FRIEND is Ski of the Year
"Redesigned for 2019, The Friend is J Skis widest ski made even wider to better plow through variable snow. A stable, all-condition that's ski especially desirable any day where snowflakes are whiting out the sun. At 117mm underfoot the Powder Union's reigning ASSFART King says The Friend is an excellent ski for charging big mountain lines with minimal turns thanks to gradual rocker. The ski's ability to stay stable at high speed comes from the skis maple wood core reinforced with carbon stringers."
"Red Mountain local Sam Woodward says, 'The Friend was made to be a playful, big-mountain ski and delivers. It's good at speed and yet you can smear it around like a playful ski thanks to the gradual rocker.' His countryman Sam Woodward says he never had to worry about the nose-diving and was confident landing. 'It has amazing floatation and is very maneuverable for such a big ski,' says Sara Verbeek a snow removal specialist from Revelstoke. 'This is a playful, soulful ski.'"
- Powder Magazine Buyer's Guide, 2019
Shaped by legendary engineer Francois Slyvain in collaboration with athletes Sander Hadley and Giray Dadali the Friend is now bigger and more badass than any of your old friends! We’ve given it a completely new shape, widening it under foot by 3mm to a 117mm waist and increasing the tip and tail width by 7mm. It’s new width, in combination with an extra long, gentle rocker makes it effortless to surf, pivot and smear bottomless pow like a pro.
The real surprise comes when the pow is gone; it’s new tighter sidecut radius and high energy flex pattern grips it and rips it on firm snow like no other ski in its class. The Friend is a rare breed of powder ski that truly gives you the best of both worlds. Float, surf, slash and butter in the deep pow until it gets tracked out, then have equal fun charging endless top to bottom groomer and chunder laps.
This is a powder skier’s dream one ski quiver!
| Friend | NEW Friend | |
|---|---|---|
| Waist Width | 114mm | 117mm |
| Available Lengths | 173, 180, 186cm | 177, 183, 189cm |
| Example Length | 180cm | 183cm |
| Tip / Waist / Tail Dimensions | 136 / 114 / 125mm | 143 / 117 / 133mm |
| Sidecut Radius | 19.5mm | 18.5m |
| Camber | 2mm | 3mm |
| Rocker Height (Tip / Tail) | 8 / 3mm | 9 / 3mm |
| Rocker Length (Tip / Tail) | 480 / 400mm | 325 / 90mm |
| Tip / Tail Height | 65 / 50mm | 75 / 40mm |
| Boot from Tail | n/a cm | 835mm |
| Boot from Center | -6cm | n/a cm |
| Weight | 2,200g | 2,280g |
