Surface New Life vs. Armada JJ

The truth is I have owned both of these skis and ski similarly. I owned the New Life's first. 184cm mounted 1cm back for true center. I'd be lyng if I said these skis didn't literally teach me not only how to ski powder, but how to enjoy skiing powder. Before rocker I would get too worn out trying to lean back to keep my tips from diving. The tips of the New Life's will not dive. Not even mounted where I had them. The three stage rocker was easy to put on edge in a variety of snow conditions (including groomers). Nevertheless, putting a ski that is 122mm underfoot on edge which has no camber is also very exhausting. Unless the conditions were soft, the New life's would really leave me hammered at the end of the day. NOW, I moved on from the NL to the Armada JJ in a 185cm. From day one I have been really impressed by how insignificant the skis' dimensions are when tracking thru hard snow and even early season chopped groomers. I really couldn't believe how inspiring they felt everywhere on the mountain. In powder...perfect! I have Barons mounted to mine and have started training for a few short BC missions. I can't wait. It literally is the perfect ski (for me and my abilities).

JJ without a doubt. I too got barons on mine and love the ski like no other. They hold up great, the reverse sidecut chops up shitty snow like no other and are stable off of cliffs. Get the JJ.

I wanted to add one more comment. I have always been treated better than awesome by the crew at Surface and finding a screaming deal on some New Life's shouldn't be hard. Conversely, finding a deal on JJ's can be quite tricking. It requires way more patience. If you're wallet is going to make the ultimate decision, you would do well with the New Life's.

i have jj's and love them! they are so fun in all snow conditions but they do ski pretty short and at your height especially since you're still growing i would go 190 or 195

I almost hate my JJ's, because for what/where I ski, I need no other skis in my quiver. Sometimes I want something else, but with the JJ even charging down the groomers and surfing through the pow; there's just no need. I do however have a pair of ARG's too. They're super fun and I've ski'd them enough to the point where I don't need a foot of fresh to have fun with them, however, unless there's a good amount of pow, they're not fun to go fast on. The only time I take the ARG's is if it's really dumping or I want a challenge. If it's really dumping I bring both pairs, though.

Just ordered a new pair of Anthony B New Life's at half off from their online store. Real geeked up about them.

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Gonna bump this...just to ask how the flex differs between the two?

I have my eyes on some 2012 new lifes that are going pretty cheap, and am interested in buying them for my pow pair.

ayylmaoGonna bump this...just to ask how the flex differs between the two?

I have my eyes on some 2012 new lifes that are going pretty cheap, and am interested in buying them for my pow pair.

bump

if anyone has the knowledge I'd really appreciate an answer

I absolutely love my New Life's (194). They rip everywhere (except maybe tight trees, but that's expected with 194's). They are super stiff (which I love. I'm a big dude) and I've never felt like they were major work to hold an edge with, even on icy-ish conditions. I feel like I can monster truck over pretty much any crappy conditions with them. Perhaps not the most nimble ski (in the 194), but still fantastic. They are my one ski quiver (mostly just because I don't want to spend the money on a smaller second pair) and 90% of the time I've got nothing to complain about (I don't ski park). The only real time I'd like something smaller is tight trees and when I've got to go through a mogul field.

My brother's got 184's and he loves them too.

I would not hesitate to get them again and probably will when mine go.