Armada Stranger Skis 2021

For Armada, doing things differently has always been a core value and the Stranger is the latest example of this. The goal was straightforward. Build a 15m radius ski that can tackle groomers with friends, carve hard, trick around on and just have a good time. At 100m underfoot, featuring a straight tapered edgeless butterzone in the tip and a rockered Springboard tail for endless wheelies and extra pop, the all new Stranger merges carving with freestyle and freeride attributes.Terrain Type & Ability LevelTerrain Type This is a blend of piste, all mountain, freeride and freestyle. It will carve on pistes and pop out of turns, It has the width to float if things get softer or deeper and it has the handling to be comfortable on any terrain. There’s no metal so it isn’t ultra stiff or precise, but what stiff skis can ollie or wheelie like a Stranger? It’s a wide playful piste ski that loves to turn and it’s a turny directional freestyle ski. It’s what you make it.Skier TypeSkiers who want to have fun – slashing, carving, popping, in any condition that the average resort throws up. Ability is less of factor, mindset is the key. It’s just about having fun.OverviewShapeA long tapered nose combines rocker and an edgeless tip to produce smooth turn initiation and unflappable handling. It might be 100mm in the waist but the radius is still 15m so it will happily push out tight linked carves. It’s aided by the springboard tail for extra energy and pop.The tips and tails are actually firmer than the middle section, helping the ski grip in and out of turn, with softness in the centre meaning it’s easy to switch turn size and mix it up.RockerAR Freestyle Rocker uses rockered tips and tails combined with positive camber underfoot to allow the ski to charge with ease through unpredictable snow and maintain a solid carve when asked to do so.CoreArmada’s Poplar Ash Core uses lightweight poplar combined with higher density full-length ash stringers to create an impossibly lively ski that has all the power needed for boosting.ConstructionAR75 Sidewalls use a blend of sidewall and cap for the right mix of precision, forgiveness and durability. Cap in the tip and tail reduces the swing weight for quicker spins; sidewall underfoot improves the energy transfer.Key Featuresedgeless TipThe front of the ski uses a straight-tapered butterzone with the edge removed. No edge at the tip makes butters and presses cleaner and easier, as well as reducing the weight for smoother faster steering.2.5 Impact edgeOversized and specially heat treated, this edge is built to resist impact damage in the most demanding situations.Springboard TailFor endless wheelies and extra pop.eB tester’s comments: Steve (Buying Team) Loved this. Just a fun experience to ski around on, carving easily and wanting to pop and slash.Technical SpecificationsSize (cm)Tip Width (mm)Waist Width (mm)Tail Width (mm)Radius (m)Weight (g)18013910012115.82100General InformationSkier Ability: Intermediate/Advanced/expertTerrain Type: All Mountain Rocker: Tip/Tail RockerRadius: ShortBase: SinteredBindings: n/aDIN: n/aConstruction: Semi SidewallCore: WoodDemo: YesSizing Description: Nose level to forehead height is ideal, but longer length is important if there is a bigger rocker or you’re spending more time off piste where the extra stability and float a larger size provides will be beneficial.