Armada Declivity 102 Ti Skis 2022

The Declivity 102 Ti has found a sweet spot in terms of mixing high-performance with playfulness and ease of use, a very rare thing. It's the result of Articulated Titanal Banding. The lightweight caruba core is reinforced with Titanal which, at the tip and tail, has vertical cut-outs where the metal is replaced by an elastic Compound Layer. This adds precision and stability as well as bringing a smooth energy to turns. As stable as the stiff 100mm skis that are on the market, and as fun and easy as the non-metal versions, it won't disappoint anywhere.Terrain Type & Ability LevelTerrain Type everything you are going to find off piste (and it will still ski groomed trails). It has the grip to ski and attack harder snow, the stability to fly over rough terrain and the width and shape to flow through fresh conditions when you find them. It's a proper all condition wide ski.Skier TypeSuits freeriders and all mountain skiers who want a ski with grip and precision that can be pushed but isn't demanding to ski. It's a rare combination but Armada have achieved it. All skiers who know they want a 100mm or thereabouts ski will get something from it, whether they are new to this width and still working on technique and are finding new terrain to ski, or whether they're already skilled and experienced but are tired of the trade off between stiff high-performance models and softer, less demanding ones. The 102 finds that balance for grip and precision with stability, smoothness and ease of use.OverviewShapeIt's obviously 10mm wider than the 92 Ti version but it also has slightly more taper at the tip and tail. This longer transition to the widest points on the ski gives it better stability away from pistes, with more predictable handling. It's also got slightly less sidecut than it's narrower brother again adding to the stability.RockereST Freeride Rocker uses fore body rocker combined with extra tip taper for optimised float in the soft stuff. Positive camber underfoot with no tail rocker ensures the ski stays on rails when carving.CoreArmada's Caruba Core is their lightest core but retains the power and dampness required to descend the gnarliest of terrain. It uses caruba, a wood that is lighter than poplar without losing energy or durability. This is reinforced with Titanal in a build called Articulated Titanal Banding, improving the power and, unlike regular metal sheets, doesn't over-stiffen the ski.ConstructionWith AR100 Sidewalls Armada are using full length vertical sidewalls, something they haven't done for a long time. This construction improves precision and edge hold.Key FeaturesArticulated Titanal BandingTitanal adds horsepower to the ski with uncompromising performance, acting as a shock absorber and quietening chatter to give unparalleled stability and confidence at speed. To make sure this doesn't over-stiffen the ski and make steering difficult it has vertical cut-outs at the tip and tail. These are filled with an elastic Compound Layer that allows the ski to enter the turn with ease during the turn this compound compresses so that the Articulated Titanal Banding releases more energy than a traditional Ti layer.2.5 Impact edgeOversized and specially heat treated, this edge is built to resist impact damage in the most demanding situations.Comp Series BaseSintered UHMW polyethylene with added carbon, aids speed and durability.eB tester’s comments: Steve (Buying Team): A brilliant ski that wasn't originally high on our agenda. One run changed that instantly. Has the feel of a charger but it's surprisingly smooth and easy to ski at slower speeds. Though you will want to blast through any snow and lay down big, high-speed turns.Technical SpecificationsSize (cm)Tip Width (mm)Waist Width (mm)Tail Width (mm)Radius (m)Weight (g)17213410212417.5185018013510212518195018813610218.518.52050General InformationSkier Ability: Advanced/expertTerrain Type: Freeride Rocker: Tip RockerRadius: MediumBase: SinteredBindings: Ski sold flatDIN: n/aConstruction: Full SidewallCore: Wood, Titanal LaminateDemo: NoSizing Description: Forehead to over head height. The increased length ensures better grip, stability and floatation and is essential to making the ski work to its full potential. Large rockers at the tip mean it is important not to size down.