2021 Armada Victa 93

The 2021 Armada Victa 93 is a case study in a versatile ski done right. With the proper blend of shape and performance for skiers looking to up their game, the Victa is the place to be. Armada has a strong heritage when it comes to freeride and powder skis, and their recent foray into the world of front side and all-mountain skis has been a fairly big success. As part of their line that loves to shred, the Victa 93 is built with a poplar wood core, carbon-kevlar struts, and a laminate matrix. These modern materials go a long way in ensuring the ski has the strength and precision of a ski with metal in it, but without the weight. As a result, you get a great blend of performance and energy without the bulk of their titanal laminates. Skiers who want that top-end of performance but in a lighter package will love the overall well-roundedness of the Victa 93.

With pretty positive camber underfoot and a relatively flat tail, the nose rocker is where we see the off-road capabilities really come to life. In addition, the tip has a moderate taper shape to increase flotation and playfulness in any and all conditions. Wider edges and a half-cap sidewall complete this package, making a supremely versatile ski with a ton of snap and pop. The vertical sidewall found underfoot allows for some strong edge grip while the cap in the tips and tails makes for quick turning and maneuverable skiing for all over the hill. With width-appropriate flex, these are right in the middle on the stiffness scale, again hitting that all-mountain category right down the middle.

Catherine Ferguson skied the 167 cm length, which happens to be the longest available in the Victa 93. Catherine had been testing some stiffer skis throughout our test, and she did mention the softer flex and that she had to adapt to it a little bit. That makes a lot of sense as it's somewhat challenging to test a bunch of stiff skis, then move on to a softer flex. Catherine thought they were "very versatile," but also added that the flat tail gives it a different feel in soft snow than skis with more tail rocker. It requires a little bit more skier input than the lazy smears you can achieve on skis with lots of tail rocker. Catherine thought it would be a good ski for anyone in the intermediate to expert range who doesn't need a particularly stiff or powerful ski. "Great overall ski, but not enough "oomph" for my liking." That's okay, Catherine is an accomplished skier with good technique and a fearless mentality. Even without hearing any of her feedback, we'd guess she'd prefer the Victa skis with metal. Maybe you're like Catherine, or maybe the Victa 93 would be perfect for you. Again, the fact is that Armada is trying for the middle ground here, in terms of shape, profile, and construction, and to that goal, the Victa 93 is a success.

Skiers looking for that mid-width, mid-flex, mid-build type of ski will feel right at home on the Victa 93. with a nice graphics refresh, the skis look great, although a bit dizzying, especially if they're on the proper feet. But, it's all about having fun out there, and Armada knows how to do it as good or better than anyone.