Armada has done the world of freestyle and freeride skiing a huge solid over the past decade, and it seems like they’re only getting better. The ARV 100 is an entirely new ski for this year, bringing with it a lot of the attributes that skiers loved about the 96, and adding a new set of technology and construction to make it a wonderful new wide twin for park and all-mountain skiers alike. By replacing the 96 with a 94 and a 100, Armada has separated the ski’s audience into two pretty distinct factions. The 100 skier is likely looking for more of an all-mountain and freeride feel with some park capabilities, while those that opt for the 94 will have more of a park focus, but also want the rest of the mountain to be in play. We’ve talked for years, touting the wonderfulness of these ~100 mm twin tips, and this new ARV is no different. Thanks to the new shape, innovative construction, and modern profile, this ski is sure to be a clear winner for the foreseeable future.

The main ingredient in this new ski is the implementation of their w3dgewall construction. By using a lighter weight caruba wood core, it’s clear that agility is going to be a focus of this new ski. They’ve moved away from ash and poplar in order to achieve that feel, but the fact that they didn’t lose much in the stability and durability departments all comes back to w3dgewall. This new technique takes the sidewall and basically extends a portion of it into the core of the ski. It’s pressed in this fashion, creating cohesiveness and unity in the core of the ski. This not only increases the stability of the ski from tip to tail, but it also allows for greater strength and durability when it comes to the longevity of the ski. It’s supposed to be used in an aggressive format due to the nature of the ski, and Armada definitely stepped up its game in this regard. They didn’t go fully away from ash, however, thanks to the binding insert that uses this wood. Not only will this aid in binding retention, but it will also make for a smoother ride underfoot with less vibrations and greater torsional stiffness. In the 179, this ski hits 1700 grams, which is considerably lighter than we’ve seen from the 96 in the past. This new weight, combined with the new shape and profile, gives the ARV 100 a huge advantage in the modern twin tip world.

By adding a fair amount of taper to the ski, we’re seeing recent twin tip shaping moving to the forefront. Taper in twin tips, especially from a freestyle perspective, allows for smoother and rounder takeoffs and landings. There is less catching or hooking of tips and tails, and that’s been a theme we’ve seen over the past few years. We also get Armada’s freestyle rocker, which is pretty standard for twin tips these days. It helps with flotation and initiation, but it isn’t the overarching aspect of this ARV 100. With 128 mm tips and 120 mm tails, these skis are more symmetrical than others, creating a rounder turn shape with a smeary nature. When you get on something this wide with a pretty round shape, it loves to arc across the fall line and make clean, deep, and round carves. Those measurements create an 18-meter turn radius, which is pretty standard for this type of ski.

This new ARV 100 is the key to unlocking your freestyle and all-mountain skiing potential. It’s an equal-opportunity ski that allows for creative as well as more business-like performance, and that’s kind of a rare combination. We’ve loved the addition of durability and agility to the ski, and while it’s not like it was easily breakable before, the notion that they’ve made it both lighter and stronger is pretty impressive. Our testers this year have been more than enamored with the capabilities and overall character of this ski, and Armada is doing a great job in propelling this line forward, even after years and years of past success.