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October, 2024

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ATTENTION!!! CALLING THE BEST GEARHEADS!!!

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gonzo6266
Posts: 18 - Karma: 225
I've got a few skis I need help deciding between.

I live in northern NY, ski mostly at Whiteface with trips to Jay, Bush and Killington mixed in there. I am 5'11 165 and I currently ride 2018 Armada ARV 96s, and love them however they are a bit of a "jack of all trades yet master of none" kinda ski.

My brother recently moved to the PNW and I want to add to the quiver something that I can take out to visit him with and actually float in pow, but also useful for the pow days on the east coast, and when conditions are good 'n soft and it isn't bulletproof ice cost type shit.

I have skis in mind that I think fit these criteria and would buy in 0.2 seconds:

ON3P Jeffrey 102
https://shop.on3pskis.com/products/jeffrey-102?variant=34564206690467

These would be my top pick right now. ON3P makes a ski that could survive a nuclear war, or a bunch of rails, either way, they're so durable and worth the extra cash because I feel I'll get more years out of em. Poppy, with a lot of playfulness, able to charge and float, they seem like the perfect ski. Only thing is the 102 model is new and I can't find any content or reviews on it so if you have ridden them or something similar I would appreciate some feedback on them.

J Skis The Hotshot
https://jskis.com/collections/hotshot/products/trutta

Holy fuck these graphics are mint. Aesthetics aside, I rode my buddy's whippits last season a bit and was converted on the spot to a JLev fanboi. Dude knows how to make a ski. I've read great things about the metal, and then apparently it got better with the hotshot. Seems a little wide for the east and their tight trees/hardpack snow tho. They're also really heavy like 200g more than the jeffrey and like 500 more than my ARVs. How maneuverable are they?

I would be open to some other skis, throw some at me and see if they stick. Big ups if you read this far. Bigger ups for some good gear talk.
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Oct 2 2020 6:11PM
4 0
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CatdickBojangles
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 62,950
J102 for a jack of all trades. The hotshot is alittle more directional.
Oct 2 2020 6:24PM
5 0
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CossackMalone
Posts: 35 - Karma: 264
1. What is your skiing style/ability?
2. Are you looking for a wider jack of all trades ski or something that excels in certain conditions?

You mention wanting more float in powder. Neither of these skis are powder skis.
Oct 2 2020 8:38PM
4 1
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yessirskiii_
Posts: 244 - Karma: 1,675
Can never go wrong with some Sir Francis Bacons
Oct 3 2020 3:26AM
1 1
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12811 - Karma: 1,971
yeah, neither of those are worth getting if you're also keeping your ARV. get something fatter. 110ish. then it will float without being west specific. what do you want it to do? haul ass? turn effortlessly? twin? switch pow?
Oct 3 2020 4:32AM
2 0
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Obama_care
Posts: 581 - Karma: 2,759
Gear talk
Oct 3 2020 9:06AM
1 0
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ColoradoDogfart
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 29,039
Gearheads ASSEMBLE
Oct 3 2020 10:56AM
6 0
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7822 - Karma: 21,855
beenjammin669_Can never go wrong with some Sir Francis Bacons


Bacons are really fun. I'd also consider the Faction Prodigy 3.0. If you like the ARVs already, you could go for the 106s or 116s. Also here's a really good review of the K2 Reckoner 112.
Don't worry about getting something 110+ underfoot. You will appreciate them in deep snow on your trips west, and they aren't going to be too wide for deeper days and skiing chopped up pow in the east. I've used a pair of Lib Techs which are 120 underfoot for almost everything off piste in Atlantic Canada and the Rockies. They are not a precision tool, but good enough in less than ideal conditions and when there is deeper snow they are a lot of fun. A wider ski can make 6" of new snow feel deeper, since it wants to float on top. Bigger skis also make it real easy to stomp landings in any conditions.
Oct 3 2020 11:07AM
0 0
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FullSendJoe
Posts: 7 - Karma: 28
I am similar to you. 5' 7" 170 pounds. I have been riding a line sick day 93 for a few years (17-18 season) super light nimble and poppy. A good jack of all trades ski. Honestly I have ridden them out west a bunch(friends couches to crash on all over ski town USA) and felt the float was not an issue until it was over knee to mid thigh deep.

So. If I was you. Buy a ski for what you ski most, has enough float for the east coast deep days and most of the days out west. If you go and get blasted with 40" when seeing your brother then you also won't regret just renting a true POW POW ski for a few days.

I doubled down on J skis this year and got both the Allplays to replace my sick days and the hotshots. Every person I have spoken to that rides a j ski is hooked, I rode my friends VACATION and loved it. You won't go wrong with the ON3P that's for damn sure, be the one that writes that kick ass review for there new ski if you want it, someone has to.

Also if you felt so inclined, I have a BRAND NEW, in the plastic set of J ski Metals that I got before covid shit and never mounted them. I have been meaning to list them for sale and haven't gotten around to it yet so actually you would be the first person I've offered them to. I late night splurged on the hotshots because well, I love Ryan's art, missed out when he did the blacksunshine metal graphic and that's shit wasent going to happen twice. Let me know if your interested, I got them at a discount and know they are not as valuable now the hotshots is out so that will be passed along. Maybe you could afford another trip to see your brother, or a single day lift ticket at Vail... I am in southern NY so we could potentially meet and not even have to pay for shipping.

Happy ski hunting, hope my ramblings help.
Oct 4 2020 11:09AM
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,535
The ON3Ps will definitely be the most versatile.
Oct 4 2020 2:29PM
1 0
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YawnPell
Posts: 502 - Karma: 1,366
The Kartel/Jeffrey is top 3 most fun and versatile skis I've ever skied. So. Fuckin. Fun. And your totally right about the durability part, they're just about invincible. That 102 looks super tight and I'm sure would be a great ski for what you want to do. May not float in pow the best but it wouldn't be bad. I'd honestly recommend bumping up to the 108 though, it would be the move for an "do it all" ski. I ride the 108 as a freeride ski and its mad fun and floats pretty darn good. I also have homies who ride it as their park ski all season long. It was my one quiver last year and I loved it so much I bought another pair of the 96's. PM me if you wanna talk more about em...I also have a pair for sale you could peak at if you're interested.
Oct 6 2020 11:32AM
3 1
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