The Metal "Bentley - Snowflake Bentley x J Collab"
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Overview
Specs & Construction| Model: | The Metal |
|---|---|
| Graphic: | Bentley - Snowflake Bentley x J Collab |
| Total Made: | 450 Pair |
| Dimensions: | 136-106-125 (Tip - Waist - Tail) |
| Public Release: |
The Metal™ "Bentley - Snowflake Bentley x J Collab" Graphic
"Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated., When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind."
- Wilson Bentley
We've all heard the phrase "no two snowflakes are alike," but what you probably didn't know was that this discovery was actually made in the small rural town of Jericho, Vermont, by Wilson A. Bentley. He was a self-educated farmer that attracted the world's attention with his pioneering work in the area of photomicrography (photography of objects under a microscope). He adapted a microscope to a bellows camera, and after years of trial and error, he became the first person to photograph a single snow crystal in 1885.
During his lifetime he captured breath taking images of more than 5000 snowflakes, all based on a common hexagon shape. His photos and findings were acquired by universities and published in magazines throughout the world.
Like all skiers, while riding the chair I occasionally have a snowflake calmly land on my jacket perfectly intact and take a close a look getting lost in awe of it's seemingly perfect geometry, imagining it to be a microscopic world of it's own. Showcasing Bentley's snowflake images on these skis gives them a one-of-a-kind look, while bringing this unique story and photography to the surface for more skiers to enjoy.
I’m building only 450 pair of this new Limited Edition graphic on The Metal ski and hand signing and numbering each pair so you have a unique ski like no one else. Like the snowflakes, these skis won't be around forever, so order your pair before they're gone!
If you're ever near Jericho, Vermont, take a closer look at Bentley's snowflakes by stopping in to the Jericho Historical Society.
The Metal™ Model Info
The Metal™
136-106-125“The Metal” wins awards year after year because it provides so many different high performance personalities in one; powerful high speed stability, effortless floatation in powder and second to none precision when ripping groomers. I optimized the shape and location of the “Light Metal” Titanal laminate to add more power where you need it, and reduced weight where you don’t. The result is a powerful, smooth, stable ski that blasts through chop and bumps, boosting your confidence at high speeds. Unlike other skis in this class, The Metal is an incredibly easy, nimble, fun and playful ski that will have you smiling from ear to ear. The 106mm waist and rocker floats like a dream in the powder, yet feels much narrower and quicker on firm snow due to its tight sidecut and long effective edge. This is a pow surfing, cliff stomping, crud crushing big mountain assassin, with versatility that feels like it’s literally reading your mind! #JMetalSki
The Metal™ Ski Specs
| Lengths Available (cm): | 173, 180, 186cm |
|---|---|
| Ski Length (cm): | 180cm |
| 5 Sidecut Avg. (m): | 18.0m |
| Tip / Waist / Tail (mm): | 136 / 106 / 125mm |
| Boot from Tail (mm): | 840mm |
| Boot From Center (cm): | n/a cm |
| Camber (mm) | 3mm |
|---|---|
| Tip / Tail Height (mm): | 75 / 55mm |
| Rocker Height Tip / Tail (mm): | 9 / 3mm |
| Rocker Length Tip / Tail (mm): | 445 / 285mm |
| Weight per ski (g): | 2,180g |
Rocker Matching Sidecut™
Unlike other rockered skis, we carefully match our rocker geometry with our sidecut geometry. To accomplish this perfect match, we blend multiple size radii into one smooth parabolic curve from the end of the camber to the very tip, like a surfboard.
This creates a much smoother tip shape that has no abrupt kinks, flat spots or awkward changes for the best of both worlds! The rockered tips effortlessly surf and float in powder, while the edge length in contact with snow is dramatically increased to improve grip and reduce tip chatter and bounce. You won’t believe how precise and effortless your skis feel from the hard pack to the pow!
The Metal™ Construction
I’ve spent over two decades designing, developing, and continually refining the industries most innovative and award winning skis ever created. Now that I’m selling skis directly to you, I’m able to invest more money into using the most expensive, highest quality materials possible, sparing no expense like never before in the name of premium ski performance & durability. You’ll literally feel the difference the moment you make your first turn and still be stoked, years later like it was still your first day on them! This is why I confidently back all my skis with a money back 100% satisfaction guarantee. Learn more about this ski’s construction below…
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Titanal Metal Laminate
More power & stability where you need it!
Unique to this model ski, I'm using a titanal metal laminate on the top and bottom of the core. Instead of running it edge to edge, tip to tail, I've optimized the metal laminate’s geometry & location running only narrow strips down the center and ending it before the tips. This way there's enough metal to dramatically increase power, stability & dampening over the length of the ski in contact with the snow, however the tips are lighter for dramatically reduced swing weight to maintain a nimble, lively & fun feel. You'll notice the tail of the ski metal geometry has slightly less metal to allow for a more playful and forgiving exit out of your turns while the tip has more for powerful initiation and reduced chatter in the tips. You'll feel like you're on a GS race ski when you're carving it up, yet be shocked how fun & nimble it feels in tight trees, chutes and even the bumps. Enjoy!
Maple Wood Core
Highest quality wood for a lively energetic feel & long life
The factory is located in Quebec Canada, so we got Maple, eh! Maple is a very expensive high quality hard wood, thus the reason it’s used to build floors and furniture in your house that lasts a lifetime. Maple absorbs impact, and has a ton of energy for a very ski feel and long life. We run 4 – 20mm wide Maple laminates the entire length of the core, plus 100% under your foot for unprecedented energy, durability & binding screw retention. At the tips of my skis you’ll see more of the light colored Aspen witch is incredibly lightweight with plenty strong when laminated alongside Maple for reduced swing weight at the tips.
Full Height Sidewalls
Maximum impact resistant & vibration dampening
We’re using super durable, high impact absorbing Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polyethylene for our sidewalls. This is the same material we use on our ski's bases. It’s very impact resistant and since it’s full height, it also absorbs more vibration like using a longer spring in your car’s suspension. Take a metal pipe and hit it against a rock, then do the same with a piece of plastic. The metal vibrates through to your bones & the plastic absorbs the vibration for you. That’s the difference of having full height plastic shock absorbing sidewalls over your edges or not. We’re cutting the isdes of the sidewalls to a 10* angle, with a nice step at the bottom for easy tuning like race skis.
Thickest Edge
The thickest, most durable edge in the industry
We use the thickest hardened steel edges in the industry 2.2mm x 2.5mm. More metal = more durable. Whether you’re accidentally hitting a rock or purposely sliding a rail, you’re edges will live a much longer life. You’ll also be able to re-tune many more times or file them round to slide rails longer.
Sintered Base
The fastest, thickest, most durable base material
I don’t match my clothes, but I always match my base & edge. We use the thickest edge so I also use the thickest base in the industry 1.8mm. I use sintered Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) Polyethylene, the highest quality base material available. It absorbs wax better, slides faster, and is more durable than any other base material. Basically it’s super hard & fast, like your _______ likes it.
Rubber Laminate
Absorbs vibration and dramatically reduces risk of delam
Think of a ski’s construction like a magazine, each page = layers of material in the ski. Then bend your magazine you’ll see every page slide against each other, this is “shear”. This shear force trys to separate, thus delaminate all the layers in your ski every time it’s flexed or the tips are slapped down on a jump landing. This is why I run a layer of thin rubber around the full perimeter of the ski over the entire edge, plus the full width of across the tip and tail. The rubber acts as an insulator so that the edge and other materials can slide against each other when flexing without delaminating. This dramatically improves durability & reduces vibration.
Quasitropic Fiberglass
Fibers run in 4 directions to maximize energy & strength
Fiberglass works like a guitar string, when it is flexed it wants to spring back, that’s the energy or pop you feel in a ski. However this energy can only be applied in the direction the actual fiberglass is run. This means the more directions of fiberglass, the more energy, pop & responsiveness. Industry standard “Triaxial” fiberglass runs in only three directions, we use a Quasi Isotropic fiberglass configuration, same as the aerospace industry to maximize energy & strength in as many directions as possible, 4 different axis 0, 90, +45, -45. It costs more, but it’s worth the performance.
High Definition Digital Printing
You already know I put a lot of value in graphics! So instead of traditional silk screening with low resolution image quality, you’ve seen the dots! I’m using a state of the art, Fuji UV Flat bed printer, a $170,000 machine that enables me to print high resolution from my computer directly to the plastic top & base. The resolution is unbelievable photo-real so you’ll be one of few skiers in the world with skis looking this good on your feet.
The Metal™ Awards
TGR Tested 2019 - Metal
"More than any other ski in the test, J skis’ The Metal screamed one word: FUN. It pops, slashes, spins and butters on command, acting like a true extension of an athletic, freestyle-minded skier’s body. It's not afraid of dropping into bumped out, hike-to steeps once the snow softens up."
Freeskier Mag Editors' Pick 2020 - Metal
"The Metal has been the powerhouse offering of J skis for several years now, and our testers still love it. Like the majority of skis in this category, The Metal balances incredible power with supreme weight savings to create a stable platform with all the dampening properties, but not take away from the comfortable swing weight and liveliness of the ski - so stiff, yet so playful. Super fast and stable and easy to lay it all out on the groomers.”
SKI Mag Official Selection 2020 - Metal
"Vermont-based J skis' top model from last year's Indie Test proved it could hold it's own with the big brands at Taos. Featuring an energetic, full maple wood core, sandwiched between two Titanal laminates, The Metal earned praise for its energy, crud-busting capabilities, and solid performance everywhere on the mountain. With Limited Edition graphics rolling out all year long at a jaw-dropping low price, it left our testers wanting to ski on it all day."
Blister Recommended 19/20 - Metal
"While The Metal is one of the most stable skis here (especially in rough, variable snow) it's also quite playful and not punishing at all. It is a very approachable ski with very plush suspension that won't take you for a ride It's easy to recommend to directional skiers looking for a playful, easier-going ski with good stability or to freestyle-oriented skiers seeking better stability than most freestlye options on the market."
Blister Recommended 18/19 - Metal
"The Metal strikes a fantastic balance of stability, playfulness, and forgiveness. It is a very approachable ski that won't take you for a ride, but when the snow gets rough, you can lean into its tips and let the ski do the work. It's impressively damp, but unlike many skis this damp, The Metal is more playful and easy to ski switch."
Freeskier Mag Editors' Pick 2019 - Metal
"This marks the fourth straight year that Jason Levinthal’s The Metal has been named an Editors’ Pick. It's a nimble ski that’s ultra-stable and smooth as butter from edge to edge in all conditions. A badass ski for badass skiers."
SKI Mag Official Selection 2019 - Metal
"It tamed the entire mountain with a resilient playfulness that’s easy for nearly any advanced/expert skier to enjoy, plus it has a massive sweet spot that made the ski always seem at ease in all conditions."
Powder Magazine Skier's Choice 2019 - Metal
"This is my favorite ski for all mountain fun times. They're a buttery, charging ski that has great pop in and out of turns. They have the perfect flex, flotation, and maneuverability for bumps, trees, and the great wide open."
Blister Recommended 17/18 - Metal
The Metal is very intuitive, has a big sweet spot, good edge hold, carves cleanly, is easy to bend, and is fun in the air. In addition to being fun, it boasts really nice suspension in crud, so the more you care about performance in mediocre to poor conditions, the more you might want to lean toward it.
Freeskier Mag Editors' Pick 2018 - Metal
You're probably glancing at that perfect score in the playfulness department - well, don't mistake this thing for a noodle. Light metal construction gives you power, stability and dampening where most of the edge-to-snow contact occurs, without sacrificing swing weight. "It's basically perfect," said one tester.
Powder Magazine Skier's Choice 2018 - Metal
A narrow sheet of Titanal layered on top of the maple core makes this ski and ideal blend between strong and playful. The result ss one of the most versatile skis on the market.The Metal™ Reviews
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"Bentley - Snowflake Bentley x J Collab" Limited Edition Owners
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