Where should I mount my Armada El Reys?

[APunx176]

I plan on using them for park (80/20 park over all-mtn) but it is about -5 cm factory recommended. Would -3 or -2 be good? How far can I go up before they start sucking ass? Also are the El Reys good park skis? They were labeled as park skis on evo and their recommended use was park, but after reading up on them on newschoolers, it seems like they are more all-mountain oriented. Will they hold up fine on rails and jumps?

If any of this matters...

Bindings are Marker Squires

Skis are 171 cm (2014), I'm 5'7" and 145 lbs

I'll also add that I paid 320 for them and AR7s are 310 on evo right now. Someone kill me

 

[Negromancer]

Personally I would mount them dead centre if you are skiing park 80% or more of the time. I have my AR7's at dead centre and even though they're not symmetrical I still like them centered a lot and have no problem skiing them all mountain. If you do want to ski more mountain but still want to hit some park a fair bit I would go no further than 2cm back. -5cm would be much to far back for park for my liking.

As for el-reys they are a decent ski and will do completely fine in the park. They're quite a stiff as far as park skis go though so they won't be the best for doing butters than stuff but will hold up very well on jumps and big features. They will also do well at high speeds because they're stiff and cambered.

If you're unhappy with your purchase why not take them back to the shop and get a refund if you can and then look at upgrading to AR7's?

 

[APunx176]

Personally I would mount them dead centre if you are skiing park 80% or more of the time. I have my AR7's at dead centre and even though they're not symmetrical I still like them centered a lot and have no problem skiing them all mountain. If you do want to ski more mountain but still want to hit some park a fair bit I would go no further than 2cm back. -5cm would be much to far back for park for my liking.

As for el-reys they are a decent ski and will do completely fine in the park. They're quite a stiff as far as park skis go though so they won't be the best for doing butters than stuff but will hold up very well on jumps and big features. They will also do well at high speeds because they're stiff and cambered.

If you're unhappy with your purchase why not take them back to the shop and get a refund if you can and then look at upgrading to AR7's?

Got rid of packaging and receipt. Luckily I am a big jumps guy, so I like the stiffness in the skis

 

[onenerdykid]

With a directional flex, directional side-cut ski like the El Ray, I would not mount them dead center (measured center of total length) as they were in no way designed to be ridden like that. If you were to measure dead center, mark that on your ski, and then measure 1cm/2cm back (and then compare this to Armada's markings) it would arguably ski better since you will be better positioned on the side-cut and the flex pattern.

Will mounting a non-center-designed ski at center be horrible? No, as people like Negromancer ride them like this. But, I would argue you should have bought a fully symmetric ski then which was 100% designed to be mounted and ridden at dead center.

Since you just paid good money for an asymmetric ski, don't mount it like a symmetric ski.

 

[APunx176]

With a directional flex, directional side-cut ski like the El Ray, I would not mount them dead center (measured center of total length) as they were in no way designed to be ridden like that. If you were to measure dead center, mark that on your ski, and then measure 1cm/2cm back (and then compare this to Armada's markings) it would arguably ski better since you will be better positioned on the side-cut and the flex pattern.

Will mounting a non-center-designed ski at center be horrible? No, as people like Negromancer ride them like this. But, I would argue you should have bought a fully symmetric ski then which was 100% designed to be mounted and ridden at dead center.

Since you just paid good money for an asymmetric ski, don't mount it like a symmetric ski.

But if I'm in the park 80/20 then wouldn't center mounted be beneficial? Maybe I'll go a little back but not what they recommend

 

[onenerdykid]

But if I'm in the park 80/20 then wouldn't center mounted be beneficial? Maybe I'll go a little back but not what they recommend

You need to walk yourself through this simple exercise:

1. Why would you mount any ski directly in the center?

2. If you're skiing forward and backward equal amounts, what kind of ski shape/flex would be beneficial for this?

3. If you're not skiing forward and backward equal amounts, what kind of ski shape/flex would be beneficial for this?

4. What kind of position on the ski is beneficial for each of these different types of skis?

 

[RobWatson]

I had the 12/13 El Rey in 185cm mounted at factory recommended and I was not a fan. I would recommend you put them forward from that, not necessarily centered, but it's completely up to you. I went down a completely different route after them and got 171 Thalls center mounted and I love them, so good for park and jibbing/shredding around the mountain, and i'm 6'2 180lbs, it's all personal preference. I would say the design of the ski is better suited to riding probably 2cm back from dead center because it is significantly asymmetrical. They are stiff but handle great carving on ice. Didn't ski much park on them, they were far too big, heavy and back seat for me though.

In short, i'd go (-2,-2.5) sounds like you have the right length.

 

[APunx176]

You need to walk yourself through this simple exercise:

1. Why would you mount any ski directly in the center?

2. If you're skiing forward and backward equal amounts, what kind of ski shape/flex would be beneficial for this?

3. If you're not skiing forward and backward equal amounts, what kind of ski shape/flex would be beneficial for this?

4. What kind of position on the ski is beneficial for each of these different types of skis?

1. Because it is better for park (kind of screwed myself here)

2. Symmetrical, but I bought the ski a while ago and I don't have the money to buy another. I fucked up but there's nothing I can do but make the best of my situation

3. I probably will be

4. center for symmetric and back fo asymmetric, I know.

The skis are bought, and I can't return them unless you think that evo would be willing to make an exception with packaging.

I had the 12/13 El Rey in 185cm mounted at factory recommended and I was not a fan. I would recommend you put them forward from that, not necessarily centered, but it's completely up to you. I went down a completely different route after them and got 171 Thalls center mounted and I love them, so good for park and jibbing/shredding around the mountain, and i'm 6'2 180lbs, it's all personal preference. I would say the design of the ski is better suited to riding probably 2cm back from dead center because it is significantly asymmetrical. They are stiff but handle great carving on ice. Didn't ski much park on them, they were far too big, heavy and back seat for me though.

In short, i'd go (-2,-2.5) sounds like you have the right length.

Thank you for the good input. I'm thinking -2 back is what I'll do

 

[APunx176]

UPDATE: Evo is letting me return the El Reys and I plan on getting Punx.