Which ski for a gapper?

rlee

rlee

Member
hey guys, needed some help deciding on a ski to get which is driving me nuts. basically its between the AR6 and the pipecleaners as thats all thats really available for me. but open to other suggestion like walls and dumonts.

anyway im taking a gap year from school right now before going to uni (live in the UK), so im taking a ski course in whister for 3 months. it will be level 1 and 2 ski insructur some safety stuff and park stuff later. i already have a pair of all mountain back country skis/ all mountain (rossignol scratch bc from 05) which i will use for the general course time, but want a park ski for this year as my other is not really good for park. so therefore on the weekends i want to be hitting the park (jumos pipe rails) as much as i can and skiing the mountain. so the desion on which of the 2 skis to get has been pretty hard, is pipe cleaner durable enough? and AR6. not a beginner, can slide rails and spin off and jumps no problem. pipecleaners would be my pick but dont know if they will be durable enough (heard all about the race base) for what im doing. also which lenghts i should get? (thinking 181 but is that too big? 176?)

im am also 5'10'' 75 kg (think thats 160ish pounds). been skiing for a long time so experienced and ride agressive all mountain. been doing park for a few year too.

dunno if you can help anymore with this information (i know its a lot... sorry) but if you do have an opinions i would very much appreciate it! also ive heard the AR6's have no diference to last year but just the grapphics, is that right?

thanks

 
I'd go with the AR6. Just my pick though.

And that title... ahaha, I thought it was a misspelling of 'gaper', I really thought this was going to be one of those alias threads.

Have fun at Whistler...
 
cheers mate. what about the length?

anybody else got any advise? anything would help!

cheers
 
cheers mate. what about the length?

anybody else got any advise? anything would help!

cheers
 
I'd say 181. You'll be mounting them farther forward than you would with a normal pair of skis, so you won't notice the extra length so much.

Tell you what though... the instructing scene aren't huge fans of twin tips. If you decide to mount then near center, it'll be harder to stay over your tips (stay forward) cause of your extra tail. You may end up with a bad habit of relying on your tails too much. One of the main things you're taught as an instructor is to carve with your tips. You might wanna consider a pair of carving skis (I'm gonna get hate for this... but it's gotta be said), especially with lifters, it'll help you power into your turns a bit more, as well as help you learn what you're supposed to be learning as a CSIA I & II instructor.

It's totally up to you though. Just don't forget you have to buy bindings too (if you buy AR6's). A couple days ago some kid walks up to the counter at my local ski shop with his mom, 'Can you get these mounted?' and the shop guy was like 'do you have bindings?' and the kid was like 'what are bindings?'. It was hilarious.
 
Well, the Pipe Cleaner is pretty similar, but it's pretty half-pipe specific. Since you're not doing only half pipe, why not get the AR6 and have a little cash left over? Just because the pipe cleaner is more expensive doesn't make it a better ski really. But, since you're doing pretty much just park with it, have you though about a symmetrical ski? Someone mentioned Walls to you, but also Anthem/Invader, or Moment Reno Jib.
 
I didn't see that this was going to be your 'park-only' ski. So, as mentioned above, why not look at something more symmetrical? I realize that the Armadas are your only option right now, but you've already got a pair of skis you can use... so you can wait until you come to Whistler then pick something up for the park there or online, 'cause you'll have an address in NA.
 
cheers guys thanks for the help!

what have they got out there at whister? will all those skis be available? (walls, anthems, armadas) i know the pipecleaners are limited so i might not be able to get them when im out there (start jan) if i decide on them! also im going to france before so would like to ski on them there and not have to wait till whistler.

i will be using the skis mainly for park yea, but im know i wont be there 100% of the time so would rather a skis thats good outside too and know the armadas are. better than the others and symetrical skis?

but the 181cm are what you guys are all recomending too?

and AR6 top choice? will the pipecleaner be durable for what im doing? or will i ruin the bases?

thanks again

oh and i know about binding im that guy you speak of is a fool and thanks for the username comment
 
and a gapper is a term used to describe someone taking a year out of school to do work/ travel/ whatever. ive just finish high school and taking a year about before i go to university. i live in the uk if that helps you
 
The old BCs make sick park skis. Those are 88 wide. AR6 are like 86. They'd be too similar to really justify it. Either keep your BCs as your only ski or sell those then buy something 80-86mm for park plus a 95-105mm for powder. You could easily get away with having just one ski for everything (85-95mm) unless you're going to be hitting a lot of rails and want to keep a second set with fresh edges.

And just rent skis for your tests.
 
since your going to whistler reconsider everything. since your going to be an instructor, just get some 2 year old race stock gs or slalom skis to teach on. then get nice pow skis, that will either shred the park and powder (seth) or, get a pair of pure park (178 invaders) and pure powder (something cheap, rossi steeze, those bright ones that are wide and new this year). i'm sure they will have all that in whistler. if you have the money that is. just look around and make friends and get the best deal you can.

my advice is just get something like the seths so you can ride park and powder, and use your nice skis for teaching.
 
cheers again.

i will be keeping my BCs as i love them and there awesome for powder and all mountain but i dont want to be taking them on rails and stuff. there mounted quite far back so not great for park either. i will be fine using them for the course, ive asked and as long as i can ski well on them its fine (and i like to think i can ski well on them). if its a problem i can always use my bros carving skis it wont be a problem.

so really i just want opinions on a good park ski (jumps rails) i can use when not on the course but can still work fine on groomers and stuff. no powder or big mountain stuff. thats why ive narowed it down to the 2 armada skis. money isnt an issue but can only get one ski. would it be worth considering the dumont, wall or invaders istead? just more durable ski?

sorry to keep nagging on but i would love a little more info. thanks for everything so far
 
as long as you dont mind top sheet chipping, get the AR6's you dont need the PC, unless you plan on only skiing pipe.
 
arcording to armada and tyson from armada the pipecleaners are a better all mountain the AR6 and better in the park. thats why i wanted them more. im not too botherd about top chipping, i read that thread on them, i can imagine it can get very annoying. how are the wall, invaders and dumonts for chipping?
 
Ive heard Line doesnt really have many issues with chipping, but look they're skis especially park skis they will get abused no matter what brand you buy. I would wait till you can have a chance to demo a pair, then make your decision. Or just get the Armada's they are a great ski.
 
fuck the pipe cleaner man it's marketing gimmick for wannabes (Armada's new target market).

AR6 is excellent.

Since you're only mentioning jumps and rails, not pipe, you might wanna look into a fatter ski (which you center mount). Otherwise just get the cheapest you can find, there isn't much difference between park skis anymore, a ski is a ski and it will get abused on rails anyway.
 
whatever you do don't buy skis in the uk! on average its about 200 dollars (£100) cheaper in the US! I was making a similar decision to you and I decided AR6 for durability's sake!
 
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