As Armada has continued to do season after season, the world of competitive pipe and park skiing is yet again expanded with the 2024 ARW 88. Ready to explore new limits with a fresh revamp, this peak-performance, freestyle-oriented ski is one of three models in the ARW lineup that offers women a fresh approach to jumps, rails, and features. Stepping in to replace the former ARW 86, we gain a little width underfoot as well as upgrades to the build, shape and profile. With a slightly more unique character in comparison to the 94 and 100, the 88 offers a slightly stiffer flex with a tighter turn radius and additional camber underfoot. Aimed to dominate the park and pipe, with a high-quality construction and versatile all mountain capabilities, this new and improved ARW 88 is built to last.

This year’s rendition features a brand-new construction, with the use of full poplar wood to soften the flex and save on weight. As far as Armada’s goal to trend the ARW line in a more fine-tuned direction, the transition towards 100% poplar core delivers an impressively lightweight and consistent feel yet maintains the ideal level of strength and stability. Not only does this change in construction invite better maneuverability and agility for all-mountain performance, but it provides a softer flex for buttering, pressing, and popping off airs and on features. The most notable addition to the build is the use of w3dewall technology, which implements an angled sidewall that, when pressed into the core, cohesively bonds together rather than a traditional sandwich sidewall. This mechanical bond between the sidewall and wood core is what allows Armada to use such a lightweight core, delivering the level of power desired without the added weight and bulk. A smooth, consistent flex is matched with durability and maneuverability, making it the perfect combination for the intended use.

Looking at the shape and profile of the new versus last year’s ARW 88, aside from the 2 mm addition to the waist width, the modification to the rocker lines and amount of taper is what really stands out. As many of the freestyle ski shapes have been leaning more towards to expand all mountain versatility, we see more of a rounded-out, spoon-like shovel with smoother edges. This early taper profile invites smoother turn initiations and surfier, more relaxed style turn shapes, aligning appropriately with the freeride trend. For those skiers who spend the majority of their time in the park buttering, nollying, and pressing on features, takeoffs and landings will value the alteration in shape, lending a much smoother, more intuitive feel. Though not a true twin tip shape, it certainly invites switch skiing and does not sacrifice its directional performance. With more camber underfoot than its sister models, the edge grip and precision derived from the forebody of the ski proves its abilities outside of the terrain park.

Armada has branched out with this year’s iteration of the ARW lineup, blending all-mountain attributes in a freestyle-oriented ski. Appealing to dedicated park skiers as well as those looking for a lightweight twin tip ski, the ARW 88 brings you the best of both worlds with its upgraded construction, shape and profile. With a sturdy build that is designed to last, this playful and poppy park ski now invites the rest of the mountain to become its playground.