A ski for next season

i have they ar6s and have skiied chronics. they are definatly softer and more playful, i like them way better. i use them for 50/50, and they work great...however, im having MAJOR edge issues. already two pullouts in 10 days of easy skiing, but i gorilla glued them for the time being. the guy at my shop is pretty much refusing to replace them because he said they will still pullout soon, so hopefully armada warranties them.

also, armada alphas 2 look sick, i really want to try some rocker out of the park as well as in the park

I skiied chronics for the last 3 years until I got the alpha 2's about a month ago.  I've put in probably 10 days on them (mostly park, I live in the midwest) and have been mightily impressed.  They are slightly softer than the chronics, but I find the slight rocker makes them much more playful and buttery.    I have yet to have the opportunity to try them on jumps over 20 feet, but up to there they have felt super stable.  The only downside is carving on groomers.  The Chronics did this so well, I find alphas are less adept at finishing turns.

U would say chronics excel at skiing groomers due to their stiffness.

I meant to say I would.

I would say the stiffness helps, but it is really due to the sidecut of the chronics.  The tighter radius in the tail of the chronics really gives a nice finish to the turn.  It just really hooks up on all snow types.  Part of the difference is also due the fact that the alphas are mounted at centre while the chronics were at recommended (6cm back).  However the sidecut of the chronics did make a noticable improvment.

so the tails are pretty "washy" on groomers? like you just cant crank out nice turns? and do they chatter a lot on groomers on high speeds?...sorry for all the questions haha

Well just to give a comparison, i'll use my other sport; speed skating.  With short track (the one on a hockey rink)  the skates have a much more noticable rocker in the front of the skate.  This helps the skaters get around the tight corners.  If you sit back too far, you end up on the flat part of the skate and end up out at the boards.  Lean forward and the tight rocker in the front actually feels like its pulling you around the corner.  Thats kind of the situation with the chronic.  It has a tight radius sidecut in the rear of the ski which really helps with finishing turns.  You can lean on the edge and it feels like it pulls you through your carve.  In my mind, I compare the alphas to sitting on the back of my skates, you can get around but you have to work harder and it never really feels like  youre being pulled around.  The Chronics on the other hand just initiate the turn as soon as you get on the edge and really do feel like they pull you around the turn.  Sorry if that didn't make much sense, its a weird thing to explain.

what about the line mastermind? is it just a slightly fatter chronic? or does it have more flex? and how do the armada pipe cleaner's and t-halls compare to ar6's?

also what about other skis such as volkl ledges/walls? surface nine life's?

i have had both ar6s and pipe cleaners. they are pretty close to the same ski the pipe cleaners a tad stiffer and have race bases.  However i found that the ar6s held up better than my pipe cleaners which seem to take more of a beating. both are very solid skis and will ride well anywhere on the mountain except for mid to deep pow. but crud and anything else they charge through really solid choices for what you are looking at doing. also you might check into the arv probably going to be stiffer than you are looking for but always a good ski.

thank you sir.