Pushing the needle forward in terms of competitive park and pipe skiing, the 2024 Armada ARV 88 is here to take control of the freestyle world. As the third ski in the ARV line to adopt a different shape and build for 2024, the 88 takes advantage of new technology and design concepts, and makes them its own. While the outgoing ARV 86 had a very similar overall character to the 96, the new 88 does move to a more individualistic side of the spectrum, with some differences in build, shape, and profile from the new 94 and 100. As such, the 88 is an entirely new and unique ski that excels in the park and pipe, but as you may have guessed, we’re going to tout its on-trail and all-mountain performance as well. Most skis in the ~88 range that are of high-quality construction should function well in multiple applications, and that theory applies to this new 88 as well.

We get an entirely new build for 2024, and this seems to fit in better with the direction in which the ARV line is moving. The use of a full poplar core in this ski makes a lot of sense as it keeps it light without taking away the sturdiness or strength. Adding to that, and like we’ve seen with the wider and newer ARV’s, is the implementation of w3dewall technology, and this is definitely Armada’s biggest leap with the build of their skis this year. The sidewall of the ski features a tongue and the core has a groove. When these two pieces are put together and pressed, the whole ski becomes more of a cohesive unit than what we see with a traditional sandwich sidewall technique. Armada gets away with using lighter wood in their skis because of this, eliminating the need for an Ash wood core to gain power, instead banking on this new way of construction. It not only works in theory, but also in practice, as our testers have found that the new ARV skis have a very consistent and confident feel from tip to tail despite using lighter wood. The 176 cm length tips the scales at 1625 grams, making this a very agile ski for terrain park, half pipe, and all-mountain use.

The new 88 replaces the old 86, and while the 2 mm of difference doesn’t seem like much, it’s more about the taper shape and rocker profile that creates a larger gap between old and new. For a few seasons now, we’ve seen the implementation of more dramatic taper in the tips and tails of freestyle skis. This is a reflection of the modern and current style, where the skis need to be smoother and more drifty, especially due to the advent of more ground work styles of skiing. Buttering, nollies, ollies, knuckle hucks, and presses all require more taper, and the skis have been pretty quick to respond to the demand.While not a symmetrical park ski, this gives the ARV 88 a bit more of a broad appeal for non-competitive park skiers while also keeping those who enlist in freestyle events fully engaged. There’s a 6 mm tip to tail difference in the 176, so while it’s capable of fairly even forward/backward skiing, takeoffs, and landings, it’s also an acceptable directional ski for those looking for an 88 mm twin tip.

Thanks to a new construction, shape, and profile, the 2024 Armada 88 will appeal to a broad range of skiers and skier types, from the hardest core freestyle riders to the casual weekend skier. We’ve touted the benefits of twin tips in an all-mountain format for years, and the fact that Armada is using their groundbreaking new construction techniques in their 88 mm twin makes that even more appealing.