Bent chetler vs JJ specs wise

[ikindalikeskiing]

So I have a 185 JJ but I find it a little soft and the turning radius is a bit small for my preference. So how do the 185 jj and 183 chetty's compare? In stiffness, groomers, crud, pow, and glades. The JJ's were great here in WA but im moving to montana and I think the chettys might be a bit better there. My new mountain is gonna be great divide any info on that would be cool too. +K for any help

 

[onenerdykid]

Depending on how often you ski switch, you might want to look at the Atomic Automatic instead of the Bentchetler... It is the ski that Sage and Dana are on- their input helped shape everything about it. 117 underfoot, metal strips in the tip and tail rocker for added stability, and less tail rocker than the Bent. It will be more stable than either the JJ or Bent, so it might be worth checking out next fall. 179, 186, 193cm.

 

[onenerdykid]

There is a 6-page thread on them in TGR:

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/230485-Atomic-Automatic-new-ski-designed-by-Sage-Dana-for-2012-13

 

[ikindalikeskiing]

Think those are a little softer than the Chet's? They might be too much of a charging ski for me

 

[onenerdykid]

You need to hold them in your own hands... The metal strips are just in the rockered areas to keep the tips and tails more stable. It is by no means a heavy, over damped ski (like a Line Mothership). It's exactly what Sage and Dana wanted, so it still has to be nimble and fun. I own the 186 and 193, and I like them more than my Bents. I would wait to pull the trigger until you can get your hands on a pair and see for yourself.

 

[ikindalikeskiing]

Well I think I will get bents for this year since I can get a deal on them and look at the automatics next year

 

[ikindalikeskiing]

Bump having second thoughts, which will handle Montana snow better?

 

[onenerdykid]

Unfortunately, I have never been to Montana so I can't comment on how they will handle the snow there respectively.

But in terms of general feel, The Bent will have less support in the tail but be better for landing switch in pow, and in general give you more of a surfy feeling. The Automatic has more tip to tail taper (more directional feel), a bit more stability in choppy snow, more support in the tail while still being nimble and fairly light. Sage is 155 pounds soaking wet, so he did not want a heavy, over damped straight-line only type of ski.

You won't really go wrong with either, but they have some geometrical and construction differences that will yield different skiing characteristics. Quick and dirty: Bent is more surfy, Automatic is more chargey but both are awesome pow skis in general.