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Has anybody skid the 4FRNT CRJ 188's?

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powpusher
Posts: 11 - Karma: 10
I've recently demoed the Rossi S7s, Armada JJ's, Surface Live Life (see brief reviews on the thread "Help me out All Mountain Twins") and am really eager to test out the 4FRNT CRJ's in 188cm, which I've heard + read good things about . I am looking to add a pair of thoroughbred pow skis to my Line Prophet 100's but am still undecided what to get. Any experience / reviews you are able to share would be appreciated!
Jan 24 2011 10:08PM
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Ski.Ballet
Posts: 2860 - Karma: 200
Check out the ski review links thread on TGR
Jan 24 2011 10:09PM
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powpusher
Posts: 11 - Karma: 10
thanks
Jan 24 2011 10:14PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
only on newschoolers are pow skis considered all-mountain haha
Jan 25 2011 12:11AM
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powpusher
Posts: 11 - Karma: 10
With lots of 110-120's underfoot doing pretty much the same as the 90-100's of old I think the line between pow and alll-mountain is definitely blurring...
Jan 25 2011 1:55AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
At my home mountain a lot of park rats have confused Hellbents and EP Pro's for jib skis.
Jan 25 2011 2:17AM
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Nati513
Posts: 679 - Karma: 25
I will tell you in a couple days
Jan 25 2011 2:51AM
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J.DUKE
Posts: 1233 - Karma: 38
excellent noob post
Jan 25 2011 10:49AM
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RedCloud
Posts: 125 - Karma: 21
I own 188 crj's and 186 prophet 100s. I have also demo'd s7.... I have posted a few times on the differences between the crj and s7. The s7 feels more rockered but in general they ski pretty similar. I love my crj's. I have never skied the jj, but I hear nothing but good about them. My only real complaint with the crj tail is a little too soft for me (I'm heavy, 195lbs), I just have to be careful on bigger drops because the tail can wash out. 4rnt told me they stiffened the tail this year, because of that issue. Personally I don't think you can go wrong with a jj, s7, crj, or bg as your pow ski. When it came down to it I got a killer deal on the crj, so that is why I chose it...
Jan 25 2011 1:09PM
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Ghini
Posts: 2227 - Karma: 2,883

Yeah 4FRNT stiffend up the tails..so thats nice..

The S7 is more directional than the JJ and CRJ.. So what do you want to do with it? If you are looking for a directional pow ski you could also look at the EHP.. I really dont like the Big tips of an S7, the EHP has rocker also, but the tips are low so they burst through crud etc..

Jan 25 2011 5:15PM
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powpusher
Posts: 11 - Karma: 10
@ redcloud: Thanks for the post. I also own a pair of prophet 100's (in 179). Have demoed the S7s, JJ's and Surface Live Life's - the latter being recommended to me by some guys working at a freeride store here in Whistler. Appartently loads of people are riding these skis in north-western USA..... I found the S7s a bit too bulky (share the point made further in the chain of the tips being a little big) and the JJ's too unresponsive and flappy in hardpacked/crusty conditions. Being able to handle some hard choppy, variable snow is important here in whistler as pow oftens ices up here due to the freezing/thawing effect caused by relatively high daytime temperatures. What I am looking for is a ski that is relatively quick in turns and stiff for higher speeds. If only I could get my hands on a pair of 4FRNT crj's to test out for a day!

Jan 25 2011 8:07PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
what about the prophet 115s? More beef all the way around, and tip rocker.
Jan 25 2011 11:24PM
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JRyder
Posts: 461 - Karma: 29
hahaha thats just sad
Jan 26 2011 10:37AM
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Kangbang
Posts: 14211 - Karma: 423
PM 16candles, he has the 188 CRJ's from last year.
Jan 26 2011 11:17AM
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RedCloud
Posts: 125 - Karma: 21
The crj is an awesome pow ski, but it isn't going to perform as well as your lp100 in the crud. The line prophet kills crud and variable snow period. The crj will knocked around a little more because of the rocker and being softer. My understanding is that you were looking for a pow ski to add to your quiver and you mentioned all what I would consider pow jib skis. If you are looking for stiffer pow skis, with no speed limit and won't get knocked around in variable conditions, I would point more towards an ehp, ant, arg, Wrenegade, prophet 115etc..... If you want something more jibby and quick edge to edge I'd stick with the jj, crj, etc... I guess u really need to decide what you want your pow skis strongest suit to be. Look at the 4rnt pros, there is a reason Wiley miller mostly skis a crj in bc/Utah and skis an ehp in alaska (at least last year, I'm aware he skis his new yle a lot now)
Jan 26 2011 12:48PM
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RedCloud
Posts: 125 - Karma: 21
The crj is an awesome pow ski, but it isn't going to perform as well as your lp100 in the crud. The line prophet kills crud and variable snow period. The crj will knocked around a little more because of the rocker and being softer. My understanding is that you were looking for a pow ski to add to your quiver and you mentioned all what I would consider pow jib skis. If you are looking for stiffer pow skis, with no speed limit and won't get knocked around in variable conditions, I would point more towards an ehp, ant, arg, Wrenegade, prophet 115etc..... If you want something more jibby and quick edge to edge I'd stick with the jj, crj, etc... I guess u really need to decide what you want your pow skis strongest suit to be. Look at the 4rnt pros, there is a reason Wiley miller mostly skis a crj in bc/Utah and skis an ehp in alaska (at least last year, I'm aware he skis his new yle a lot now)
Jan 26 2011 12:48PM
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powpusher
Posts: 11 - Karma: 10
@ redcloud - thanks for the input. It's looking like I'll be buying the Surface LL scullcandys in 181 (paying 30 bucks more for that sick scullcandy design!). I loved that ski for its manoeuvrability, flotation in pow and versatility on hardpack and crusty snow. The JJ didn't do it for me, mainly letting me down on the latter two points which is a reality here in Whistler in between dumps.. and the LL in 191 was too bulky and tall for me (5.11"). I would have loved to demo a pair of crj's but hey, you can't have all!
Jan 26 2011 7:22PM
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RedCloud
Posts: 125 - Karma: 21
Congrats on making a decision. My buddy tours on that ski and be loves it, plus the blue/black skull candy top sheet is pretty cool...
Jan 26 2011 9:12PM
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powpusher
Posts: 11 - Karma: 10
So I was recommended to demo the Surface New LIfe's (with the psychadelic anthony B topsheet) before tying the knot with the Live Life's and boy, am I happy I did! These ski's were SICK! They absolutely ripped up everything I threw at them today; 2-day old pow in the bowls behind Whistler & blackcomb glaciers, kickers in the park and off-piste, crusty, medium-heavy moguls and heaped up crud, groomers.. the works. They killed it all.

I was worried about the big rocker in the tail and symmetrical twin affecting stability at speeds but these babies held edge beautifully on groomers and hardened pow alike. Sure there was a bit of chattering on the ultra packed out groomers with icy bits but due to its traditional sidecut and staged rocker (Surface uses a 3-stage proggressive rocker system in its skis) the first and biggest part of its rocker in the nose actually engages the ski when pushing it in sharp carving turns and SGs. Riding and landing switch is a breeze with these guys as the front and back are fully symmetrical. Also noticed that in contrast to the Surface LLs and JJs this design lends itself A LOT more to a center mounted stance. Unlike the former the NL's do not put you in the backseat at all (maybe because of the symmetrical rocker on both ends), making it unnecessary to adjust your stance in relation to the steepness of the slope as much and much more forgiving in landings. For those of you who have or have demoed the S7's - this ski is possibly slightly less heavy charging due to its higher flex and lower weight. However, what it loses in stiffness it makes up for in versatility and playfulness. This ski is A.LOT. OF. FUN.

Only two critical points I would mention at this early stage are: firstly, that due to their slightly bigger flex and rocker (in relation to the the NL) they are a bit more jumpy over bumpy/crusty pow instead of slicing through it. Obviously a problem at bigger speeds. I found that assuming a slightly lower stance (bending your knees more) pretty much solves this problem. Second point is that the topsheet seems pretty flaky and chips really easily. I was demoing a brand new pair today and without doing anything particularly crazy there were already visible scratches and marks on the ski after only one day.

Can't really comment on their performance in deeper and softer pow yet since IT HASN'T FUCKING SNOWED PROPERLY IN WHISTLER FOR AGES!!!

Bought them in 184cm mounted dead centre with Rossi FKS 140's XXL ready to shred it up tomorrow!!
Will keep u guys posted on how it rides in the deep stuff if ever it starts snowing again.

Will probably also post this msg as a review in case anybody else is considering demoing or buying these skis.
Jan 27 2011 9:05PM
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