HELP! Ar6 vs Alpha 1

from what i've heard the alpha 1 is quite different it is stiffer, has a less durable but faster race base and is rockered. If you don't know what rocker is is that before the tip turns up (where its normally flat) the nose sticks up slightly (just search pics and you'll see what i mean). The rocker is normally used in pow skis to help the ski stay above the snow but the rocker is used on park skis so you don't catch edges on rails or something. The issue is that the rocker will make you feel like your skiing a shorter ski on landings and groomer performance won't be nearly as good

So I've ridden both this season, so I will throw in my input. The AR6 is sick. I felt like it performed really well everywhere, minus pow, but I live in Indiana and we don't get much pow, if any at all. Stiff, pretty responsive, great on rails, super stable at high speeds and landings on bigger jumps.

The Alpha is also really sick, it's stiffer, with a little less in the tip and tail. It is rockered, but it's not very big rocker. If I remember I can take a pic of the tip and tail rocker and upload it when I get home from school. I hit 2 boxes with them and there was noticeable marks on the base, so I pretty much decided they were going to be my jump skis after that since I still have my AR6s anyway. The rocker is good though, the days I rode them were pretty soft and the rocker helped get the tips above the potatoes and sort of float through it. Fun to butter around on.

Honestly, they're both sick skis. I would recommend either of them whole heartedly.

next year armada is also making the alpha 2, which is a softer alpha 1 with the ar6 base. it's also cheaper.

the happy medium between the two
coming from the AR6 it is very attractive though i have no money haha

AR6 is better all around in the park, but I love my alpha 1s in the pipe and for jumps. So it depends what you want in a ski.

Heres the pics:

Tip rocker:





Tail Rocker:


Tip Rocker and Camber:

alpha 1 sick ski and i am guessing the alpha 2 will be the same but these really are not an east coast ski i live in the east and the rocker would help maybe 10-20 days per season ...there just is no need to float over anything the majority of the season... the AR6 a much more all around park oriented ski more durable and you said you liked them so they would be a safe bet.

I don't know, its more personal preference. If you're used to mad-fat, softer park skis go with the AR6. If you want something buttery and still stiff Alpha 1s. I rode Reno Rockers this year, they're so sick for park. I definitely can still make racer turns and everything, they really don't feel "out of control" at all.

Thanks for the help, I'll probably stick with the AR6's for this season at least maybe get an alpha next season. +k for all.

http://www.proctorjones.com/pjonline/dept.asp?s_id=0&dept_id=7