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Pipecleaner or Alpha 1?

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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
Considering getting one of these and I can't decide to go with something totally different and fun, or something tried and true.  I want a stiff ski for all around park, mostly jumps and pipe.  I'm 6' 185 lbs, I like a  race base, and I want the ski to be fairly stable for ripping groomers.  As far as I know both skis are stiff, stable, and fast.  What are the opinions out there?  Price is about the same.
Feb 24 2009 12:14PM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
i would get the AR6.  more versatile then both of them.
the pipe cleaners are designed to be a strictly pipe ski for armada competitors.  if you plan on doing any kind of rails or boxes, you will be introuble. 

Feb 24 2009 12:17PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
Well....not true at all....so my question once again is:

PC or Alpha 1

I do not want AR6s, Anthems, Walls, or any other suggestions.
Feb 24 2009 12:21PM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
next time you ask for my opinion, don't jerk off when i give it to you.
or be alittle more specific in your post.
Feb 24 2009 12:30PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
Can you explain to me why? The newer pipe cleaners have the same edge as all Armada par skis. I have owned AR5s, tried Ar6s, and own Pipe Cleaners. The PCs are by far my favorite skis.

To the op: I have Pipe Cleaners and they are such a fun ski, I have them mounted at -5 which is the factory line. I skied them about a month before I hit a rail with them because they are such a dope all mountain ski. I do rails with them all the time and other than the expected dull edges they are absolutely fine. With them not centered they are so sick on fast groomers and slashing through zipper lines but still perform fine in the park. The race base is sweet. I like to take care of my skis (keep my base smooth, wax every 2 weeks or so) and these skis are so much faster than my friends. For example I was just at a mountain with a 3 jump line and everyone was skipping the first jump to keep speed for the bottom 2 and barely clearing the 3rd jump. I was hitting all jump and getting into the sweetspots. When I skipped the first jump I sent a 1080 into the flats of the bottom jump /claim haha.

They are fairly stiff for park but I weigh 195 lbs so that is a good amount of weight for someone like myself. Next year if my Pipe Cleaners are pretty thrashed I am thinking about the Alpha 1s just because I have cruised the park a little on my Caylors and it seems like a skinny lightweight rockered park ski could be real fun.

Hope that helped, if you have more questions feel free to PM me.
Feb 24 2009 12:36PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
I can't be any more specific than listing the only 2 specific skis I'm interested in.  All I was doing was reiterating since apparently I didn't get the point across the first time.  Thanks for the help, but I don't need another pair of AR6s.
Feb 24 2009 12:38PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
Thanks a ton man, anyone on the Alpha 1?
Feb 24 2009 12:40PM
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TheBeardedOne
Posts: 2286 - Karma: 58
No, but I can agree with everything Caveman said, my Pipecleaners are the best all around ski i have ridden, they kill everything, and they are awesome on rails, the bases don't get messed up at all. Don't listen to the kids who think Pipecleaners can't do anything but pipe.. mine are mounted at factory -5 too and I couldn't be happier.
Feb 24 2009 1:58PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
Word. In my opinion, Pipe Cleaners are just a better version of the AR6
Feb 24 2009 2:00PM
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TheBeardedOne
Posts: 2286 - Karma: 58
True that. To the OP, it really comes down to what you want in a ski. The Pipecleaners shred everything, and I'm sure the Alpha 1s do also, the rocker might give you a little more versatility though in softer snow or just playing around in the park. However the rocker might also make skiing fast and carving less fun/more difficult. I have found that rockered skis can still carve sweet turns, but they feel tight and not as controlled as a traditional camber ski. Armada makes some awesome skis and whichever one you choose, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Feb 24 2009 2:11PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
Owning a pair of rockered skis I fully agree with you. I would also like to add that in the Jacob Wester interview on the front page he comments that the Alpha 1s kill it in everything except fast groomers.
Feb 24 2009 2:28PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
That's exactly what I have been trying to find out, and who better to hear it from than Jacob himself right?

Karma and hugs for both of you guys, thanks a ton.  Still interested in anyone who has the Alpha 1, I mean these skis are going to be for fun either way.
Feb 24 2009 4:15PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
If you end up getting them please let me know because I am very interested as well. You definitely cant go wrong with PCs though..
Feb 24 2009 4:43PM
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0123456789
Posts: 9226 - Karma: 148
not a single thing you said there is true.
Feb 24 2009 4:56PM
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pmw
Posts: 5760 - Karma: 831
I would say the alpha 1 is a lottt more stiff, and durable, atleast when it comes to topsheet
Feb 24 2009 6:03PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
What is your source of information?
Feb 24 2009 6:07PM
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pmw
Posts: 5760 - Karma: 831
I have looked into each, read reviews about each, and i ski with two kids everyday, one who has alpha 1s, one who has pipe cleaners
Feb 24 2009 6:16PM
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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
I have a friend with PC's, i think he loves them. The Alpha 1's seem pretty cool, i would assume the rocker is sick for buttering, but i feel like they threw two many different things into one ski.

Can i ask why you have come down to these two choices? It's just because Fischer Addict (pro) are stiff, symetrical, and super fun, and great for park, and hold up like non other at speeds and carve really well.
Feb 24 2009 6:43PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
I have never seen, touched, nor known anyone who has a pair of them so I don't feel comfortable considering them for purchase.  I would love a chance to demo them though.
Feb 24 2009 7:24PM
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A-Style**
Posts: 1831 - Karma: 81
sounds like you would be PERFECT on some big feet
[IMG]skischule-imst.at/pict/verleih_bigfoot.gif[/IMG]

you're welcome :)
Feb 24 2009 7:31PM
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A-Style**
Posts: 1831 - Karma: 81
oh no!
Click for larger image
Feb 24 2009 7:33PM
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LukeB.
Posts: 268 - Karma: 22
yo my homie has the PC and he told me to buy the alpha 1s.
he has ridin both and says he likes the alpha 1s more
Feb 24 2009 7:36PM
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b-kul
Posts: 4350 - Karma: 1,111
pretty sure armadas goal with the pipecleaner was just to make a super ar6.
Feb 24 2009 7:38PM
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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
well then im the first! haha

They are stiff, the addict pros also have tail and tip reinforcements that make the pro model even stiffer. I rip down grooms on them, i carve very well. They are symetrical so they ski switch amazingly, sooo easy (i haven't been messing around skiing switch, but these made it extremely easy). i don't feel chatter at high speeds. they have a really sick pop to them, if you come to a roller on a trail and lean back and let loose, you will fly, i've almost killed myself doing that. I am not the biggest park skier, so from the park points of view, i can't give you the best idea, but i know they defnitely arent bad. And as a mainly all mountain skier, they just rip, handled really well in the pow the east coast just got.

I donno, i can say a ton of great things about them. But you're right, you gotta demo them and i really suggest you do if you can.
Feb 24 2009 9:04PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
I am going to find you during basic I swear.  Just for that!!!!!!
Feb 25 2009 3:20AM
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Pwn.Mode
Posts: 1061 - Karma: 10
alpha 1's are bad on groomers well at high speeds, idk about pipe but they kill it in the park especially big jumps. probably if you're skiing pipe get the PC.
Feb 26 2009 4:47AM
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bibs_skibum
Posts: 4462 - Karma: 449
Pipecleaners:

I personally love them.  I have the 181s mounted 1 cm back from center with FKS bindings.  They are quick, they are responsive, they blow through shit snow pretty well, and they SLAY the park and rails IMO.  Im 6'0 and 150 lbs so i cant really butter them but i still love how fast they are.  I have had the OG pipe cleaners for a little more than a year and after a full year of railing, i got my first edge crack this last weekend.  Also i just got my first core shot. 

The topsheet chips, yes.  Its cosmetic so i got over it quick.  Skis do that, especially with the abuse that i give them.  Pipe cleaners slay all mountain conditions (minus pow, i hate these things in pow.  Thats why i got 09 JJ's).  They rock the bumps and kill the tight trees.  I take them up the ridge at bridger bowl and the headwaters at moonlight basin often.  In other words these things handle tight, steep chutes.  I wish i could butter them, but at the same time if i could butter them, then they wouldnt have the same all mountain performance so im glad i cant butter them.

granted I WEIGH NOTHING so a heavier NSer might do more damage to the base/ edge on rails than i do but these are super durable.  Also these things are poppy as hell, super stable at fast speed, and can hold an edge in all conditions switch or forward.  In other words, if i could have two skis, id have pipe cleaners for EVERY type of condition under 3 inches (corn, crud, ice, groomers, soft post-pow days) and JJs for anything over 3 inches.

Any more questions feel free to PM me
Feb 27 2009 12:58AM
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Karcher
Posts: 3788 - Karma: 1,934
my friend got the alphas and they cracked in half after half a season
Feb 27 2009 6:48PM
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headlight
Posts: 165 - Karma: 15

just a note next year Armada will have both an Alpha 1 and 2 - shown in EUrope already PC remains hte same. I agree with the comments above the  PC (traditional skis)  stability at speed on groomers vs Alphas or any rockered ski....

google poor translation -

Alpha 1 (84 mm pad, 14 m radius) is an online ski inverted rib with a rocker on the front and rear of the ski. No, this is not a big fat since it is intended primarily for use trail / all mountain. The little brother, Alpha 2, only differs in the composition of the sole (graphite for Alpha 1) and weight (lighter kernel on the Alpha 1). More rigid than pure freestyle, Alpha should allow a very good development track at the edge of performance, and a fairly good stability in powder or trafolle.

New 2010 Armada line French video

 http://www.skieur.com/News/2191-nouveautes-gamme-skis-armada-2009-2010.html 

 

L'Alpha 1 (84 mm au patin, 14 m de rayon) est un ski en ligne de côtes inversés avec un rocker à l'avant et à l'arrière du ski. Non, ce n'est pas un gros fat puisqu'il se destine avant tout à une utilisation piste/all mountain. Le petit frère, l'Alpha 2, ne diffère que par la composition de la semelle (graphite pour l'Alpha 1) et le poids (noyau plus léger sur le Alpha 1). Plus rigide qu'un pur freestyle, l'Alpha doit permettre une très bonne évolution sur piste à la limite de la performance, ainsi qu'une assez bonne stabilité en poudreuse ou trafolle

Feb 27 2009 8:30PM
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Crack.
Posts: 6020 - Karma: 84
can you tell the skis in order?? I can't really understand him and he doesn't even say the t-hall in english like I thought he would. +K
Mar 17 2009 7:33PM
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c.hale
Posts: 636 - Karma: 50

I ride alphas and I have never had any problems moving at high speeds. I have been skiing park with them (rails included) for around 30 days now and they still hold a pretty good edge on groomers. I had them mounted at true center but I had a pullout and now have them at -2.5, but I didnt notice a real difference at all. They are awesome for big airs and the elf shoe design really helps with getting hung up on lips, it isn't just hype. Things like 270 ons or hucked spins feel much more natural on the alphas than they did on my PEs.

I normally ski the east so I dont know too much about powder, but I took my alphas out to vail this winter and it didnt feel like the rocker helped too much in the pow. It is a real light rocker so I don't think it makes much difference.

Hope this helps

Mar 17 2009 10:03PM
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jibjab670
Posts: 6 - Karma: 10
i have alpha's they are pretty sick. i havent had any problems with speed either. they are much stiffer than you would think though. stiffer than the pipe cleaners by far.
Mar 21 2009 5:20AM
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whistlerpow
Posts: 115 - Karma: 10
just checked out the 2010 pc's and alpha 1's. both look sick as and they seem super durable this year. they have some crazy construction
Mar 22 2009 3:22AM
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special_k10101
Posts: 1498 - Karma: 72
i have the OG pipe cleaners as well
they have a fairly medium flex, i'm 165 and can butter pretty well on them, and they're very poppy
the ar6 has a softer, smoother flex, but i'd rather have the pc for all mountain.
i would definitely choose the pipe cleaner over just about any other park ski, including the alpha 1
i'm pretty sure that the newer PCs have been beefed up with harder bases and bigger edges, but my skis have somewhat thin edges and soft bases so i've had big core shots, and 2-3 edge cracks, and i barely ever do jibs, although i admit that i have been going quite hard on my skis otherwise.

i would imagine that the pc would carve better than the alpha, iono, the idea of a rockered all mountain/park ski is kind of lost on me.
Mar 22 2009 1:10PM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 20
I rode the alpha 2s on friday.  I don't know how different they are than the alpha 1, but they were fun.  I don't think I would buy them, they are tiny and kind of unstable. 

They have side wall construction underfoot, and capped out to the tip and tail, which I thought was really awesome.  There was no swing weight.

I'm pretty sure the pipecleaner and alpha 1 are pretty different.  If you want a rockered park ski, get the alpha 1, if you want a normal park ski, get the pipecleaner.


Mar 22 2009 2:37PM
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tjsnover
Posts: 1361 - Karma: 42

I have tried both of these skis extensively, so i know more or less what im talking about.

They are completely different skis. The pipecleaner is pretty soft whereas the alpha one is very stiff. It took me a couple days to get used to the A1s but i am enjoying them more and more.

I am now a total fan of the alpha one, and it does exactly what i want it to do. I am more of a jump person so i really enjoy the stabliitly off jumps. Also the rocker helps me no catch my tips on the take offs. In a regular ski that is this stiff, buttering would be very difficult but the rocker does help this, although it still takes some effort to butter. Same with pop, they arent the most poppy skis, but the rocker helps this.

Dont get me wrong, the pipe cleaner is an amazing ski, but i like my skis a little bit stiffer.

Ill break it down as follows:

Jumps: Alpha 1

Rails: Alpha 1 (lower swing wieght, harder to catch tips)

Groomers: PC

Playfulness (buttering): PC

Pipe: PCs

Mar 22 2009 3:22PM
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