Armada ARV 106

[08rexxer]

I am a 28 year old from Kansas City, and I have been skiing since I was five. That being said, my experience has been 3-5 day trips to Colorado over spring break every year, not any significant time on the hill. I have spent quite a bit of time at the local ice rink with a 350 foot vertical. Needless to say, I am good, but not great. That all (somewhat) changes this year. I started my own chimney service company and have booked two week long trips to Colorado, in which I will be doing a quick inspection on the fireplaces of the condos we are staying in, making them business trips. It has taken me 9 years of breathing creosote out of chimneys to finally be able to afford this ridiculously expensive hobby, glad glancing at fireplace makes the trips a tax write off. Also, the National Chimney Convention is in Portland, so I am making a ten day trip out of that and hitting Mt. Hood. I am 5’10” and 165 pounds. Not knowing much I bought 168cm Armada Al Dentes four years ago not realizing that was too short. This year I picked up the ARV 106’s at 180cm. I am a big fan of trees and bumps, but I am worried I went a bit short this time around as well. Anybody have this model/length? Do you like them? Traded some chimney repairs with a local shop owner for Marker Jester bindings and Solomon XPro 100 boots. Any complaints on that gear? I am beyond stoked for 14+ days this year, hoping for a good powder day to try out these skis.

**This thread was edited on Jan 4th 2018 at 4:23:01am

**This thread was edited on Jan 4th 2018 at 4:29:37am

 

[Greg_K]

Your boots are the biggest unknown as any boot could be a good or bad boot depending on the fit. Did you measure your foot at all and this boot is close to your specs and/or have you tried on the boot and it seems like a good fit? Boots are one of those things that having an expert advise and size them helps a lot. The flex of 100 should be in the ball park of your weight/skills though..

Bindings should be fine on those skis as long as the brake size is the 110mm size.

The skis in the 180cm length should be perfect for your intended use and your ability size. I am a bit taller and heavier than you and I have skis from the 181cm-191cm size and they are perfect. The ones in the 181cm and 184cm(ARV86) sizes are for trees/bumps/park and the 191cm are for more open areas where you sacrifice a bit of quick mobility to gain more stability.

Mount area will also affect stability with them being better at speed closer to the "all-mountain/-5cm back from center" mark and them being easier to spin and pivot mounting closer to center or their "Park/All-mountain/-2.5cm back" mark. Mounting back will make the ski "feel longer" and mounting closer to center will make it "feel shorter."

You using it in the park at all/what areas will you use this ski in besides bumps and trees?

Btw-Congrats on the job front! Started my own business 10 years ago, built up a large clientele over the years and now take the Winters off so I can ski. Hopefully you can do the same in the future!

 

[Ciskoski]

Sounds like you have the right ski! I have very similar stats and grabbed the arv 96s at 177 because i split east and west about 50/50, but after this year's first adventure to the real mountains, definitely feel like the 106s would have been an equally good choice. The arv is a really fun ski - not the best in any one category, but a fantastic one ski quiver. Might be a little tough in bumps and trees that haven't seen fresh in a while, but other than that, good choice. It also sounds like you're looking at a more all-mountain mount than center and the skis have more rocker in the front so this will balance out fine.

 

[WoFIowz]

I think you went with the perfect choice for an all around balance. Any shorter and we are talking powder compromise. Any longer and trees and bumps become more difficult. I have the 188's and in East coast trees or moguls there were times I wished they were slightly shorter.

 

[08rexxer]

Your boots are the biggest unknown as any boot could be a good or bad boot depending on the fit. Did you measure your foot at all and this boot is close to your specs and/or have you tried on the boot and it seems like a good fit? Boots are one of those things that having an expert advise and size them helps a lot. The flex of 100 should be in the ball park of your weight/skills though..

Bindings should be fine on those skis as long as the brake size is the 110mm size.

The skis in the 180cm length should be perfect for your intended use and your ability size. I am a bit taller and heavier than you and I have skis from the 181cm-191cm size and they are perfect. The ones in the 181cm and 184cm(ARV86) sizes are for trees/bumps/park and the 191cm are for more open areas where you sacrifice a bit of quick mobility to gain more stability.

Mount area will also affect stability with them being better at speed closer to the "all-mountain/-5cm back from center" mark and them being easier to spin and pivot mounting closer to center or their "Park/All-mountain/-2.5cm back" mark. Mounting back will make the ski "feel longer" and mounting closer to center will make it "feel shorter."

You using it in the park at all/what areas will you use this ski in besides bumps and trees?

Btw-Congrats on the job front! Started my own business 10 years ago, built up a large clientele over the years and now take the Winters off so I can ski. Hopefully you can do the same in the future!

After reading the Roofbox review, I had them mounted -2 cm. I do 180’s and 3’s, and will land switch on occasion. I am basically skiing everything but park, I don’t want to trash them on rails, that’s what the Dentes are for. Plus, that graphic is too badass, I haven’t even taken them to the local ice hill.

**This post was edited on Jan 4th 2018 at 8:47:22pm

 

[Greg_K]

-2/-2.5 cm back on the Armada rec park line is perfect for you then. You’ll love them I’m sure!

 

[08rexxer]

-2/-2.5 cm back on the Armada rec park line is perfect for you then. You’ll love them I’m sure!

I’m pretty stoked man, two weeks from Sunday I will be busting bottles of champagne to christen those bad boys! Thanks for your input Greg! Hopefully I can create the same situation that you have. The hard work is already paying off, though!