Armada ARG

[bossass]

For those without Buyer's Guide.

Armada ARG (aka Armada Spat)
185cm, 125-135-133-134-120

Just like Gillette, Armada said "Fuck four, we're going straight to five!"

Word on the inside is these are light.

[nick > jesus]

that there is an interesting sounding ski, i cannot say that i can entirely imagine what it looks like, but i assume some thing like the lotus 120 or 138

[upallnight]

Spat-ish shape, plus a mid-section with a touch of sidecut for the times when you need it. Sounds pretty interesting.

"Light" = light for an alpine board?

Anyone ride Armada sticks? Are they generally durable?

[ak_powder_monkey]

so its got a fat ficsher skate cut I've been calling for this for a while amongst my friends. Is it reverse camber?

[BakerBoy]

so its got a fat ficsher skate cut I've been calling for this for a while amongst my friends. Is it reverse camber?

Parts of it are reverse camber, parts are flat. It's more similar to a skinnier Pontoon than a Spatula.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Parts of it are reverse camber, parts are flat. It's more similar to a skinnier Pontoon than a Spatula.

heh...I was thinking it was more similar to a Lotus 138 than a Pontoon because it's got the narrower, shark-nosed, torpedo-tip before the widest part of the ski (which I'm a huge fan of).

but the 138 is better...because it comes in a 192

[splat]

Parts of it are reverse camber, parts are flat. It's more similar to a skinnier Pontoon than a Spatula.

Just had drinks with Stephan the other day. He seems to think it's exactly like the Lotus. But for a 3mm difference in widths and the square tips, he thought it was a Lotus replica. Having looked down both of them, I thought the similarities were amazingly close.

[BakerBoy]

Just had drinks with Stephan the other day. He seems to think it's exactly like the Lotus. But for a 3mm difference in widths and the square tips, he thought it was a Lotus replica. Having looked down both of them, I thought the similarities were amazingly close.

Well, I've never seen a Lotus 138, so I can't compare them. But whatever, we're still 3 years behind snowboarders...

[upallnight]

Just had drinks with Stephan the other day. He seems to think it's exactly like the Lotus. But for a 3mm difference in widths and the square tips, he thought it was a Lotus replica. Having looked down both of them, I thought the similarities were amazingly close.

2 HUGE thumbs down for Armada, in that case. That blows.


I guess the positive for dp is that there is likely no way that the Armada could come close to the weight/torsional stiffness of the Lotus given that they're probably using lesser materials (i.e., not carbon). That may not matter to some, though.

[upallnight]

Spat = innovation.
Pontoon = innovation
138 = innovation (refinement of shape; innovation in materials)

ARG = ???

[Vicious]

2 HUGE thumbs down for Armada, in that case. That blows.


I guess the positive for dp is that there is likely no way that the Armada could come close to the weight/torsional stiffness of the Lotus given that they're probably using lesser materials (i.e., not carbon). That may not matter to some, though.

Pending a bit more info re: construction and perhaps a few pics...I concur.

[BakerBoy]

Spat = innovation.
Pontoon = innovation
138 = innovation (refinement of shape; innovation in materials)

ARG = ???

Jesus christ, it's just a ski. And if it means more companies start to think outside of the box in regards to traditional sidecuts and cambers, then I'm all for it. It sucks when snolerblade companies simply think they can make a ski bigger and bigger -- it just doesn't work after a point.

[upallnight]

It sucks when snolerblade companies simply think they can make a ski bigger and bigger -- it just doesn't work after a point.

Agreed on that front (KW mega fat?).

I love how more companies are "thinking outside the box" (and I've supported the Spat for a while now. What bugs me is that it sounds like what is passing for "innovation" is really just copying some of the "new" designs that have been out for a little bit -- and maybe adding a slight tweak so that it is not just a full rip-off.

That *may* not be the case with the ARG, but that's my guiding principle, and from the above it sounds like it's more immitation than innovation.

I support true innovation.

[soul_skier]

only a 185, dammit, dps are the only ones who have it right, if you're going to make a ski at least make a few that are 190 or longer

[leroy jenkins]

I thought it was interesting how, in the powmag gear guide, the ARG's dimensions were listed in five different numbers, but the 138's weren't.

I like the name though, ARRRRGGGHHH.

[leroy jenkins]

I just looked at the pictures in powder, and to me it looks like someone combined the Goode Scoop 142 with the Lotus 138. I'd be interested to see profile pictures from the side to compare the three skis camber.

[bossass]

Agreed on that front (KW mega fat?).

I love how more companies are "thinking outside the box" (and I've supported the Spat for a while now. What bugs me is that it sounds like what is passing for "innovation" is really just copying some of the "new" designs that have been out for a little bit -- and maybe adding a slight tweak so that it is not just a full rip-off.

That *may* not be the case with the ARG, but that's my guiding principle, and from the above it sounds like it's more immitation than innovation.

I support true innovation.

Everyone immitates. McConkey is the only one who didn't: with the spat. Every other ski we're talking about here is based off that ski. I saw Stephan spend alot of time on Spats two years before the Lotus hit us.

With that said, why you guys gotta be such haters. Armada is a solid company that does solid R+D with prototypes and rider input. I'd say the ANT was hit as far as hits go on this forum last season. You think that was an accident? How is it hard to see a transition between a burly board with little sidecut to a reverse camber ski with reverse sidecut (relatively)? Sure the ANT had some camber, but the JP vs. Julien didn't.

And who cares if it's a shorter Lotus? Good. We don't all have 10-foot dicks. It's not necessarily aimed at the same skier the Lotus is. You ever tried spinning a 720 with 192s? I've not been disappointed with Armada skis in the past, I don't expect this to be an exception.

I'm sure most here will choose the Lotus. I probably would still as well. But, the whole great concept here is choice.

[Rasputin]

This may be a ridiculous thought, but doesn't construction, the resultant flex, and how that affects how a ski feels to ride, have any meaning in people's appraisals of whether it is innovative or not? How many different SHAPES can skis be and still have useful funtion? Aren't they going to be trying to dial in the optimum dimensions of a given shape TYPE?

Until someone actually reports what it's like to ride this ski, isn't it all just blather? It seems so to me, but I have my delusional moments.

[jerr]

Interesting. To look at a parallel industry - alpine clothing - once Arcteryx made their splash with a properly worked, innovative and effective base design every other company simply copied them. A few tried adding features for the unique & wow factor but really Arcteryx had nailed it. The only innovations in alpine clothing now seem to be technological advances. Better materials, lighter production techniques and lighter more efficient haberdashery (fashion, which obviously isn't functional aside).

Is ski design nearing this point? I hope not. I'm not a good enough skier. I need more help - and I want to go faster...

[FREESKIER_FIVE-0]

It seems to me that the arg is more like a spat than a lotus. but i havent really seen any of them so i cant really say. but it seems that the arg is just a spat with a spot that doesnt have reverse camber and does have some traditional sidecut, just so you can get around better on hardpack. seems like a great idea to me.

[upallnight]

This may be a ridiculous thought, but doesn't construction, the resultant flex, and how that affects how a ski feels to ride, have any meaning in people's appraisals of whether it is innovative or not? How many different SHAPES can skis be and still have useful funtion? Aren't they going to be trying to dial in the optimum dimensions of a given shape TYPE?

Until someone actually reports what it's like to ride this ski, isn't it all just blather? It seems so to me, but I have my delusional moments.

well said.

[PeachesN'Cream]

i agree, why all the hate?

the ARG seems like a combo of many ski concepts that are proving to work well blended to make something slightly different — a bit of the spat, a bit of the toon a bit of the lotus. what is so wrong with that? if innovation didn't stand on other innovations where the hell would we be?

[stuckathuntermtn]

where can i see a pic of this?

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

i agree, why all the hate?

I don't think there's much 'hate' in this thread. with the exception of upallnight who gave 2 thumbs down, most people are just making comparisons to lotus's, toons, and spats which is pretty inevitable.

[PeachesN'Cream]

hate is a strong word and you are right most aren't hating.

i dunno i guess i would expect people to be more stoked on a new option with it's own set of characteristics — even if it's simmilar to some other skis out there — instead of calling copycat.

i personally am excited about em even tho i probably won't be buying a pair.