Just got new skis - Dope deal or bust?

ZRobbb

ZRobbb

New member
I just got my first true park skis: Armada ARV '86s. However, I got the 170 because they were essentially 50% off with bindings on Craigslist and couldn't pass it up. After I got them and looked at them, they come up to just below my chin and am worried they are a little too small.

My specs: 180lbs 6'1''

What do you all think? Im pretty new to park skiing and wanted to really get into it next year without grinding up my all mountain skis.
 
damn those are tiny. Youll be able to throw them around but they wont be the most stable to land on based on your height and weight. For reference, I ride 181 in the park and 187 for all mountain and im 6'1 215. They will work just fine but they might not be the most practical for the long run
 
topic:ZRobbb said:
I just got my first true park skis: Armada ARV '86s. However, I got the 170 because they were essentially 50% off with bindings on Craigslist and couldn't pass it up. After I got them and looked at them, they come up to just below my chin and am worried they are a little too small.

My specs: 180lbs 6'1''

What do you all think? Im pretty new to park skiing and wanted to really get into it next year without grinding up my all mountain skis.
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Everything said above is accurate , however I think they’ll b great for learning spins , butters since they are so short

For reference I’m just over 6’0 185 lbs, I ride 185s in the park and all mountain
 
14030989:SavageBiff said:
Everything said above is accurate , however I think they’ll b great for learning spins , butters since they are so short

For reference I’m just over 6’0 185 lbs, I ride 185s in the park and all mountain
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I am pretty much brand new to the park, can barely do rails, don't spin at all off jumps. So i figured these would be good to learn on beacuse they are lighter, and I can move up in a couple years
 
14030996:ZRobbb said:
What's gonna be the downside to using these do you think?
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Short effective edge for your height and weight so carving and charging will be less than optimal

Less support for landings

Less area overall on the ski so in pow your fukd

Your gonna get an “ over the handlebars “ sensation if you slow rapidly , slam into a mogul , land an air less than ideally

However I still think they’ll be a great learning tool hey soon as you get your first threes landed I would try and sell them and maybe swap or beat the shit out of them and use them as a rock ski in the end, if you progress you’ll understand and want more from your ski

My 179 chronics feel really short to me , anything true center mount does that to me tho

Where do u ski east/west?
 
14030996:ZRobbb said:
What's gonna be the downside to using these do you think?
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I made this mistake a couple years ago based on a deal I couldn’t pass up. I’ve used them once.

They will help you spin around quicker but you’ll be screwed in any snow above your ankle and that forward jerking motion will happen more often. You won’t be able to cruise as fast.

I’d say sell them and get bigger skis. I’m the same size as you and ride 184 all over the mountain and 178 in park so I can spin easier. You should 178+ based on what/how you ski.
 
I'm 6'0 165lb and usually ride in the 181-186 range for my skis which I find nice and stable but still agile enough to do what I want in the park. 170 is quite a bit shorter than what I'd normally like.

That said, I've borrowed some friends skis while traveling and have ridden 172 lizzies and some old 168 volkls fairly recently. They were fun to jib with and spin, do little slashes, and generally fine to ride. But they were noticeably slower and definitely didn't feel great in chop or deep slush. It was a small hill out east each time so it was ok but I wouldn't like to be on either of those on any more substantial terrain.

Also the lizzies were like 110 underfoot I think, and the volkls were stiff and mounted way back, so both of them had factors helping make them more stable. The ARV 86 at a more centred park mount wouldn't have either benefit.

Not sure what to advise but if you're just learning your basics in the park they'll probably be fine for that! Then when you start sending you'll probably want to think about sizing up. Stability leads to confidence going big and confidence is huge in the park.
 
14030996:ZRobbb said:
What's gonna be the downside to using these do you think?
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Lateral stability will suck at high speeds. Speed woobles will make the ski super inpredictable. You get this effect with snowblades and skateboards. So having them at 174-176 will be your ideal length in the park. If they are all mountain/non-groomer skis 178-180 will be your range and if its deep powder: 184cm.

Im going to point out that aerials skiers have skis that go to their chests and could do future spins back in the late 1980's. The added advantage to short skis is the swing rate and the overall weight for your core strength. Hence, it will be easier to spin but harder to land at higher speeds.
 
I appreciate all the help. I'm gonna look for an opportunity to trade up to a 180cm. Even though these are a park only ski for me it seems like long term it will be useful

Edit: a trade up is pretty hard though. It seems like there are some downsides, but I am pretty much never gonna leave the park with these. Might just keep then and see how i end up feeling about it

**This post was edited on May 5th 2019 at 9:13:28am
 
14031111:ZRobbb said:
I appreciate all the help. I'm gonna look for an opportunity to trade up to a 180cm. Even though these are a park only ski for me it seems like long term it will be useful

Edit: a trade up is pretty hard though. It seems like there are some downsides, but I am pretty much never gonna leave the park with these. Might just keep then and see how i end up feeling about it

**This post was edited on May 5th 2019 at 9:13:28am
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Try to sell or trade use in meantime ?? Have fun

Look on evo and powder7 they usually have used and demo skis for a nice price
 
14031112:SavageBiff said:
Try to sell or trade use in meantime ?? Have fun

Look on evo and powder7 they usually have used and demo skis for a nice price
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Thank you. Appreciate the help
 
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