Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Armada Alpha 1's/Alpha 2's

profile picture
Ryan*
Posts: 1827 - Karma: 1,195
I've heard some amazing things about them and some pretty bad things, can anyone offer some insight?
Jul 17 2009 1:24PM
1 0
profile picture
matt.rad
Posts: 1813 - Karma: 303
it would help if you elaborated on these "amazing things and pretty bad things" you've heard...
Jul 17 2009 1:41PM
0 0
profile picture
DBAKE
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 340
i have demoed alpha2s and they were really sick, stupid light, very low swing weight they get a little wobbly at high speeds, and i broke them when trying a back flip first time i landed right on my face and snapped the alpha2 but ya there really sick skis.
Jul 17 2009 1:45PM
0 0
profile picture
Ryan*
Posts: 1827 - Karma: 1,195
Well...
Good: Armada says that they're crazy light, and due to the elf shoe tech you can stomp just about anything without trying

Bad: About the elf shoe tech specifically, a heli guide in whistler told me that the ARG's, which have very similar technology (but are way bigger, obviously) are a lazy man's ski, that he could take a thousand runs on them and not get tired but that that was because they were way to easy to ride and you couldn't feel anything.
Also, even though Armada advertized the Alpha 1's as revolutionary, I haven't seen a single person riding them, which is a bit of a telltale sign...
Jul 17 2009 2:04PM
0 0
profile picture
Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51

well doesn't ease of riding=not being as tired=more runs

i see that as a good thing

Jul 17 2009 2:21PM
1 0
profile picture
Ryan*
Posts: 1827 - Karma: 1,195
The guy said that he lost the feeling of skiing, like he was just standing there and not feeling the turns or anything.  Sounds boring to me
Jul 17 2009 2:39PM
0 0
profile picture
pointer
Posts: 44 - Karma: 10
The ARG does not have elf shoe Tech, it is an amazing ski and just because some old guy likes to ski straight skinny skis and make a hundred turns doesn't mean that is the way to ski. The ARG is a great ski that is so much fun to ski, in powder. The JJ and alpha have the elf shoe, all around skis that ski both powder and everything else very well. of course the alphas are a park oriented ski that are very light, buttery (tip and tail) and stiff under foot.
Jul 17 2009 4:25PM
0 0
profile picture
A-Lee
Posts: 256 - Karma: 19
whats the difference between the alpha 1's and the alpha 2's is it just graffics or what?
Jul 18 2009 1:45AM
0 0
profile picture
TheBeardedOne
Posts: 2286 - Karma: 58
Alpha 1's have lighter ar2 cores and sintered race bases, Alpha 2's have the same AR1 core and bases as AR6. So.. the Alpha 1 is like the PC and Alpha 2 is like the AR6, with different tech of course.
Jul 18 2009 3:46AM
0 0
profile picture
Turner.
Posts: 1988 - Karma: 11,892
I'm looking at getting either afterbangs or anthem's or alpha !'s this year.
what would you reccomend out of those three.
I'll be hitting some urban probably and mostly park with the occasional big mountain day..
5'8 ish ad 130 pounds.
Sep 2 2009 1:19AM
0 0
profile picture
DBAKE
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 340
If you want your skis to last a while, and be sick then alphas.
Sep 2 2009 1:37AM
0 0
profile picture
Steeze-On-Toast
Posts: 679 - Karma: 92
actually, the ARG does use Elf Tech, is says on the site:

The ARG is optimized for the deepest snow imaginable—maximum rocker, minimum sidecut—but because it features Elf Shoe Tech, the ski nevertheless performs in a variety of conditions. From wind-hammered snow to cut-up powder fields to the hard pack you encounter skiing back to the lift, it floats when you want it to and turns when you need it to. AR 50 Sidewall construction combines the benefits of cap construction with those of ABS, while the Ultra Light Hybrid Core ensures that what looks like a tank skis like a coupe.
Sep 2 2009 10:09AM
0 0
profile picture
Hooper
Posts: 341 - Karma: -4
i've hardly seen any pros rocking the alphas... kinda weird, even though its supposed to be killer, right?
Sep 2 2009 5:55PM
0 0
profile picture
MANDER
Posts: 4017 - Karma: 2,038
ive seen horbeck, turpin, and wester all rocking them
Sep 2 2009 6:05PM
0 0
profile picture
c.hale
Posts: 636 - Karma: 50
I had alpha 1s for the majority of last season and I loved everything about them. They are stiff, so they will be REALLY different from the afterbangs. The elfshoe is a cool construction but i never felt like it took anything away from my skiing... I took them out west and in the pow also and I never felt that I was being lazy by skiing with them. Just my 2 cents
Sep 2 2009 7:00PM
0 0
profile picture
Ryan*
Posts: 1827 - Karma: 1,195
True, I saw Turpin on some alpha 2's at Momentum.
I rode the t-bar up with him, it was pretty awesome (claim)
Sep 3 2009 12:47AM
0 0
profile picture
Hooper
Posts: 341 - Karma: -4
does anyone know if they're good for ripping groomers?
Sep 3 2009 2:22AM
0 0
profile picture
DBAKE
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 340
OHH yea for sure, tons of fun.
Sep 3 2009 9:41AM
0 0
profile picture
adamra
Posts: 105 - Karma: 11
did you ride the alpha's centered mounted or at the factory recommended 2.5
Sep 20 2009 10:53AM
0 0
profile picture
Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,846
legitimate question, not sure if above answer was sarcasm
Feb 9 2011 10:29AM
0 0
profile picture
butteredpretzel
Posts: 1485 - Karma: 866
Was this two years ago at camp? I was in your group.

To the entire thread: What about elf shoe tech makes stomping tricks easier?
Feb 9 2011 11:09AM
0 0
profile picture
DUKES
Posts: 5150 - Karma: 691
The 5 dimensional sidecut makes the ski easy to carve off jumps and land and not catch an edge cause it you catch an edge you are goin to be fucked
Feb 9 2011 11:16AM
0 0
profile picture
Newschool_Pope
Posts: 2473 - Karma: 267
quality bump of an old thread there...
Feb 9 2011 11:45AM
0 0
profile picture
Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,846
thanks for your opinion, still looking for an answer
Feb 9 2011 12:13PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)