ARMADA's recommended skis for 21-22 | Professional reviews and ratings

Armada boasts a wide range of skiers, from park skiers to backcountry skiers.
The brand was founded in 2002 in California by skiers who were active during the rise of freeskiing, including Tanner Hall and the late JP Auclair.

Because the brand's roots lie in park skiing, many of its riders are still active in park skiing or have a background in park skiing. Backcountry skiers also excel in skiing styles that incorporate jumps and tricks in addition to downhill skiing.
While Armada initially focused on men's park skis, it now offers a diverse lineup of skis, including the ski-focused "Decrivity" and the unisex "ARW," delighting freeskiers.

With the expanded lineup, many may be unsure of how to choose or which ski is best for them. Here, we'd like to introduce three recommended skis selected by our editorial team.

1. ARV 116 JJ UL (ARV 116 JJ Ultra Light)

This board is an evolved version of the JJ, which was born in 2010 to fulfill the desire of riders who wanted to be able to perform tricks and move freely in the backcountry just like they would in the park. The ARV JJ was originally a fat ski with a rocker, but it overturned the concept of rocker by being easy to glide on slopes and having excellent maneuverability. This was well received by riders and general skiers alike, and it became an explosive hit

The evolved model is the ARV 116 JJ UL. UL stands for "ultralight," and as the name suggests, ultralight is extremely light

The materials used in the construction are not significantly different from the ARV JJ, but the rocker has been made shallower, the camber extended, and the outline has been fine-tuned, resulting in a longer contact point, making it easier to ski in a variety of situations and for a wider range of abilities

And by thinning the core material, they've achieved an astonishing weight reduction of about 500g per shoe. That's roughly 20% lighter than regular JJs. However, the sidewalls underfoot are heavily reinforced. While the overall weight has been reduced, the areas that bear the most weight have been designed to be sturdy. It's worth noting that this improvement would not have been possible without Armada's advanced technical capabilities

The ARV JJ was originally designed to allow park-like movement in powder, so it has a light swing weight and good maneuverability even in fresh snow. Furthermore, it's thin to make the tip lighter, which is another feature that allows the tip of the board to float when catching powder. Its
light weight also makes it suitable for touring. It's also suitable for walking and climbing without sacrificing gliding performance, so it's recommended for beginners touring.
Having one of these versatile rocker skis will greatly expand the range of skiing situations.

Review and Rating of Eigo Higuchi's ARV 116 JJ UL

"The ride is simply the best. Once you ride it in powder, you'll never want to let it go. I'm using a 185cm board, but even in places that require precise maneuvering, like tree runs, you don't notice its length. You can fly around like you would on a park board, and the long effective edge means stable landings. Carving is also fun, so this one board can do so many things."

2_EDOLLO

The EDOLLO is the successor to the Aldente, Henrik Harlow's signature model, which was released in the 2014 season. EDOLLO comes from Henrik's nickname.
Henrik, originally from Sweden, is now one of the leading skaters for the Armada brand.

What kind of skier is Henrik Harlow?

While competing for gold medals in Big Air Slopestyle at the Olympics and X Games, he also continues to actively create video works. He is a one-of-a-kind presence in the skiing world, incorporating elements of street culture into his skiing style, such as wearing oversized clothing and bandanas, while also maintaining his high level of technical skill

Henrik's signature model, EDOLLO, was rebranded in the 2015 season under a new name from Al Dente

The sidewalls were designed to be 50% of the total length of the board, making it a soft board with a flexible flex, but the sidewalls were extended to 75% to make it a sturdy board suitable for hard use in competitions, street photography, and other situations. As a result, the flex and torsion became stronger, making it a board that could perform powerfully on slopes and on ungroomed snow

Despite this, the skis feature nose rocker to make it easier to perform nose-butter tricks, a style that Henrik is known for. The camber from the feet to the tail provides excellent rebound when jumping and stability when landing. These skis offer excellent maneuverability, not only on slopes and ungroomed slopes, but also in the park, performing tricks, and jumping in the backcountry

Also, pay attention to the graphics this season. Up until now, EDOLLO has featured flashy illustrations with a yokai motif, but this year's design is simpler, reminiscent of Tanner Hall's signature model from the early days of Armada

This season will be a crucial one for Henrik, with the Beijing Olympics coming up. He is determined to compete on the big stage that comes once every four years, together with his mentor and mentor Tanner Hall

Review and rating of Yoshiya Urata's EDOLLO

"Even though it's a park ski, it also has excellent performance for everyday skiing, so I use it for free runs to warm up before the season, and since it has a center width of 98mm, I use it on days with a little powder, and also in the park in spring. Its distinctive feature is the rocker ski with a wide tip, which makes nose-type tricks stable and easy to do. I also like the handling and ride feel. The board itself is light, so I can do tricks smoothly on jibs and kickers. I use it not only on the slopes but also on uneven ground and natural terrain, so the wide, stable board makes it easy to control even at high speeds."

3_BDOG (B-DOG)

BDOG is the signature model of Canadian skier Phil Casaubon, a veteran rider of Armada. Like Henrik, BDOG is Phil's nickname. He and Henrik are as close as brothers, and together they have produced numerous video works as a duo called "B&E."

What kind of skier is Phil Casaubon?

In contrast to Henrik, who also competes in competitions, Phil is dedicated to exploring his own skiing style and expressing it through film and photography. His dedication has led to a variety of innovative tricks that defy existing concepts, expanding the possibilities of freeskiing. Like Henrik, he is a one-of-a-kind presence in the skiing world

This is the Armada's softest flex board, with rocker in the nose and tail. It's optimized for Phil, who likes to perform a series of ground tricks, including butter tricks. Its sidewalls are shorter than the EDOLLO, making it relatively easy for anyone to handle. At the same time, it uses a strong poplar ash core to withstand the weight of nose and tail presses, which put your entire weight on the board

The biggest feature of the BDOG is that the nose and tail have the same flex and are almost the same shape. As skis are usually designed to ski forward, the tail has a camber and is gently tapered to reduce resistance, but Phil's skis are different. The tail, like the nose, has a rounded, serpentine shape so that you can ski, jump, and do ground tricks in switch just as you would in regular stance.
The BDOG is a lightweight, flexible board that is easy to handle and allows you to maneuver easily, and perform intricate tricks with ease.
If you're just getting started in freeskiing, or if you want to master lots of ground tricks like butters and ollies, then this is the board for you.

"Basically, it's a board I'll ride from the start of the season until the end. Sometimes I use it on the slopes, and sometimes I use it on the street. As long as the snow isn't deep, I can ride the BDOG in a variety of places.
It has a soft flex, but it's an all-around board that can be ridden on shallow powder, uneven ground, and hard runs. In the park, the board's appeal is particularly evident in jibs and on terrain. On terrain, it's easy to do press tricks, and because it's a sturdy board, it can withstand impacts both in and out of jibs. I personally really like the design, and I think its easy-to-play specs make it the perfect board for me."

Review and rating of B DOG by Kento Isokawa

"Basically, it's a board I'll ride from the start of the season until the end. Sometimes I use it on the slopes, and sometimes I use it on the street. As long as the snow isn't deep, I can ride the BDOG in a variety of places.
It has a soft flex, but it's an all-around board that can be ridden on shallow powder, uneven terrain, and hard runs. In the park, the board's appeal is particularly evident in jibs and on terrain. On terrain, it's easy to do press tricks, and because it's a sturdy board, it can withstand impacts both in and out of jibs. I personally really like the design, and I think its easy-to-play specs make it the perfect board for me."