Ski: 2024-2025 J Skis Best Friend, 191 cm
Available Lengths: 177, 184, 191 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length (straight-tape pull): 189.6 cm
Stated Weight per Ski (191 cm): 2150 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski (191 cm): 2259 & 2326 grams
Stated Dimensions: 140-118-129 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 140.5-117-130 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (191 cm): 21 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 63 mm / 49.5 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 3 mm
Core Materials: aspen + carbon stringers + fiberglass laminate
Base Material: sintered UHMW, 1.6 mm thick “Lite Base”
Factory Recommended Mount Point: –6.5 cm from center / 88.3 cm from tail
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length (straight-tape pull): 182.3 cm
Stated Weight per Ski (184 cm): 2000 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski (184 cm): 2067 & 2093 grams
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 140.5-117-130 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (184 cm): 19.5 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 65 mm / 46.5 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 5 mm
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -6.1 cm from center / 85.1 cm from tail
[Editor’s Note: Our “First Looks” are our way of getting you information sooner on some of the products we’re reviewing, including our measured specs and the details from the manufacturer. Once we’ve started testing a given product, we detail our on-snow impressions in our Flash Reviews and our annual Winter Buyer’s Guide. When we’re able to spend extensive time testing a given product, we publish our in-depth Full Reviews and Deep Dive comparisons.]
What J Skis says about the Best Friend:
“This ski looks different for a reason… It makes powder skiing easy!
We’ve engineered a revolutionary new asymmetric ski shape that makes powder skiing easier for everyone! The problem with the traditional shape of powder skis is it causes your downhill ski to sink and your uphill ski to rise in deep snow. This separates your legs, making it hard to stay in control and tiring you out waaay faster than necessary. To solve this problem, we added surface area in specific places and removed it from others. The result is a pair of skis that float naturally on the same plane, helping your legs stay closer together without extra effort. It feels more like riding a single surfboard than two individual skis. This means you can ski deep snow with more confidence while using less energy, letting the skis use the natural mechanics of powder snow to do the hard work for you! No more sitting back to keep your tips up, no more backseat landings, face plants, tomahawks, or yard sales. You can ski in your natural stance, floating and turning with ease, without straining to stay in control—even on the deepest days. The unique, asymmetric shape is only on the tip and tail of the ski and will have no effect on the ski’s firm snow performance. You get the benefits of a ski with traditional sidecut and camber when charging hard on firm and chopped up conditions. Meet your NEW Best Friend! Surf’s up!”
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the 191 cm Best Friend:
Tips: 5.5-6
Shovels: 6.5-8.5
In Front of Toe Piece: 9-10
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 10-8.5
Tails: 8-5.5
And here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the 184 cm Best Friend:
Tips: 5.5-6
Shovels: 6.5-8.5
In Front of Toe Piece: 9-10
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 10-8.5
Tails: 8-5.5
This powder ski is not particularly soft, except around the most rockered areas of its tip and tail.
@Paul: I hope you are fine and looking forward as much as I do to the next season :-). Since you are all over the Winter Buyer’s Guide with this ski, I hope that you will write a full review soon.
I also saw comments that one of your all-time favorite powder touring skis is the Heritage Lab BC120. And I think you should really test the Ronin 122 from Jonno. Why?
I already wrote a comment about it on the website, but it may not have reached you. I have a similar ski taste and even purchased a Folsom Rapture because of you, and I really love them! I am from Switzerland and use them in the Alps on good days.
Last year, I purchased the Ronin 122 from Jonno. He does not have it on his website yet, so let’s say it is still on the secret menu ;-). The ski comes in two lengths, 188 or 195, and can be customized to your preference. It is a full rocker ski. The specs of mine are 145 – 122 – 135 in 188cm length, 25.5 Radius. We tried a new construction between LTE and MFD, and they came out at 1680g. The skis are simply beautifully made and come with perfect tuning. They do remind me of the Rapture and have similar traits in a much lighter build. I think I do not need to mention, as Jonathan has pointed out so many times, that light skis also have limitations, and I agree with that. Of course, they are less stable than heavier skis. But for the weight, the construction with the flax is surprisingly damp.
The winter was not great in the Alps, but I took them out a couple of times. They clicked immediately, and I already felt confident opening up on the first run.
My gut feeling tells me that you would love these skis and that it is the touring ski you have been looking for in AK. I have skied a couple of times in AK before, and this would be my touring ski I would bring for good conditions.