JJs or ARG

J

jfrauen

Member
What do you guys think is the better pow ski the ARG or JJ. Im going to buy one or the other here in the next month or so. Let me know what you guys think. Positive negative anything you got. If you say JJs what one the AK or regular. Im 6'3 170lb
 
gear trade.

However ARG's for super deep days JJs for deep days but can ride on hardpack as well. I would recommend the JJ's over the ARG's just due to a more versatile use.
 
*Gear Talk.

Basically, the JJ will be more versatile but not quite as good in super deep or heavy snow. Get the ski longer than your height because of the rocker. In your case the AK JJ might be good because you're pretty big.
 
Depends what you're planning to use them for for & how they're going to fit into your quiver. If you are looking for a powder ski that you'll also being using around a resort and in variable snow conditions then get the JJ. If it's a pure powder ski you're after that will only be used on the deepest and freshest days then get the ARG.

Also definitely get them longer than you think you'd normally need. I'm 5'6/7 ish & 170 lbs and ski S7s in a 188 (very similar to JJ) and am so glad I didn't go shorter.
 
The ARG type ski is the best ski you can get hands down for shredding deep untouched snow in anywhere but massive AK faces...and even there it is pretty damn good. It will make you a much better, more confident skier and you will look at terrain in a whole new light. Seriously, it changed teh way that i looked at skiing, and is the funnest ski ever in deep pow. It will make any type of turn or manuever you want with out ever having to force it even a little. Its super duper poppy too, so you can play around on it even more. Also they are super stiff so they legit charge and blast through crud and mank.

HOWEVER, they are straight up uncontrollable on an icy groomer, especially if its just a patch you hit(the run up to liftlines can be get scraped off easily on pow days making for embarring crashes into netting haha). On anything less than an 8 inch day i would ski park skis, becuase ARG's wouldnt be worth it. There are soooooo many better skis out there for skied out days, but also kill it in deep pow. Also, because they are so fat underfoot, sometimes landings arent as soft as the should be, especially in heavier pow.

If you have a park ski, and a fat all mountain shredder that is very capable on pow days, get the ARG. If this is gonna be the 2nd ski in your quiver, get the JJ. The ARG's just arent worth it unless its deep and not skied out. But if it is deep and untouched, the skis will change your whole perspective on skiing and pow days...really though.
 
^ nice review. I have never skied the ARG's but I bought the JJ's this year. Couldn't have been happier with my choice. Pow days they are immense. Great in the deep stuff as well as when it is getting a little tracked out. They are fine on the groomers which is something that I have heard that the ARG's aren't great at.
 
I really don't understand all the "ARG's can't be used on groomers, they will kill you" talk.

I have NO problem at all with my ARG's on the groomed runs back to the lift. They are very easy to controll, and will turn around on a dime. I don't even think is hard to do a full groomed run on them, but not optimal for sure.

If you are looking for a ski for when it's a couple of fresh on the mountain the ARG is so much more fun than the JJ's, but if you want a ski that you can use on days with no snow go for the JJ's (But why use a pow ski when it's no pow???)
 
minihef and californiagrown are pretty spot on. The ARG is THE SHIT when it comes to pow skiing and will murder crud. JJ is super fun in pow, however can't charge as hard in the crud but is a certainly a better all around ski. The ARG is not awful on hard pack, but don't plan and rallying down on any groomers or laying on GS turns. JJ on the other had will be happy to do that. Like they said it's all about where it fits into your quiver. Also, definitely take the AK JJ into consideration. I'm 6'1 175 and rode the JJ all last season mounted -3 from center. I'm a really aggressive skier and used them in every condition and while they are a ton of fun, they just didn't have enough meat to them when I really wanted to charge. It felt like I had a pretty small sweet spot when charging or dropping cliffs of skiing anything other than groomers of untracked pow. If you want something that's going to be a little more playful, jibby and easy to ski, go with a 185 JJ. If you think you need some more ski underfoot and plan on doin some man skiing then get the 195 AK JJ.
 
Well, like most other situations, it depends. If you have another ski you ride on shitty days, they go for the ARG. It has arguably some of the best flotation that I've ever experienced on a ski.On the other hand, if your a mere mortal (like most of us) and can only afford one set of sticks, they the JJs would be a waay better way to go. They hold edge much better on groomers. They do almost as good as the ARG in pow too.

Regardless of which one you go with, remember to go one size bigger than you would usually ride. This will ensure that you have stability at high speed even on variable snow.
 
I would LOVE to see you arc a turn on a groomer on the ARG bud. I got it the year it came out and still can't do it.

You should own a JJ before you get an ARG. you'll appreciate what the ARG is if you do it that way. The ARG is a special ski that paved the way for where ski technology has gone the past few years. It might not be the most practical ski but when the conditions are right there is not a sicker ski. so quick and responsive for a ski that is 132 underfoot and 185. I love mine and have for years!
 
I shredded the ARG;s this winter and purchased them right before Utah got 5 ft

People were having trouble skiing it but not i, oh no. Those fuckers float. They charge over the cut up snow, and even small mogals, they kinda suck on groomers but you get used to it it just takes a minute. The thing that amazed me the most was the ability to shred the tightest trees with ease and be able to cut thru snow with very little effort. You can really maneuver those bad boys in deep
 
I don't think he's saying that he can arc, just that he thinks that "uncontrollable" is a bit much. They certainly aren't ideal on hardpack, but heck compromise in one area gains you something else in another right?
 
you live in michigan...thats not all that surprising now is it?

As long as a groomer is soft i can rail big ol' GS turns on it. the skis do have like 2mm of side cut so you just cant really carve short or medium turns, just carve the natural arc on soft groomers and you can rail. Like i said though, if you hit a harpack, or ice patch you have zero control and end up just barely hanging on.

however, they are really not good unless it is soft and not bumped out. One of the greatest plusses of the ski, how poppy it is, is also a negative when the snow gets skied, and bumped out. You can sometimes unweight a turn, hit a bump and just get launched...like super, frighteningly far.

this is a 3rd ski, and should be viewed as such. Anyone who disagrees hasnt actually owned the skis, and skied them for years.

 
I have both. ARG has a terrible reputation, but it really only kind of sucks on groomers. I use it when there's tracked/untracked pow and crud with zero problems. The JJ is my everyday ski and is great for finding and dominating pow as well as whatever the rest of the mountain throws at you.

If you have an all-mountain ski just get the ARG. You won't regret it. If you don't have an all-mountain/powder tool get the JJ for sure.

Just don't be scared of how big the ARG is. As long as you're aggressive and not in nut-buckling moguls you'll be fine.
 
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