Thread: ARMADA AR5, any good for just skiing around?

I am a snowboarder, but my wife needs some better skis. We are planning on going to Jackson Hole in a few weeks, and her old sticks are beat up.
There is a guy selling some ARMADA AR5's near me for about $275. He says the laminate is pretty nicked up from crossing them, but they aren't delaminating.
Bindings included, they are LOOK PX 12. The skis are 180 in length, and 2005 models.
I need some help here, I don't know that much about skis.
Will they make OK all mountain units? Is it too much $$?

Thoughts on this?

FWIW, she is about 5'7". Her current skis are only 157 in length. She got them used last year in Park City, and enjoys them, but I think she would like to upgrade to something she can have fun and experiment with.

OK, so I am a Jong now, I see the thread above that says they are good all mountain and park units. Good on that front.
Is the price high, right on, low?

That price actually seems a little high. I think they were selling for $200 new at the end of last season and those bindings have sold on SAC quite a few times for $80. I've got the same skis, they make a good all mountain ski. Depending on the size and skills of your wife they might be a lot for her to handle. They are kinda stuff as far as park skis go.

I recently bought a pair of 171cm AR6 skis and they're soft as hell, can't imagine how soft other parks skis must be. (K2 Silencer hand-flexes a lot stiffer.) Tired them twice but they're just too short / soft for my tastes. (5'9" / 165 lbs, racing background) I bought them for early-season goof-off boards, but now have them in Gearswap for $175 OBO. The AR5's or AR6's (lighter with carbon fiber) would probably make a great all-mountain ski for a woman or lightweight skier though, they're very light and have enough width for pow.

I have been through three pairs of AR5s and I use them as my all around/park ski. Price is definitely high. Another thing with them is they loose a lot of their spank quickly. My current pair (rock skis) were dead within 1/2 a season. They hold up, but no life left in them. 180cm is also pretty long if she is used to a 157.

she would really enjoy a missdemeanor/public enemy. softish flex yet still carves well. my shop has some from last year for 220 I think. Otherwise, something from last year like a scratch FS would be a much better choice. that price is way high I think. I got my girl the rossi blast. its a softer wood twin that retails for 250. Not a lot of ski, but for dorking around and getting her skiing switch, you really can't beat it. another pricepoint option in that catagory is the volkl ledge. low 80s underfoot, wood core and under 300 new. throw her old bindings on them and have a much better all mtn setup for a lighter skier than what you previously mentioned.
good luck
Hunter

Ok, thanks for the help! I had a feeling they might be too long, and good to know about them wearing out fast. I didn't know skis would do that.

I would say those skis are too long for you wife. Also, the mounting line on the AR5s is pretty close to center, good for the park, not so good for all mountain. If you do decide to go with a park ski in the future for your wife either new or used, I would make sure the bindings are mounted in a "freeride" position. Some skis have two different lines, one more centered sometimes called "progressive" and one mounted a bit further back from center sometimes called "traditional".

Originally Posted by Tube Sag

I have been through three pairs of AR5s and I use them as my all around/park ski. Price is definitely high. Another thing with them is they loose a lot of their spank quickly. My current pair (rock skis) were dead within 1/2 a season. They hold up, but no life left in them. 180cm is also pretty long if she is used to a 157.

Interesting, I have an original pair of AR5s, I think this will be my third or fourth season on them and they have lots of life still in them. Granted they are not my only ski and I don't slide rails.

Great, thanks for all the info. Sounds like I will pass on these skis. Might be better if they were super cheap, would make me even get back on some skis maybe. Heh!

I like a traditional mounting position, so I mounted my AR6's 1.75" behind the line on the topsheet.