Armada ARW 88 Ski Set + Bindings

Armada designed the ARW 88 for female skiers looking to progress between the park and all-mountain skiing without switching skis. Listed as unisex in the product description, this ski is primarily aimed at female skiers of intermediate to expert level who are comfortable on features as well as on open slopes. Its 88 mm waist width gives it true versatility, whether in light powder, coming off a rail, or landing a jump. The construction, centered around a poplar core, gives it that characteristic responsiveness that female freestyle skiers seek.

ARW 88 Construction and Materials: Responsiveness and Durability for Freestyle

The 100% poplar core is the cornerstone of this construction. This wood offers a good balance between lightness and responsiveness, which translates into a natural pop upon landing and crisp responsiveness when pushing off the jump. To ensure the bindings hold up over time, Armada incorporates an ash insert—a denser wood—which provides superior screw retention even after numerous intensive sessions.

The W3dgewall sidewalls deserve special attention. 3D-molded, injection-molded, and fused directly to the wood core, they create a mechanical bond that improves resistance to lateral impacts—a critical factor during park landings. The oversized, heat-treated 2.5 Impact Edge edges complement this focus on durability by absorbing the most violent stresses without chipping prematurely. The sintered S7 base optimizes glide speed, wear resistance, and wax retention, reducing the need for frequent maintenance.

A rocker profile designed for freestyle and all-mountain riding

The AR Freestyle Rocker profile combines raised tips and tails with positive camber underfoot. This geometric design makes it easier to initiate turns and allows for a smoother float in soft snow, while the central camber maintains stable edge grip on hard snow or during landings. The medium flex—rated 7 at the tip and 8 in the waist and tail on a scale of 10—absorbs landings without excessive stiffness while providing enough support for firm planting at high speeds. The turning radius ranges from 15 m at 161 cm to 16 m at 171 cm, which corresponds to wide turns suited for steep slopes and broad trajectories away from features.

Dimensions and Terrain Compatibility

The ARW 88 is available in four lengths: 161, 166, and 171 cm (as well as 156 cm according to the manufacturer’s specifications). The sidecut for the 171 cm model is 119/88/113 mm, a balanced twin-tip geometry that allows for skiing both forward and in switch. The listed weight of 1,550 grams for the 171 cm length falls within a reasonable range for an all-mountain freestyle ski of this construction. This versatility across terrain—from the park to open mountain—makes it a must-have for any winter collection, capable of handling a variety of sessions without major compromises in either discipline.