honestly I have never ridden ar3s because they are too small, but judging on the rest of armada's fleet they will peform really well. We have a pair in our shop though. they are a pretty stiff ski for a junior ski, which makes them good for kids who really know how to ski, and the mounting point is also pretty far forward, making them close to center, but allowing kids to carve great. Also the real sidewalls is an improvement as far as handleing goes, because most junior skis have capped construction, which isn't always the greatest. But you would have to ask somebody who is under 5 feet how they ride.