Full Disclosure: while at the SIA On Snow Demo, Travis & I we weren't allowed to hit any park features, there was no fresh snow so the skis were only tested on groomers/hard pack/crusty off-piste shit. These skis will have an * next to them.
1. K2 Catamaran: Full Review Here
"Of all the new skis the one I was most excited to try was the Catamaran. The Catamaran replaces the Pettitor in K2's range but is still the ski Sean will be spending a good amount of time on. Why the change in name? Basically at the time the ski was being developed, Sean's contract was coming to an end and at that point it was not clear whether he would be staying on the team, so rather than call it the Pettitor, the name Catamaran was used." - Tom P
[img=]http://images.newschoolers.com/images/17/00/85/71/52/857152_926w_640h.jpeg[/img]
2. Armada ARV 116 JJ*
New for 2018, the Armada ARV 116 expands their existing lineup to 4 total skis in the ARV family: 86, 96, 106, 116. While we didn't get spend much time on the 3rd generation JJ, Twig summed it up best: "Their OG 5-point pow ski, the JJ gets another set of changes and find itself sat at the fat end of the ARV line. For the first time on an Armada 'Elf-Shoe' ski, the contact point moves behind the widest point of the sidecut to give smoother and more consistent turn initiation. It also gains a '3D base' shape, with spooned tip/tail rockered sections (think Bentchetler but different) for better sideways deep snow performance, while retaining a full edge wrap. The 116 and the whole rest of the ARV line get the 'MadSteez' graphic treatment bringing back memories of those legendary AR5s. We're all sat in the SIA hotel frothing over those graphics, get hyped."
[img=]http://images.newschoolers.com/images/17/00/85/56/14/855614_926w_640h.jpeg[/img]
3. 4FRNT Devastators - Full Review coming soon
As a brand, 4FRNT has been fairly underappreciated in our community lately. They had a bad rap from they're park skis a few years back which has overshadowed their incredible all-mountain offers for years. The Devastator has been around a few years, receiving minor changes throughout its lifetime, and always crushing it. I've been lucky enough to get on a pair of next years and I can say with confidence that they are one of the best skis I've ever ridden. Full rocker, playful tip & tail, yet extremely stable at high speeds mobbing through crud, crust, pow, and everything in between, I may have found a new favorite ski.
[img=]https://instagram.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/e35/16906712_1273630106046474_6030665431168057344_n.jpg[/img]
4. Faction Candide 4.0*
Candide's bread & butter. These skis crush anything, and everything, in their sight which is surprising for a ski that is 118mm underfoot. With a layer of Titanal to give the ski a backbone for mobbing down the mountain a la Candide, they keep the ski light by utilizing a Balsa core which provides a lightweight, but stiff ski that is at home anywhere as you jib your way to the bottom.
[img=]http://images.newschoolers.com/images/17/00/85/57/19/855719_926w_640h.jpeg[/img]
5. Faction Prodigy 2.0*
"At the SIA On Snow Demo I got to try out the Candide 1.0 and the Prodigy 2.0 and like them both. The Prodigy seems like a good option for a freestyle skier who likes to spend some time all over the mountain. It felt slightly stiffer than the Candide 1.0 with a little less pop, but held up a better on uneven terrain and did a better job powering through bumps." - Travis
[img=]http://images.newschoolers.com/images/17/00/85/57/16/855716_926w_640h.jpeg[/img]
1. K2 Catamaran: Full Review Here
"Of all the new skis the one I was most excited to try was the Catamaran. The Catamaran replaces the Pettitor in K2's range but is still the ski Sean will be spending a good amount of time on. Why the change in name? Basically at the time the ski was being developed, Sean's contract was coming to an end and at that point it was not clear whether he would be staying on the team, so rather than call it the Pettitor, the name Catamaran was used." - Tom P
[img=]http://images.newschoolers.com/images/17/00/85/71/52/857152_926w_640h.jpeg[/img]
2. Armada ARV 116 JJ*
New for 2018, the Armada ARV 116 expands their existing lineup to 4 total skis in the ARV family: 86, 96, 106, 116. While we didn't get spend much time on the 3rd generation JJ, Twig summed it up best: "Their OG 5-point pow ski, the JJ gets another set of changes and find itself sat at the fat end of the ARV line. For the first time on an Armada 'Elf-Shoe' ski, the contact point moves behind the widest point of the sidecut to give smoother and more consistent turn initiation. It also gains a '3D base' shape, with spooned tip/tail rockered sections (think Bentchetler but different) for better sideways deep snow performance, while retaining a full edge wrap. The 116 and the whole rest of the ARV line get the 'MadSteez' graphic treatment bringing back memories of those legendary AR5s. We're all sat in the SIA hotel frothing over those graphics, get hyped."
[img=]http://images.newschoolers.com/images/17/00/85/56/14/855614_926w_640h.jpeg[/img]
3. 4FRNT Devastators - Full Review coming soon
As a brand, 4FRNT has been fairly underappreciated in our community lately. They had a bad rap from they're park skis a few years back which has overshadowed their incredible all-mountain offers for years. The Devastator has been around a few years, receiving minor changes throughout its lifetime, and always crushing it. I've been lucky enough to get on a pair of next years and I can say with confidence that they are one of the best skis I've ever ridden. Full rocker, playful tip & tail, yet extremely stable at high speeds mobbing through crud, crust, pow, and everything in between, I may have found a new favorite ski.
[img=]https://instagram.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/e35/16906712_1273630106046474_6030665431168057344_n.jpg[/img]
4. Faction Candide 4.0*
Candide's bread & butter. These skis crush anything, and everything, in their sight which is surprising for a ski that is 118mm underfoot. With a layer of Titanal to give the ski a backbone for mobbing down the mountain a la Candide, they keep the ski light by utilizing a Balsa core which provides a lightweight, but stiff ski that is at home anywhere as you jib your way to the bottom.
[img=]http://images.newschoolers.com/images/17/00/85/57/19/855719_926w_640h.jpeg[/img]
5. Faction Prodigy 2.0*
"At the SIA On Snow Demo I got to try out the Candide 1.0 and the Prodigy 2.0 and like them both. The Prodigy seems like a good option for a freestyle skier who likes to spend some time all over the mountain. It felt slightly stiffer than the Candide 1.0 with a little less pop, but held up a better on uneven terrain and did a better job powering through bumps." - Travis
[img=]http://images.newschoolers.com/images/17/00/85/57/16/855716_926w_640h.jpeg[/img]
