How to Choose the Right Ski.

The first thing to consider is what type of skier you are. Are you a freestyle skier, an all-mountain skier, a freeride skier, or a backcountry skier? Are you more of a traditional, directional skier or do you want/need something with a twin tip to ride switch and provide playful, freestyle performance.

Freestyle Skiers

Do you like jumps, rails, and/or doing tricks all over the mountain? Then you’re a freestyle skier. 

Whether you're skiing in or out of the park, freestyle skiers should look for skis with twin tips and somewhat softer flexes. Armada’s ARV/ARW Series and Signature Series skis (like the EDOLLO and the BDOG) are skis with the attributes freestyle focused skiers are looking for. 

What type of terrain do you ski, and in what conditions? Do you primarily ski off trail in deep snow? Do you ski the frontside, groomers, and primarily on hardpack? Maybe you ski a little bit of it all.

Powder

Powder skis feature wider waist widths and comparatively softer flexes for maximum flotation and maneuverability in deep conditions. Generally, the wider a ski is, the better it will perform in deep snow but the more limited it will be in variable or harder snow. Powder skis are typically 100 mm or more in width at the waist, and also feature more rocker (rise in the tip and sometimes tail) and less camber underfoot.

Armada skis designed for powder performance include wider ARV/ARW Series Skis (106 and 112), Declivity X Series skis (Declivity X 108 and 115), and Signature Series and Zero Collection Skis (ARV 116 JJ UL, Whitewater 116 and 112). 

Frontside/Groomers

Narrower skis with more camber underfoot and comparatively stiffer constructions deliver the best frontside/groomer firm snow performance. Narrower skis are easier to get on edge and have stronger edge hold. Frontside skis often feature more camber underfoot and less dramatic rocker in the tip and tail, and sometimes have metal layers in construction for more vibration damping and stability while delivering optimal carving performance. Skis with waist widths in the low 90’s and below are best for firmer conditions. 

Skis like the Declivity and Reliance 92 Ti, 88 C, and 82 Ti, are skis with strong frontside performance. Narrower ARV/ARW Series skis (like the ARV/ARW 88) also perform well on hardpack in a more playful/less directional package. 

All-Conditions

The jack-of-all-trades, one-ski-quiver, all-conditions skis aim for the sweet spot that allows them to perform well in varied conditions. The name of the game is versatility, which comes at the expense of performance on the extreme ends (in the deepest pow or on the firmest snow). These skis feature moderate waist widths (typically between 90-106mm), and a mixture of rocker and camber that allows for enough float to ski some fresh snow while maintaining enough firm snow performance to ski in between storms. 

All-conditions skis from Armada include mid-width ARV/ARW Series Skis (ARV/ARW 94, 100, and 106) for those seeking a more playful ride, and mid-width Reliance, Declivity, and Zero Collection skis (Reliance and Declivity 92Ti, Declivity X 102, Stranger) for those preferring more directional performance.