Ski for hitting the park and doing ski tours

Flow.wolF

Flow.wolF

Member
Hello, what is up?

After 7 years of riding i totall destroyed my skis by landing on a rock. For that reason I'm looking for a new pair. I'd like to buy something that allows me to ride some park, all mountain and can be fun for touring as well. So basically im looking for a ski that can handle everything.

The only skis I know are the ones I recked so I guess any new pair will feel great.

At the moment I'm looking at two options.

1. Armada ARV 106

2. Armada Tracer 98

I'm leaning a little more towards the ARV because I'm pretty sure I'll do more park/all mountain riding than touring. On the other hand I really like the design of the tracer so I was wondering if it would be okay to do some park riding with it,

I'm no hard charger in the park. I like to hit some rails, do some straight airs over "larger" jumps and trying to land my first 540. Otherwise I enjoy just jibbing around the mountain, going fast once in a while and surfing that powder

I live in Switzerland so I cant purchase any ON3P or J Skis. I didn't mention the ARV 96 because I'm not so sure if I like the dog on it.

What is your opinion? Could one of these Skis make me happy? Do you have any recommendations?
 
As someone who has hit tons of rails on tech bindings, let me tell you its a terrible idea. Also, asking for a touring ski than can ride park is like asking for a race ski that can rip powder, ie - it doesn't exist. Do yourself a favor and get two skis, a jibby mid fat all mtn ski like the ARV with an alpine binding and a touring ski with a tech binding. You'll be much happier. If you're looking at frame bindings I wouldn't recommend those to my worst enemy. However getting some shifts might be a decent option for you if you really only want one ski.
 
13978151:Piste.Off said:
As someone who has hit tons of rails on tech bindings, let me tell you its a terrible idea. Also, asking for a touring ski than can ride park is like asking for a race ski that can rip powder, ie - it doesn't exist. Do yourself a favor and get two skis, a jibby mid fat all mtn ski like the ARV with an alpine binding and a touring ski with a tech binding. You'll be much happier. If you're looking at frame bindings I wouldn't recommend those to my worst enemy. However getting some shifts might be a decent option for you if you really only want one ski.
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I've been riding with a Marker Baron mounted to my twin tip ski for the last 7 years and never had any issues with that.

Who knows, I might have made more progress with an alpine binding but I don't really think so.

I'm aware that one ski can't handle all disciplines perfectly. Thats not what im after. Im looning for a pair of skis that can be fun all over the mountain.

I could imagine that the Tracer couldn't handle the park very well because it is more ski touring orientated and hitting rails on it might damage it quickly bit I don't really see why the ARV shouldn't be able to handle everything. It might be a little wide for the park but because I don't do any crazy spinns I doubt that I'll notice that a lot.

Could you clarify your concerns about "there is no ski that can be taken to the park annd on skitours"?

Thank you.
 
It's like looking for a BMX bike that will also handle the occasional long ride in the mountains.

That said perhaps look at the Black Crows Camox?
 
The ARV is definitely better suited for park than the Tracer. Then again, you could check out the Line Sir Francis Bacon and the Faction CT 3.0
 
13978308:mystery3 said:
It's like looking for a BMX bike that will also handle the occasional long ride in the mountains.

That said perhaps look at the Black Crows Camox?
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For me its more like an Enduro. Something you can pedal up the hill, smash single trails and also take to the park up to a certain extent.
 
13978320:f100prerunner said:
Vishnu wide? Lol not sure how much they weigh but people seem to like them and it fits the odd criteria
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Looks nice but I dont think I can get these in Switzerland.

Why is it odd criteria? Im not looking for a ski that can do everything perfectly. Im looking for a ski that is a good mix between these types of skiing and Im sure there are some options out there.
 
13978320:f100prerunner said:
Vishnu wide? Lol not sure how much they weigh but people seem to like them and it fits the odd criteria
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New wave touring is the future. Imagine trudging 15k through the back country just to swerve your way down some big mtn terrain DOPE
 
13978375:teamSESH said:
Get two skis dude. Cheaper park skis and a separate touring setup.
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Sure, that would be an option but for some reason I just want to one pair of skis.

I dont really get the problem to be honest. Sure, the best thing is to have a dedicated ski for every typ of skiing. BUT in the end there has to be multiple options out there for skis that could be used for everything if one doesnt expect it to handle everything perfectly.

I mean why shouldnt I be able to do a ski tour with a dedicated park ski like lets say the Edollos? They are wide enough for the snow around here and they might be heavier than dedicated touring skis but still not too bad.
 
13978530:Poindexter. said:
Arv 96 with your barons would be totally fine for what you want. 106 would be fine too, but the width will take away from park performance a little bit

I did the same thing you're looking for on line blends
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Yep, Im sure the 96 would last but I dont really dig the design.

If i compare the 106 to the Edollo the dimensions dont differ too much especially up front. The largest difference is the waist which doesnt really have an affect when spinning so Im guessing that it should handle the park fairly well too.

What can you tell me about your experience with the Line Blends?
 
13978543:Poindexter. said:
They are soft, but I don't push the scales too much at 6'2 160-170 pounds. So flex wasn't really a issue, heavier powder when deep was a bit of a chore though because of the soft tips, but I was still having fun
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Alright. Thank you.
 
Backcountry skiing is almost always soft snow or powder, the last skis I want to be on in those conditions are noodly near symmetrical park skis like the edollo or blends. More power to you if you are dead set on touring on park skis, but seriously dich your barons, those tour like shit compared to a tech binding. Get a park ski with an alpine binding and an actual touring setup with a tech binding and a ski with some rocker and tip taper that will actually be fun to ski powder with.
 
ARV 106 sounds like a solid option for you - throw some shifts on there and you'll have an all mountain ski that can swing either way to the occasional tour or park lap.

Trying to make a centre mounted park ski tour just by putting a touring binding on it sounds like a quick way to make you hate touring. You'd have a setup that isn't likely light on the uphill, and one that struggles on the downhill. At least go with something that makes pow skiing fun.
 
13978938:Cade2 said:
This dude is a troll
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Da fagg? Why should I be a Troll?

If then Im a cheap fuck who doesnt want to spend cash on two skis.

**This post was edited on Dec 30th 2018 at 4:31:10am
 
people are right that a park/touring ski in one is a tough request BUT it's doable. skiers are such weenies about gear, acting like you asked if you can use your golf clubs as hockey sticks...

if i were in your place, OP, i'd throw frame bindings (my choice is tyrolia adrenalin but i think you said you already have some barons?) on some ARVs, 96 or 106, and you can do it all decently well. it's not ideal to use those bindings in the park (and i distrust markers to start with), and they won't be the lightest touring setup, but oh well
 
13978334:JulianSharpe said:
Icelantic Nomad 105? There's an EU distributor - "He-outdoor" based in France. Could fit the bill.
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I have the lite Icelantic nomad 105s

Idea was spend money on a good ski for touring but will still be my best ski for the resort too. Shift binding and I couldn’t be more stoked.

That being said, I wouldn’t hit any rails on them and have stupid cheap skis for park.

Nomad 105s do itt
 
I definitely get where you’re coming from, a lot of what I’m looking for in a powder ski, I’m looking for in a park ski as well. Loose, pivoty, medium-soft flex, etc..

Maybe look at the fatypus m5? Candide 2.0 also seems good, couple of on3p skis out there that could work.

the issue I see is bindings. A cast setup could work well if your not planning on doing a ton of touring, or doing lots of laps when you do. Coming from someone who’s got a cast setup, it’s great for going up once, and descending once. Long days touring with it are too much of a pain to even consider. BUT you do get the full performance of a pivot binding for resort days which is awesome.
 
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