Armada Whitewalker

topic:leprechaunsissy said:
I saw a pair of these at Revelstoke just before covid hit. When does Armada release these so that I can buy them?
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they are sammy carlson's new pro model for 2021 so you can get them this coming

winter.
 
Thanks, and yeah they were indeed on a Playa’s feet when I came across them. I wonder if I should have tried to take them from him. They looked so fly.
 
14139803:leprechaunsissy said:
Well they do look like big, powerful skis that probably aren’t for everyone.
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According to the catalogue, it’s pretty much a JJ UL with a different tip/tail shape, slightly stiffer and slightly (100Gs or less) heavier. Designed for Sammy to tour and charge
 
I'm looking at the designs and they dont seem like an inbounds ski to me, I'm sure you could, but they're clearly a powder tool, and if we're all being honest here, skiing untouched bottomless pow inbounds just doesnt happen that often .
 
14140076:animator said:
According to the catalogue, it’s pretty much a JJ UL with a different tip/tail shape, slightly stiffer and slightly (100Gs or less) heavier. Designed for Sammy to tour and charge
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Yep, and I'd say they're a lot stiffer, not just slightly. When I hand flexed them, the majority of the cambered section was basically unbendable from what I remember. Definitely seem like a very specific tool for aggressive pow touring — and I bet it'd be awesome for exactly the kind of skiing that Sammy does, so it's cool Armada is making it. But light + stiff doesn't tend to feel that great on rougher inbounds conditions, so I'm not super surprised by the NS reviews.
 
14140119:patagonialuke said:
Yep, and I'd say they're a lot stiffer, not just slightly. When I hand flexed them, the majority of the cambered section was basically unbendable from what I remember. Definitely seem like a very specific tool for aggressive pow touring — and I bet it'd be awesome for exactly the kind of skiing that Sammy does, so it's cool Armada is making it. But light + stiff doesn't tend to feel that great on rougher inbounds conditions, so I'm not super surprised by the NS reviews.
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Seeing as everyone doesn’t seem to recommend these, how then can I get my hands on a pair of original seth pistols, unused?
 
14140186:leprechaunsissy said:
Seeing as everyone doesn’t seem to recommend these, how then can I get my hands on a pair of original seth pistols, unused?
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Yeah, everyone who hasn't skied them hasn't recommended them...

Let's get real here, gain an opinion from someone who has actually skied them. I have, but only a few groomer laps and I don't really have a huge opinion other than they sure as heck skied groomers better than the JJ or JJ UL.
 
14141483:.nasty said:
Yeah, everyone who hasn't skied them hasn't recommended them...

Let's get real here, gain an opinion from someone who has actually skied them. I have, but only a few groomer laps and I don't really have a huge opinion other than they sure as heck skied groomers better than the JJ or JJ UL.
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i skied them (for a week or two)... and in first i couldn't really get along, even if i have a jj zero and normaly ride stiffer skis like the armada tracer 118 or even the declivity x...

BUT... after some days i got used to them and really started getting comfortable! even in hard inbound offpiste conditions, where the jj zero is just flattering the whitewalker remained super chill. also the stiffer tail got me stomping tricks in snow, which i probably couldn't have held on to with a jjzero. i will definetly get myself a pair. i think the rather bad reviews come from not long enough riding it.....
 
14140119:patagonialuke said:
Yep, and I'd say they're a lot stiffer, not just slightly. When I hand flexed them, the majority of the cambered section was basically unbendable from what I remember. Definitely seem like a very specific tool for aggressive pow touring — and I bet it'd be awesome for exactly the kind of skiing that Sammy does, so it's cool Armada is making it. But light + stiff doesn't tend to feel that great on rougher inbounds conditions, so I'm not super surprised by the NS reviews.
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I felt them in store and also flexed the JJ UL and I thought both were way softer than I anticipated.

Like the whitewalkers really didnt feel that stiff to me. Im torn on which ones to get. I want to put some shift bindings on either and rip in bounds whistler as well as tour with them. they're light af im stoked. replacing G3 empire 115 carbons.

anyone go with the whitewalkers for this year? im hesitant to try a new shape but they do seem really sick. anyone wanna sway me either way?!
 
14190590:VT_scratch said:
I felt them in store and also flexed the JJ UL and I thought both were way softer than I anticipated.

Like the whitewalkers really didnt feel that stiff to me. Im torn on which ones to get. I want to put some shift bindings on either and rip in bounds whistler as well as tour with them. they're light af im stoked. replacing G3 empire 115 carbons.

anyone go with the whitewalkers for this year? im hesitant to try a new shape but they do seem really sick. anyone wanna sway me either way?!
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Go with the whitewalkers, the slight bit more weight will help them perform better inside the resort, and you're not exactly throwing a super light binding on them anyways so you probably won't notice the difference while touring.
 
14190590:VT_scratch said:
I felt them in store and also flexed the JJ UL and I thought both were way softer than I anticipated.

Like the whitewalkers really didnt feel that stiff to me. Im torn on which ones to get. I want to put some shift bindings on either and rip in bounds whistler as well as tour with them. they're light af im stoked. replacing G3 empire 115 carbons.

anyone go with the whitewalkers for this year? im hesitant to try a new shape but they do seem really sick. anyone wanna sway me either way?!
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How long have you got to decide? I have a pair of both to review, with the intention of doing a head to head in-depth comparison but I'm waiting for some good snow so it could take until the end of November. My very early impression of the Whitewalker is in this thread already but I agree, hand flexing the pair I have now, they do seem a touch softer than I remember the samples I tried being. The underfoot is still very stiff but the tip/tail feel like they have more give. The UL is definitely the softer-butterier ski though. I'll be testing one, or both with the shifts too, but I only have one pair of the shifts, so the other ski might get my normal bindings (attack 16s).
 
14190600:Twig said:
I agree, hand flexing the pair I have now, they do seem a touch softer than I remember the samples I tried being. The underfoot is still very stiff but the tip/tail feel like they have more give.
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that's interesting, I wouldn't be surprised if they dialed back the flex from the pairs that were at OR. Cause I remember flexing it, feeling how light it was, and just thinking it would feel harsh af on any sort of firm, rough-ish snow.

Also, so jealous that waiting for good snow over there only means waiting till the end of November haha. Still gonna be riding the white ribbon of death at that point over here
 
14190601:patagonialuke said:
that's interesting, I wouldn't be surprised if they dialed back the flex from the pairs that were at OR. Cause I remember flexing it, feeling how light it was, and just thinking it would feel harsh af on any sort of firm, rough-ish snow.

Also, so jealous that waiting for good snow over there only means waiting till the end of November haha. Still gonna be riding the white ribbon of death at that point over here
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Yeah they definitely softened it up a bit from the samples of last year. I was just as surprised as you guys were after feeling the production model. I do remember talking to the designers and them telling me Sammy said "is this ski TOO rad?" about the first run of them haha
 
14190609:.nasty said:
Yeah they definitely softened it up a bit from the samples of last year. I was just as surprised as you guys were after feeling the production model. I do remember talking to the designers and them telling me Sammy said "is this ski TOO rad?" about the first run of them haha
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I bet they still make a stiffer model for Sammy
 
14190716:leprechaunsissy said:
I bought a pair which sure look fun, though something convinced me to drill them up and make a bench out of them.
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14190743:leprechaunsissy said:
Was about to spend the same on an outdoor bench, and figured I may as well go for it...
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Lmfao
 
14191321:leprechaunsissy said:
*solved. I ordered another pair to ski on.

I’m fully confident that I’m the first person to have made furniture out of this specific ski.
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You have to post a pic to prove you actually did it.
 
pics or it didn't happen.

I'm so damn torn between the JJUL and whitewalker. I might go JJUL. Just sold some skis so I want to buy the new ones today before everything sells out.
 
14191589:VT_scratch said:
pics or it didn't happen.

I'm so damn torn between the JJUL and whitewalker. I might go JJUL. Just sold some skis so I want to buy the new ones today before everything sells out.
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BUY THE GODDAMN WHITEWALKERS
 
14191321:leprechaunsissy said:
*solved. I ordered another pair to ski on.

I’m fully confident that I’m the first person to have made furniture out of this specific ski.
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op you better be joking or I will call the Canadian national police and have them take those skis from you, abuse and neglect is a serious issue and you just committed a CRIME
 
14191677:ColoradoDogfart said:
op you better be joking or I will call the Canadian national police and have them take those skis from you, abuse and neglect is a serious issue and you just committed a CRIME
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I can do whatever I want. This thread is officially closed.
 
Hi, did anyone get some more time on the whitewalkers recently and is willing to share some first impressions? Particularly, about how they hold up at speed, the flex on snow and if it's possible to drive them hard.
 
14211066:CL3M3NTINO said:
Hi, did anyone get some more time on the whitewalkers recently and is willing to share some first impressions? Particularly, about how they hold up at speed, the flex on snow and if it's possible to drive them hard.
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Yes, after I made a bench out of my pair, I got another pair to ski. Powerful and quick but also pretty playful. Feels to me like a stiffer JJ. I’m having a blast on them.
 
14211312:leprechaunsissy said:
Yes, after I made a bench out of my pair, I got another pair to ski. Powerful and quick but also pretty playful. Feels to me like a stiffer JJ. I’m having a blast on them.
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pictures?

(of the bench)

**This post was edited on Dec 13th 2020 at 8:30:51pm
 
14190609:.nasty said:
Yeah they definitely softened it up a bit from the samples of last year. I was just as surprised as you guys were after feeling the production model. I do remember talking to the designers and them telling me Sammy said "is this ski TOO rad?" about the first run of them haha
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imo that blows. The pro model should be what the pro is skiing. Not a variation on another soft ski in the lineup. Not every freestyle ski needs to be soft
 
Those of you with JJ UL or Whitewalkers, where did you end up getting them mounted? I see there is a factory recommended set further back and a freestyle recommended further up. I am going for freestyle recommended but wondering if anyone has experience and would have mounted theres either forward or backward of freestyle recommended?

Just waiting on my boots to get delivered (ordered on oct 30 shiiiet) and Cast system which is supposed to ship on January 15th. stoked to try these :)
 
14222529:VT_scratch said:
Those of you with JJ UL or Whitewalkers, where did you end up getting them mounted? I see there is a factory recommended set further back and a freestyle recommended further up. I am going for freestyle recommended but wondering if anyone has experience and would have mounted theres either forward or backward of freestyle recommended?

Just waiting on my boots to get delivered (ordered on oct 30 shiiiet) and Cast system which is supposed to ship on January 15th. stoked to try these :)
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I did the factory rec. They’re powerful skis, and I think any further forward wouldn’t be helpful unless I were spinning all the time.
 
14223025:leprechaunsissy said:
I did the factory rec. They’re powerful skis, and I think any further forward wouldn’t be helpful unless I were spinning all the time.
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I don’t think powerful is the word I’d use for a ski that weighs 1800 grams. They’re noodles designed to ski pow, any sort of hard conditions and I fold mine in half. I went freestyle rec and am more than happy but if you don’t spin a whole lot factory recommended would be good too. My buddy split the difference on his and seems to be happy as well, the ski has a big sweet spot so you’ll most likely be happy anywhere.
 
Running both JJ UL and WW in the freestyle forward position. Depends on your skiing style? Having a bit of extra tail adds stability and the centered-ness really helps getting them sideways quick under feet for spicy sections when you need to brake.

The JJ UL is a noodle. The WW is holding its own charging inbounds - its no 2x4 but it provides stability for the weight much better than the UL.
 
14222529:VT_scratch said:
Those of you with JJ UL or Whitewalkers, where did you end up getting them mounted? I see there is a factory recommended set further back and a freestyle recommended further up. I am going for freestyle recommended but wondering if anyone has experience and would have mounted theres either forward or backward of freestyle recommended?

Just waiting on my boots to get delivered (ordered on oct 30 shiiiet) and Cast system which is supposed to ship on January 15th. stoked to try these :)
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Mine are -2cm from true center. That's a bit in front of freestyle recommended and I like it a lot. They are unreal for riding switch in mixed/deeper snow.
 
Haha

14223035:animator said:
I don’t think powerful is the word I’d use for a ski that weighs 1800 grams. They’re noodles designed to ski pow, any sort of hard conditions and I fold mine in half. I went freestyle rec and am more than happy but if you don’t spin a whole lot factory recommended would be good too. My buddy split the difference on his and seems to be happy as well, the ski has a big sweet spot so you’ll most likely be happy anywhere.
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14223728:leprechaunsissy said:
Haha
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Were you talking JJ UL or Whitewalker? Post I was referring to was talking about JJ UL which definitely is a noodle, but you’re right ab the Whitewalker being pretty powerful for what it is. Though you were talking about the JJ, my b
 
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