Member of the Month

hi_vis360
November, 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!

AR7 vs. Alpha 1

profile picture
A.Eberhard
Posts: 4426 - Karma: 415
Whats up NS, I live in the North East you could say. I ski in Canada more specifically in Quebec. I'm a expert skier, I used to race for a few years then switched to park. Been doing it for 3-4 years now. Right now I've been researching new skis to replace my 08-09 Armada AR6. I loved them, but they are beat from urban, rails, rocks etc.. I was think AR7 just because it is basically the same thing just better, but I'm also looking at the Alpha 1 and getting into rocker. I'm 70% rails 25% jumps and 5% powder (trips out west and the odd)
Is rocker really right for me? Strong points of each ski? Any other ski suggestions?
Apr 15 2011 5:22PM
0 0
profile picture
Clyde-frog
Posts: 220 - Karma: 206
i've never ridden armada skis but my buddy has the Alpha 1's and he says they are the best. He's a 100% park rider (ex racer). the alphas are soo durable too, after 2 years of riding there are only 2 top sheet chips, no core shot and no edge cracks. It doesnt really have that much of a rocker its more of an early rise, but the point being the ski is ballin.
Apr 15 2011 5:48PM
0 0
profile picture
bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,032
if your gonna be doing more rails than jumps i'd say the AR7 is the ski for you. i rode alpha 1's all season and truly did love them, super stable, pretty fast and the rocker wasnt really noticeable unless i was pressing and doing butters. they handled well on rails aswell i thought but from trying some ar7's and t-halls i think they would be better choices for rails/jibs, but definately not for jumping. that's my 2 cents
Apr 15 2011 6:36PM
0 0
profile picture
cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
i just got some alpha 1s, amazing ski, way better for jumps but still awesome for rails, real stable, can be buttery, fast and very durable

i have 4 friends with the Ar7s and they all love them, pretty flexy, actually really flexy, ok on jumps and good on the rails but i dont think their really any better on rails than the alpha 1s

id say go with the alphas, theyll be better in the hard east snow, great in pow and will tear apart the park!

hoped i helped
Apr 15 2011 6:48PM
0 0
profile picture
butternut
Posts: 2 - Karma: 10
both skis are good. bump
Apr 15 2011 8:50PM
0 0
profile picture
A.Eberhard
Posts: 4426 - Karma: 415
If I were to go Alpha 1 with the rocker, I'm 5'10" what size should I be looking at?
Apr 15 2011 9:53PM
0 0
profile picture
Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
182 but get the ar7s. Coming from a racing backround you will want the full camber. I rode the aplha twos and found them to just be a bit washy.
Apr 15 2011 10:00PM
0 0
profile picture
A.Eberhard
Posts: 4426 - Karma: 415
Definitely leaning to the ar7, hopefully my local shop still has my size on sale.
Apr 15 2011 10:12PM
0 0
profile picture
cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
the alphas are they way to go man, not washy at all haha, from my expericne, and the alpha 1s are different than alpha 2s if im not mistaken
Apr 16 2011 10:16AM
0 0
profile picture
Clyde-frog
Posts: 220 - Karma: 206
alpha 2's are different from the alpha 1's. Alpha 2's have a different core and base. The alpha 1's would benefit you a lot more over the AR7's even though there isnt a huge difference between the two (the AR7's just have a different base and no park rocker as well as being a little fatter, only be a few mm) The alpha 1 is just gonna be a better all around ski like what you wanted and the rocker will be sweet when you wake up to that 20 or so cm of white gold. 
Apr 16 2011 11:34AM
0 0
profile picture
@tlas
Posts: 1625 - Karma: 68
yea whats your local shop, i think ive seen a vid of you in ottawa, i need more shops?
Apr 16 2011 11:49AM
0 0
profile picture
Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
They are slightly different but the dimensions are the same and they are pressed the same so really not much different.
Apr 16 2011 12:16PM
0 0
profile picture
Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
Yep very simular skis. Base and core are different though.

And op prob already knows this but if you keep up the waxing on the alphas race base then they are strong as fuck. Once you start allowing them to dry out they can become brittle
Apr 16 2011 1:40PM
0 0
profile picture
A.Eberhard
Posts: 4426 - Karma: 415
My "local" shop is Danielle Lachance in Tremblant. For park skis they carry mainly a ton of Armada, Line, Coreupt and then they carry a few skis from other companies. Best boot fitters around also.

Back to the thread, they ended up selling out of all AR7's and Apha 1 and 2's. So now I'm looking online for anyone blowing out these skis for end of season. Anyone know what site has some left.


Apr 16 2011 6:08PM
0 0
profile picture
Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
the issue with alphas is they ski far to short outside of the park, which for some is fine, but if you are like me and enjoy ripping bug GS turns, they are just not the right ski

i haven't ridden ar7s, but i did own a pair of 07/08 AR6s and they were a blast everywhere, so i'm gonna assume the 7s are just as good if not better
Apr 16 2011 6:14PM
0 0
profile picture
cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
arnt gs skis much longer? so wouldnt that fit? or maybe not i guess sense they ski short but mine rip hard fast turns or big gs/downhill turns
Apr 16 2011 6:27PM
0 0
profile picture
rudedog41
Posts: 605 - Karma: 135
how woulld the alphas be for groomers and all mountain
Sep 4 2011 11:37AM
0 0
profile picture
DUKES
Posts: 5150 - Karma: 691
The alpha from 2 years ago has a different flex than that of this years and past years. from 2 years ago and now that alpha 1 has the same flex as the halo and the alpha 2 has the flex of the alpha 1s now.

the alpha is super sick the 5 dimensions shape definitely is a feel. the alphas race base is really really awesome some say that the race base is not as durable as the standard base found on the halo and ar7 but if you keep it maintained it will be just as durable. the swing weight from the ar50 sidewall makes spinning effortless. if you wanna stomp jumps yet have a lil play fullness go with the alpha.

if you want to take abuse from alot of rails and jumps go with the ar7 it has a similar flex to that of the alpha but with traditional camber it will be more responsive, and it will have a similar feel that you would be used to.
Sep 4 2011 1:22PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)