Constructed with lightweight aspen wood and carbon stringers, The Escalator is great for skiers who can’t decide between a lightweight climber and a downhill ripper. The ski feels like an extension of your body as you rip between trees, surf through powder and dissect the moguls. While top-end speed isn’t The Escalator’s forte, carving on this ski is incredibly enjoyable, as it effortlessly transitions between short and long-radius turns. This flexibility allows your creativity to flourish with a malleable and undemanding ride.
The semi-directional shape ensures seamless turn initiation while carbon provides excellent rebound. The ski is also fitted with J Skis’ Lite Base and Edge to retain a modest weight while offering peace of mind during early-season days when you know the sharks are lurking.
Our testers loved this ski, noting that it was “Lightweight, slashy and nimble. It pivots on a dime while maintaining a respectable level of stability. The fairly aggressive sidecut lends itself to a mean carve, yet you can still pivot, slash and schmear the tails. It’s a great combination for today’s creative freeride skier.”
At 102-mm underfoot, The Escalator can handle any condition but is happiest off-piste, in soft snow. It sits in a unique league of downhill-oriented backcountry skis, light enough for backcountry excursions but without sacrificing the ability to create smiles on the downhill. If you’re not yet convinced, rumor has it that J Skis’ founder and industry legend, Jason Levinthal, clicks into this one as his daily driver.