Armada Stranger Ski Thread

[kc_7777]

I just picked up the 2024 Armada Stranger in a 180cm. Mounting with black Armada STH 16s. Thought about a 172cm Stranger (as you’re supposed to size down) just looked too short. I also have a 96mm waisted 180cm Season Aero (125-96-121) which I find the perfect length for my low-tide ski.

I also previously owned a 176cm Line Blade. The Blade was insanely fun to carve on mellow groomers, but I found pulled you across the hill too much on steeps. So when skiing with a fast group who were on regular skis, and you’re lapping Peak Chair at WB, the Blade just wasn’t “all around” enough. If everyone I skied with had a Blade I would have kept it.

I think the 2,100 gm Armada Stranger with a 15.8m radius will be a better all around ski as its specs (140-100-121) are not as extreme as the Line Blade (13.5m radius) at 2,050 gm (154-95-124).

Stranger should be good for f’ing around all over WB when there is no new snow, when I want a bit wider ski than the Aero.

Figured we are going to see more of these type of “freeride + freestyle” skis coming out in future.

I've read that recommended mount for the Armada Stranger is -8cm but seems Armada recommends +2cm mount (-6cm) in what I’ve read online.

Anyone have any thoughts before I mount? The tail appears to be pretty strong.

K

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[waxoff]

^^looks fun as fuk, like a wider Mirus Cor, no? Albeit with slightly less sidecut radius-wise... Hadn't seen it before, so can't assist with intel, but do follow up once on snow!

[dmcd]

Did you think about the Season Kin (dims139.5-97.6-135.5, 1900g, 15m radius)? Seems like it would have been a good fit, but i guess maybe too much overlap. I'm adding one of these type of skis to the quiver right now and very interested to hear more about the Stranger.

[ASmileyFace]

Skied a few laps on them a few years back. Fun & easy is a good way to describe the ski. I found them very soft, short and eager to go across the fall line. The way they skied reminded me a lot of your comments about the Blade... but I haven't had a chance to ski the Blade so I could be off base.

I tentatively trying to find a pair to be my "recovery ski" coming back from blowing my femur up.

[kc_7777]

Did you think about the Season Kin (dims139.5-97.6-135.5, 1900g, 15m radius)? Seems like it would have been a good fit, but i guess maybe too much overlap. I'm adding one of these type of skis to the quiver right now and very interested to hear more about the Stranger.

I thought about the Kin for sure. Very similar specs to the Stranger so I think it falls under the same category. The Kin is~ 1,900 gm and the Stranger is ~2,100 gm, which I prefer. I have a Season Aero and Season Forma. The Kin is $200 cheaper than both of those Season skis….got me wondering about Kin’s durability? As I saw a pair of Kins once and they seemed pretty chipped up. So far the Aero is holding up well.

The Armada Strangers look beautiful in person. And well built. Will definitely report back after I’ve skied them.

The skis that are in this freeride + freestyle category seem to be:

Line Blade
Line Sakana
Armada Stranger
Black Crows Mirus Cor
Season Kin
Salomon BBR? - haha

K


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[kc_7777]

Some 2024 Armada Stranger info from Ski Essentials....Jeff was kinda shocked at the weight...2,200 gm per ski for the 180cm (vs ~2,100 gm listed online):

[GoldenBC]

I’m fairly certain the rep said the stranger was designed as a jr comp ski. The website says nothing of that though.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Do you have to sit on it till it goes numb?

[kc_7777]

Given the lack of snow to start the Whistler season I’m glad I have these.

Measured the rec line before mounting and it’s 80cm from the tail on the 180cm which is -10cm. Strange as I read rec was -8cm.

Talked to some Armada people and they said they are best at +2.5cm. So here they are at -7.5cm:




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[KillerMonkey]

Here's mine. Ive had them since the end of last year and so far theyve been a lot of fun. Thinking of detuning them a bit more as I can find them a little hooky, similar to what you described of the blade on steeps. Definitely dont feel as heavy as they are but it has great suspension and carves really well. I definitely prefer my on3p magnus for pure park skiing and rails but I usually pull these skis when I am skiing with a group that is slower/ less technical. They make slow speed skiing, carving across green runs, and buttering off everything a blast.

[kc_7777]

Stranger day 1.

Super easy ski that does whatever you ask of it. Carve groomers, rip bumps, slarve on shit snow, mach through crowds. They rip.

Fuller review I after ski them more.

I’m 5,7”, ~170 lbs on the 180cm. They feel like a 180, but they don’t ski long. I’m mounted +2.5cm from rec, and so am at -7.5cm which is a bit further back than most of my skis at -6cm. But the Strangers felt very centred. Perfect there.

They’re also heavy yet don’t feel heavy. Kinda planted yet light?

The tail shape/rise makes them easy to slarve which I like in a ski. Pleasantly surprised at the ease at which the tails release if you want them too. I think the wide shovel would make them decent in pow too.



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[bearcub69]

the strangers rip. they have inspiration from the TST, which makes sense if you look at the specs/rocker profile.. and they also share the same tip taper design as the armada bdog, which is a great taper design. i would call these a 50/50 freeride/freestyle ski and pretty good do it all ski from hard groomers to 1'-1.5' pow

they felt heavy the first day after coming off a 98mm waisted ski in the same length, but you get used to it quickly and it allows the ski to charge hard for a relatively soft, true 178.5cm ski

it would be cool if armada offered different sizing.. a longer option for taller folks and these being a true 180/181 would be rad

mounted at -4 from center or +6 from recommended for more playfullness and the skis still rip... wouldnt recommend going much more forward than that or else you fight sidecut