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April, 2025

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Armada Magic J or something else

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MileHighSteeze
Posts: 6 - Karma: 18
I'm 6' 185 pounds and right now only have a pair of Salomon Twenty Twelves 179. I'm looking to get some powder skis. I called some shops in denver and only found 1 Armada Magic J in 190, so I bought it. I can return it before I mount it if I decide on something else. I just wanted to know what people thought about the Magic J, because I couldn't find many review on it and if its the right length of me. Ideally I want a ski that I can use whenever there is fresh snow and I'm not skiing park, slays pow at places like vail, is maneuverable enough in the trees, can ski and land switch in pow, solid off cliffs, but can still handle steeps like Breckenridge's lake chutes. Also, how's the durability of the Magic j and Armada in general. I appreciate any advice or other suggestions.
12 years ago
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 373
I don't really like them, or any armada skis for that matter. I didn't find them to be super lively and they feel a little squirrelly to me.

My suggestion is the ON3P Caylor, full rocker is way better in soft snow and the bamboo gives them great pop and a good stability dropping big cliffs and what not.


Also keep in mind, I've skied a bunch of fat skis, even if our shop carried armada i wouldn't go out of my way to sell a JJ, TST, magic J etc., theres better stuff out there for less $.
12 years ago
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MileHighSteeze
Posts: 6 - Karma: 18
Thanks for the reply. The reason I was considering the Magic J was because they are supposedly very stable a high speeds even on groomers. Would a full rocker ski be very stable on groomers, not that I would ski them much. Also, I am tying to figure out exactly what days I am going to use these powder skis on. My center mounted Salomon Twenty Twelves obviously struggle in deep powder, but perform adequately (at least to my knowledge) in tracked out powder. I've never skied a fat powder specific ski before. Would any powder ski outperform my twenty twelves in non park resort skiing and steeps(like the lake chutes at breck) if they haven't had snow for a day or two. That being said, I do want a "real" powder ski and don't mind if I only ski it on powder days.
12 years ago
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 373
Any pow ski will be better than the 2012 in pow that's for sure, no pow ski will ski very well on the groomed. You can definitely get back to the lift with no trouble but you won't be running around draggin your hips or anything.

Full rocker isn't any worse than the skis with camber underfoot it just takes a different approach to ski. FWIW I can carve my 195 Praxis PowBoards on hardpack just fine with a full reverse camber and reversed sidecut.
12 years ago
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AK-Pow29
Posts: 157 - Karma: 215
Get the Pettitor
12 years ago
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SkiLefley
Posts: 1073 - Karma: 954
I have the JJs and I love them. I ski them more than my Alphas just because they're so much fun. I'm like 5'9" and ski a 185 JJ. From everything that you stated I think you would love this ski. But it's kinda a personel preference. You should ask around and see if you could demo a pair because you might find out that you love them.
12 years ago
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MileHighSteeze
Posts: 6 - Karma: 18
Thanks for all the replies. I'd love to hear SPECIFICS why the Magic J is good, or why it is bad and something else is better. I know a lot of it is personal preference, but I just want a pow ski that can handle high speeds and is light, fun, and solid for back country freestyle.
12 years ago
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luft
Posts: 54 - Karma: 378
I love my Magic J's...

more lively yet stiffer than my bibby's
12 years ago
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SkiLefley
Posts: 1073 - Karma: 954
I love my JJs. Today I was ripping up the corduroy with them. I haven't ever rode a race ski but these things can carve like crazy. But the turn radius is pretty damn big. The JJs are a very good pow skiing for skiing pow or dropping cliffs. I mean you will have a hard time if your riding in like 5 feet of pow but I don't think any ski will make that easy. A few weeks ago I ride them in about 1-2 feet of pow and they were awesome. Floated and let me ride switch very easily. I haven't dropped any cliffs on them yet because I live in Michigan but I will later in the season. There are also a few other powder skis that armada makes. But the JJ is my favorite out of all of them. Really nice ski. Feel free to PM or give Tyson Hall a call at Armada. He's a great guy and can answer any questions.
12 years ago
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MileHighSteeze
Posts: 6 - Karma: 18
Have you skied the Magic Js? I was considering the JJs but didn't know if the 185 would be long enough for me ( 6 foot 185 pounds) or would I have to go to the AK JJ?
12 years ago
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MileHighSteeze
Posts: 6 - Karma: 18
How are they on hard pack? Do they turn quick in the trees and feel like they have a low swing weight? How does the durability seem so far? Thanks
12 years ago
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dadunda
Posts: 447 - Karma: 219
*tiny
12 years ago
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
Stiffness really doesn't do much for liveliness with pow skis anymore. MJ's are a true 5 point design while bibby's just have early taper. MJ's also have a good 5m shorter sidecut.
12 years ago
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Session
Posts: 5408 - Karma: 22,545
You sound like a clueless fucking idiot.
12 years ago
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SkiLefley
Posts: 1073 - Karma: 954
Why do you say that??^
12 years ago
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Session
Posts: 5408 - Karma: 22,545
because you say that the JJ has a long turn radius.
12 years ago
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TheWeaz
Posts: 803 - Karma: 1,903
i personally really enjoy my jj's, but i am on the east coast skiing trees that are 3 feet apart with them. they have a super low swing weight which is nice for spins and just being able to throw them
around whenever you need to. so far the top sheet on mine has been super durable, its got this weird texture to it and it doesnt chip. if i was on the west coast i would definatly go for the magic j, just for the little bit extra stiffness and the longer radius. definatly size up though, im 5'4 and riding 175s which are above my head, but if they were any shorter i dont think i would be able to ski them due to the soft tail and super short running length.
12 years ago
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Thewhiteroom
Posts: 339 - Karma: 468
Agree to disagree. I've also rode a lot of different pow skis and I always go back to Armada because of the durability and playfulness in the ski. I have been riding the Magic J this season and love it all over the mountain. Mostly in the pow (ovi) but it handles groomers nicely. Its been handling anything Jackson Hole has thrown at it. I think you would love it in those back bowls and it would totally rip in EV.

The White Room
12 years ago
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Washow
Posts: 343 - Karma: 463
this. i have ak jj and the turn radius is like 18m or something. why did you say jjs have huge turn radius because they def do not
12 years ago
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JJChit
Posts: 16 - Karma: 11
Magic RIP IT.  floats in pow like a dream, but surprisingly slays the tracked out and crud on the way back to the lifts!!
12 years ago
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snickers_snack
Posts: 35 - Karma: -46
go with the Armada T-Hall park skis
12 years ago
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MileHighSteeze
Posts: 6 - Karma: 18
Thanks everyone. I ended up going with the Magic Js, because I already had them and got them for $470. Super light with fks 14 bindings! Took them to Vail with like 4" of powder and they killed it. Can't wait for a real powder day.
12 years ago
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SwagtasticWalrus
Posts: 1268 - Karma: 184
Fail. I was fine and then I read this bad attempt at a troll or being funny.
12 years ago
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