Jett review

Overview

The Jett is Elan's U-Flex ski for small children who are learning to turn, sold for 26/27 under product code AFDMRC26. It comes in nine lengths, from 70 cm for a toddler of about 70–85 cm tall up to 150 cm for a child of 150–165 cm, always as a set with an Elan binding on the Junior Shift system. Elan sells several U-Flex kids' skis that share the same shape, radius and build and differ only in graphics: the Jett has a black, yellow-accented look, while the Elan Maxx red and the Elan Starr are the red and white versions. Elan describes the Jett as "boosted with U-Flex for up and coming racers to gain speed and confidence".

On-snow performance

We compared the published specs with other skis for young beginners; this section reads the numbers rather than describing a ski day. The key idea is U-Flex: Elan says the construction makes the ski 25% more flexible than the industry standard, so a light child can bend it and feel the edge grip from the first turns. The radius grows with the ski, from a very tight 2.5 m at 70 cm to 6.2 m at 100 cm and 13.1 m at 150 cm, so every size turns at the low speeds children ski at. The Early Rise Rocker lifts the shovel a little, which should make turn starts easy and stop the tip from catching in soft or uneven snow. A 67–69 mm waist keeps the ski quick from edge to edge on the piste; it is not meant for deep snow or the park.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: Synflex Core, a light synthetic core.
• Technology: U-Flex Technology (Elan: 25% softer flex than standard junior skis).
• Construction: Full Power Cap with fibreglass reinforcement.
• Profile: Early Rise Rocker.
• Base: extruded.
• System: Junior Shift with factory binding: EL 4.5 GW CA JRS (DIN 0.75–4.5) in all sizes; 130–150 cm also with EL 7.5 GW CA JRS (DIN 2–7.5).
• Shape: 101/69/90 mm (70–100 cm), 105/68/90 mm (110 cm), 109/67/95 mm (130–150 cm).
• Radius: 2.5 / 3.5 / 4.8 / 6.2 / 7.0 / 8.6 / 9.4 / 11.2 / 13.1 m (70 → 150 cm).
• Weight: Elan publishes no ski-only weight. The weight on this page is calculated: retailer xspo lists the set weight per pair with bindings (for example 2.66 kg at 100 cm); half of that minus 575 g for the HEAD/Tyrolia JRS 4.5 GW CA (610 g for the JRS 7.5 at 130–150 cm), the Tyrolia twin of Elan's binding, gives about 550 g per ski at 70 cm, 755 g at 100 cm, 980 g at 120 cm and 1285 g at 150 cm.

Who it's for & comparisons

The Jett is for children in their first seasons, from the ski school slope to easy red runs. Pick the length from Elan's size guide (the ski should sit between chin and forehead); a light child can stay on the shorter side. Because the Maxx red and Starr are the same ski, choose between those three on colour alone. Other brands offer similar first skis: the Head Joy easy jrs also comes as a light set with a junior rail binding, the Blizzard Firebird jr uses a slightly narrower 67 mm waist in 70–140 cm, and the Rossignol Hero jr is a sturdier step up for kids from 100 cm who already carve.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• U-Flex makes the ski easy to bend for light children.
• Nine lengths from 70 to 150 cm, so it fits from the first day on snow.
• Short radius in every size for slow, round turns.
• Sold ready to ski with a Junior Shift binding that adjusts to the boot without tools.

Cons

• Soft, cap-built ski that strong or heavier kids will outgrow quickly.
• Narrow waist gives little float in fresh snow.
• Extruded base is less fast than the sintered base of Elan's RC skis.
• Only sold as a set; you cannot fit a binding of your choice.

Verdict: A soft, easy first ski that helps small children carve early. Buy it for a beginner up to roughly the first red runs; move to an RC model once the child skis fast and wants more grip.