JJA C4 Reviews!

Ok, time for some thougts about the C4. I've been on it now 5 days. The first three times were on artificial snow that had been through the melt-freeze cycle several times. In other words, pure ice. The C4 is a very fast board, and on those conditions it was intimidating to put the board on edge because of the speed and not being used to the way the board reacts. But it was very good, and very stable with litle to no vibrations at high speeds. By far the best edge hold on icy conditions of any board I have tried. I do agree with Board Doctor above, that the nose does not pull you into the turn. You have to to push it quite hard, and the preassure needs to be applied further forward than I'm used to. But I like it, and it makes me able to control the turn radius, even at higher speed. I riding the medium with EGS by the way, and thank you James for recomending the medium over the stiff. The stiff one on ice would have been a handful. The conditions were hard the first three days, and I did not come close to testing the limit of the board, but had a great time. Then the snow finally came, and after a snowfall of 40-50 cm, I got to test it on natural snow groomers. This was so good. I had the best carivng runs ever that day. Only to be beaten the next day. I feel like I'm still just scratching the surface of what this thing can do, and I'm only just starting to adjust my tecnique to get the most out of it. So as you allready have understood by now, I'm very happy with the performance of the C4, and I can't wait to get back on the mountain! 

Posted by: @torkelro

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This was so good. I had the best carivng runs ever that day. Only to be beaten the next day.

It's so great to read this!  Thanks @torkelro and happy new year!

The board will continue to break in and get softer and you'll also get more confident as you get used to the width, so next time it's icy you'll be ripping like it's not!

About the nose not pulling me in like I had remembered… I’ve also moved the front binding one insert back for a 53.88 cm stance, whereas  I rode the protos at the 55.88 (22”) stance.  That might actually be the biggest difference.

The board itself is great on ice, but it is a bit wide for my mondo 260 boots.  I really need some decent edge angle to properly stack my weight over the edge, and that’s pretty ballsy on ice.  I definitely prefer this width in snow that I can trench.

Posted by: @board-doctor

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but it is a bit wide for my mondo 260 boots

My boots are only 26.5 and I find the C4 too narrow.  My new JJA Aysm 175 is 306mm in the waist, my new Coiler Contra 169 is 299mm.

Maybe you need some risers for added leverage @board-doctor?  Come see me, I'll hook you up!

I put a set on the DoubleWide today and it made a huge difference!  (Look for that video in the DoubleWide section in 15 minutes...)

(Oops...  I guess I was signed in as Martina C when I replied.  Don't let on that I know her password please - James)

Nah I just find it wide on ice, otherwise it’s smooth sailing. I’ll definitely try to get up in the next couple weeks, I’d love to try the Exegi!

Posted by: @board-doctor

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Nah I just find it wide on ice

Oh yeah, that's the difference: I don't ride ice, I live in Revelstoke!

I rode the c4 for a day in Revelstoke recently, so I’ll share my review. I'm a strong rider, a level below James. 

I daily a Coiler, have one of James’ older JJA boards, have ridden a bunch of his other boards, and have a Donek I never ride anymore. Comparatively, I've ridden a lot of custom carving boards.

The c4 is an amazing board, compared to the Coiler its stiffer and engages the edge faster. It took maybe one run to feel how the c4 liked to turn  but after that it was pleasure to ride. For me as a rider, it’s simple, it holds an edge on steep terrain at high edge angles, and is fun and easy to layout carve mellower runs.

I've known James for a year and a half, and hanging out and riding with him i've realized this this: for years he's been buying boards from essentially all of North Americas custom board builders (an insane number of boards, how many James!?); pushing builders to build wider boards (I’m pretty sure Bruce at Coiler would never have made any wide Contras without James); working with builders to get them to improve free carving designs (right now with JJA and Exegi); etc… The c4 went through a lot of prototypes to get to the final product, I got to ride a lot of them, and they were all very good boards but they kept making revisions all last winter. The board was always going to be good. If James rides it, it’s a sick board.

Imo, right now, the C4 is the best free carving board you can buy.

I purchased one of the C4 prototypes that was available a couple weeks ago. That post has been removed, but to those curious (or remember) I bought the ice gripper of the two. With its small differences aside, it is said to be very similar to the C4 some of you have. Took it out yesterday for its debut, and the ski area was so crowded I was blessed with 3 runs in 2 hours. All of which were greens because the rest of the lift lines were even worse... not ideal. Packed up, and called it a day. Tried again today, and while there was still a crowding issue, I was able to get it up on edge a handful of times. There was so much grip, that I was given the lesson that snowboards can even have this much grip. Completely locked in on turns- but not the locked in board is running away from you type. The locked in that makes people in line say "duuuuude that thing carvessssss" (we all know the accent, but many people have never seen a carving board out here. They simply don't exist in my state... it got a lot of attention). To paraphrase what emilecantin said, the thing is on rails. And to answer the question nobody asked, it bombs amazing. 49.5mph with complete confidence on my 3rd run (just to see how it would handle the bumps). Any other board I have feels like it's falling apart under my feet over 38mph... Not its intended purpose, but had to answer the question for myself.

Looking forward to getting out on a day with less crowds, and maybe not a sprained ankle. There's a lot left on the table both with the board and my technique, but I am really looking forward to the next couple weeks.

So I gave up on the uncomfortable Insano for now and went back to my Vans Verse.  I swapped the Flux CV LTD for Rome Cleavers (with Bataleon Infinity Straps) to strengthen the interface a bit.  The higher strap and stiffer highback certainly aren’t as surfy, but do provide great leverage for upunweighted style turns.  I think they probably match this board and riding style a bit better.

Though sadly, my season may be over…  I was carving the day after a pow day and I went into a gully (where Easter Gully crosses Mervins) which must’ve been topped up.  It looked just like the rest of the groomer, but as I initiated a turn the snow fractured into chunks which put my weight forward.  The nose didn’t fold, but it dug in and pole vaulted me into a flying cartwheel.  Unfortunately I landed on my leading shoulder and broke my collar bone.

I’m still hopeful that I might be able to get some more casual carving in before the end of the season, but probably no board testing for me.  I didn’t get a chance to ride with @dan yet this year either. 🙁

@board-doctor that sucks!  God speed for a fast and full recovery.  I'm also having a hard time with a new pair of Insano boots.  I didn't have the liner heat molded, yet, but I think I will go ahead and do it.  I'm just getting intense pressure above my inside ankle on front foot.  Lots of loosening the BOA between runs too.  We'll see....  I'm sure I'll break them in and get used to it eventually.  Take care Mr. Doctor, heal-up good  : )

@dan I wish I was a much better carver - but it’s awesome to know that I own one of these C4 carving machines. Mine is Stiff with EGS and I’m loving the super edge hold and eagerness to move fast and pull high g’s. The last time I was on it was the best softboot carving experience I’ve had yet - and at 64 I feel really lucky to be having so much fun😎

@wild-cherry I just watched the video from last march where you had just received the C4 prototypes and you talked about how the intention was to make them a bit more forgiving and easier to ride, easier on the body.  Would you say that was achieved?  And is that what Jasey will continue to make for this model?  Thanks : ) 

@board-doctor was bummed to hear about the injury. Hopefully a quick recovery. 

@rocketman69 try to ride the C4 at its lower end of its turn speed range, for me riding mellow blue runs, at a lower speeds really helped me improve my carves. It's also a lot of fun, and easy on the body. 

@board-doctor OMG that sucks - I flew over handlebars on July 3rd and landed on my front shoulder - multiple breaks to my collarbone - two surgeries to fix. I hope you heal up quickly 🙏👍

@dan great advice - problem is I’m just addicted to pulling high g’s and dopamines😎 the C4 is the perfect tool for that job💯👍