can get an edge they are great, pretty damp and stable and skis crud and chop well. In in moderate fresh snow, especially West Coast heavier fresh, they are really fun, but in deep and bottomless light fresh, I found that the tips wanted to dive a bit probably due to the centre mount and I had to lean back which I didn't like. I have a pair of Marker Schizo bindings that I am tempted to try on them so I can slide back a couple of cm for skiing deeper snow which I think would help. Otherwise, I am quite happy with them. The more entered mount makes them easy to maneuver and more playful than more traditional mounts.
I got the Materblasters after a positive experience with the Metals. I was looking for a good mid 90's all mountain ski for shallow days when it hasn't snowed in a while. I demoed a bunch of the Magazine top picks like the Volkl Mantras and Blizzard Bonafide's which I appreciated, but found them more work than I really wanted to put in. I'm 57 years old and, up to 10 years ago, I liked heavier metal laminate skis like Head Monsters, Dynatar Legend Pros and Volkl Explosives etc, but I wanted something a bit less demanding, but still stable and most importantly, fun. The Master Blasters fit that bill. They hold a decent edge on firm snow, still not quite what I would like for ice, but OK and better than the Metal on really firm. They can be skied quite fast and aggressively but are also responsive if skied more mellow. Off piste on cruddy snow, I would prefer the Metal's slightly looser supportive feel, especially if it is deeper. The Masterblsters want to lock in a bit more and are a bit more work in deeper snow, but I haven't detuned them yet, so that might make a difference. I am reluctant to do that as I ski them primarily on firm snow and want the edge hold.
The Metals and Masterblasters compliment each other as a firm snow and all mountain moderately deep snow ski pair that cover 80 - 90% of my resort skiing needs. Really deep and I'm on a powder ski and really icy, I'm doing something else other than skiing.
I actually picked up a pair of the first gens this weekend, and took some spring laps at Bachelor.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_pretzel
Overall - pretty cool ski, and my experience is in-line with what Blister has on those skis.
As a background - I've skied the following skis in the same width category: 2013 K2 Obsethed, 2017 4frnt KYE, Rossi BO 118, JJ 2.0, and Line Supernatural 115.
The Friends, have a sidecut profile which I really enjoyed - allows the ski to bit into firmer snow and get it on edge, while still allowing easy slashing or surfy feel if/when you break the tails loose. For flex pattern the tips are fairly soft, as are the tails - which allow easy buttering, and popping - but the mount point of the ski + the tails not being overly soft allow good suspension on hard landings after airing stuff out. In the air, I was a bit surprised that the skis felt heavier than I expected. This could be from two different factors - more traditional mount point compared to my BO118, or the fact that I've primarily been on touring skis over the past ~2 weeks or so.
While these skis are fairly heavy, which helps with the dampen out some variation in snow, they did get knocked around in less smooth conditions, more-so that I would have expected. This happened in a couple of different scenarios - softer suncuped snow, and pockets of corn snow forming up into moguled spots as the day progressed. I found myself compensating by changing my body position quite a bit to anticipate these changes, which forced me to reduce my speed quite a bit.
In comparison - The friend is somewhere between my old Obsethed and the BO118. Slightly more playful than the BO, but far less stable at speed. Based on the newer version of the Friend - I would be keen on trying that out to see if its more directly comparable.
Overall - Its a super playful ski that would be great for early laps on a storm day, or busting groomers in the spring. However once things get chopped up, anticipate dialing things back quite a bit, or stick to popping off of everything on the trail. In that regard, if you're a skier that doesn't mind heavier skis, doesn't charge all the time, and popps off of everything on the mountain, picking up a used pair of 1st gen Friends might be a really cool option for you.
I have skied the old Friend as well. However it is quit a bit different than the new generation based upon everything J Lev has said and the Blister review.
I’m interested in the current 189 Friend, as a replacement for 2013 Obsetheds.
I will say this - coming off of that Obsethed, that Blackops 118 is quite incredible. Just as playful (if not more), more stable at speed, and better in every condition of snow.Quote:
Originally Posted by AEV
My only two complaints are: top sheets chips pretty easy, and I wish the tails were a tad more tapered to allow slashing more easily.
I want to try the Black Ops too. The 184cm true length is a bit short for me. I would still like probably, but waiting for 190cm length.Quote:
Originally Posted by rfconroy
I was riding Wildcat/Bibbys for a while, and they’re great, but they aren’t as playful as Obsetheds are.
The Blister (Cy’s) review of the Friend says it’s as stable and the old Bibby, and more playful. Sounds like the new 189 Friend could fill the spots for Bibby/Obsethed
Welp - if you're in the Seattle area and have a BSL around 305 I'd let you take some laps on both the Friends and BOs, assuming I've still got them by next season.Quote:
Originally Posted by AEV
My foot is too big and I rarely go up that way, but thanks anywayQuote:
Originally Posted by rfconroy
What size Obsethed were you riding?
If I am remembering correctly I was on the 179CM obsethed which was about ~2-3CM shorter than my 186 BO118 in actual length
I ain't AEV, but I'd take you up on that BO demo. Happy to reciprocate.Quote:
Originally Posted by rfconroy
Shoot me a PM this upcoming fall/winter, we'll get this done!Quote:
Originally Posted by HAB
I was on the 189, and I'm still thinking the 186 Blackops will be as stableQuote:
Originally Posted by rfconroy
Long shot: I’ve got a random itch to scratch for more J Skis and can’t find anything online. If anyone has a lead on a pair of 184cm Allplays with the Bob Ross topsheets from last season, PM me please.
Alright, couldn’t find the old Bob Ross Allplays. But I did snag some used 186cm Metals last week. Ever since the 2008-2014 period when I skied metal Katanas and Rossi Sickles at Alta and the Bird, I have wanted to try a Sickle type ski with a titanal layup like the Katana.
I’m sure there are a few other examples outside the Metal (Gunsmoke, Mothership, Hotshot… what am I missing?) but not many.
The J Skis family resemblance of the Metal to the revised Vacation is still strong. The Metals have a wider, less tapered tip but a similar shaped tail. The Metals definitely hand flex stiffer than the Vacations tip and tail, and stiffen up sooner than the Vacations as you move towards the bindings. The extremities of the tip and tail on the Metal flex softer than the Sickles however.
Going to mount them up around -4 cm of true center, will report back once I have some days on them.
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Metals are quite possibly the best all round ski I've ever used. I think you'll really enjoy themQuote:
Originally Posted by DGamms
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Has anyone tried the redesigned Masterblaster 99mm wide? Looking to pick one up.
Blister has their flash reviews up now for the new Masterblaster and Fast Forward. Any bigger dudes on the east coast getting early season icy fake snow laps on either of them? I love the blister guys but I need to know how these skis handle someone who is 200 lbs on a sheet of ice.
6'2", 200+, east coaster.. Can confirm Masterblaster can handle it all confidentlyQuote:
Originally Posted by CouloirInTheLines
Thanks. What size are you on? This year’s MB or older?
Sickles were first pair of skis I truly fell in love with. I want to say the Metal is better in every way, but that could be recency bias speaking. Regardless, love mine dearly.Quote:
Originally Posted by DGamms
Yeah, I’m excited to get a few more days on them. So far they feel about as I expected coming from the Vacations: a bit heavier, a bit more damp at speed in variable, a bit stiffer (and a bit harder to butter, but still doable), a bit slower to spin.
Hoping to A/B them vs the Sickles at Alta later this year, still have my 12 yo 186cm Sickles in the rotation…
amazing. i parted with mine a couple years back for a song. they are with a good buddy who only owned backcountry skis and wanted something for inboundsQuote:
Originally Posted by DGamms
I had a pair of the last edition of the Masterblaster. I liked them and skied them for a couple of years. They are a tad on the soft side and ski short. So go up not down if you are between sizes on Jskis. I had a pair of the last iteration of the Metals for 3 days of skiing and sent them back. The tail was way to soft for my liking. Perhaps that has been addressed. Again they also skied short.
J Skis are playful first, chargers second (even the Metal), so that makes sense. What did you end up onQuote:
Originally Posted by Quandary
The JSkis were part of a bigger quiver. Currently from narrow to wide Fischer RC One 86 GT (175), Praxis #4 9D8 (185), K2 Mindbender 108TI (179), Praxis #4 RX (184), ON3P asym Billy Goat (184).Quote:
Originally Posted by margotron
I would like to give the Fastforward, Masterblaster and Hotshot a try but I think unless I really intend to buy I don't want to order and send back as I think that is taking advantage of JSkis. It will be interesting to see what people think as more real world reviews comein.
Anyone in here have any time on Slackers? Just picked some 188s up off here to use as an easier 50/50 daily driver type ski for days in tighter terrain/trees/pillow zones.
Waiting on Tectons to mount them but the hand flex feels nice. I thought they would be a bit of a noodle but they are quite stiff underfoot and further into the tail than I expected. Tips are a nice medium flex up through the rocker line with a smooth transition into underfoot.
They measure around 2000g on my scales as well which seems about right for something that can handle double duty. Hopefully I can get on them soon and update with some thoughts as reviews on them seem limited.
Just got done with Day 1 on some new-to-me The Metals 187s. If Hotshots are improved versions of those, I'm sold! And now I'm intrigued on everything J skis, especially The Friend.
I wanted a more playful softer ski for hardpack days, as my 191 Blizzard Rustler 11s and my 191 K2 Mindbender 99ti were good but not great on firm days. The Metals are kinda weird/unique at first but they are different in a really fun way AND damp enough to haul ass on groomers and hardpack. I mean really haul ass. And surprisingly also do short turns on groomers, on hardpack bumpy narrow awkward rounded chutes. I'm impressed. Skied a few inches of pow on them and could see the slarvy/surfy potential there too. Didn't hit any cliffs because I'm afraid my old ass would break in these firm conditions.
I completely disagree with some (not all) reviews of The Metal here, but I would need to see these people ski to understand where they are coming from. Maybe the honeymoon will wear off and I'll get critical at some point but bottom line - these are a great compliment to what I already own, I am not saying they are not going to be my "do-it-all" everyday ski.
Agreed, the suspension on the Metals is excellent. I think maybe the old titanal Katana is the only ski I’ve personally tried that feels close in terms of muting out rough snow at speed. But the Metals are different from the OG Katana given the Metals more forward mount point, shorter turn radius, increased tip/tail taper, and their relatively softer tips/tails.
Overall, I’m really enjoying mine for all mountain skiing. Playful charger for sure.
Anyone have some 180cm Metals they want to sell? I regret selling mine.
Also looking for beta on the Fastforward. I’m wondering about the small size for my wife. Not sure between 160cm vs 167cm…
How ‘quick’ do they feel would be my main question. I’m 5% worried the swing weight would bother her in moguls and tight spots as she isn’t a large person.
Selling or trading a mint pair of 186 Metals:
Attachment 404314
Attachment 404564
Stoked on how these turned out. Mounted them up at -6 right in time for a trip to the Kootenays this week. Looking forward to trying them out.
Probably the wide camera angle, but those look mounted pretty far back.