The 2027 Armada ARV 100 JR is the youth all-mountain powder ski, designed specifically for lighter skiers with a hybrid molded core. It's built for groms who want to surf, slash, and charge across the whole mountain.

Why we like it:

Most kids' skis flex like 2x4s. The ARV 100 JR has a properly tuned flex pattern that actually loads and releases under a smaller skier, which means lighter, less powerful kids can actually use the freestyle and all-mountain capability the ski was designed to deliver.

Who it's for:

Junior skiers who ski the whole mountain and want a wider, freestyle-leaning all-mountain ski. Best for advancing groms, freestyle-leaning kids, and young skiers who want to surf and slash powder days alongside their park laps.

Highlights:

The Hybrid Molded Core is the smart engineering move on this ski. By blending wood with composite materials and tuning the flex specifically for lighter skiers, Armada makes a ski that flexes and rebounds under junior weight rather than just being a stiff plank. Ash binding inserts add stiffness at the mount zone for stomping landings and harder turns. W3DGEWALL injected sidewall construction adds durability at the sidewall-to-core bond, which matters on a ski that's going to take a beating. Freestyle Rocker keeps tip and tail rocker for soft-snow versatility and switch riding, the All Mountain Edge stands up to rails and rough conditions, and the S7 sintered base finishes off a junior ski that's clearly designed to ski just like the adult ARVs, only sized for groms.

Things to consider:

The 100-mm waist makes this a wider junior ski, which is great for soft snow and freestyle skiing but more of a handful for kids who ski mostly on trail. Strong all-trail-focused juniors might be better served by a narrower JR ski.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Skis true to length. Pick the length that matches your kid's height and skill level.