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New Ski Recommendation (Aramda vs ON3P vs Kitten Factory)

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Klam
Posts: 0 - Karma: 13
Hi NS,

Looking for new skis for 50% park / 50% freeride. I'm a late 20's, 5'7" 145 pound manlet. I ski primarily east coast with a trip out west at least once a year. Sadly I don't live close to any awesome mountains and my job means I mainly ski on the weekends. Typically, I'm lucky if I hit 20 days in a year but I'm looking to get that number up next season by hoarding vacation days. I currently ski 177cm Volkl Kendos.

The bulk of my skiing is on groomers. I can handle just about any steepness on groomers but I'm terrible at bumps and I suck at tree skiing even though I like doing it. My park skills consist of doing 10 footer straight airs and 50/50 on flat boxes (ie: jack shit). I'm looking to change all of this next season and want get into park, trees, bumps, anything not groomers.

I'm looking for a twin tip that can handle park along with east coast bumps and trees well. It also needs to be competent on groomers (doesn't have to rip on them). I was originally set on the Armada Alpha X's but after too much browsing on NS, I'm also strongly considering the ON3P Kartel 98's and the Kitten Factory Rayzrblaydz. All three seem like they'd fit the bill but demo options for me are really limited so I need to rely on word of mouth here.

Any thoughts on these options? Or is there something even better out there that I'm missing? Cost is not a major concern. These skis are going to be used for next season but I'm looking into them now since I'm thinking of doing a trip somewhere for summer skiing. Really appreciate any help I can get.
Apr 3 2015 10:00PM
7 4
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,992
sup man,

ive ridden the rayzrs for this season. sadly this season has come to an end.

material wise both KF and on3p are the winners over armada. armada has skinnier edges, not as good of bases, and uses a full edge wrap which is a sin in my eyes. ive seen 3 pairs of my friends tst and magic js completely and slightly blow up from an impact in the tip. \

as for the rayzrs i love them. i ski the whole mountain to get to the park. so i ride a ton of all mtn... small cliffs, jibs, jumps, log rides, cat tracks, the whole nine yards. They handle everything really well being center mounted and symmetrical. super fun on rails (what little rails i do) and ive had no edge cracks this season.

pm me if you have any questions about the rayzrs. theyre decently stiff and a killer all mtn park ski. get them!
Apr 3 2015 10:44PM
4 2
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rballs_
Posts: 709 - Karma: 2,992
Hey man,
Right now I'm riding Armada AR7s and I have to say they are the best skis I've ever ridden (I've only ever ridden 4 pairs of skis before). From the little bit I've had them, I've noticed that they're pretty bombproof and I ride pretty hard.
However, my Armadas are pretty old so I'm deciding to get Kartel 98s for my next park skis. I've heard that they're extremely durable and they have lots of rocker so you'll be kewl in the park, and the rocker will also help them to be buttery and super fun.
But I've heard great about Kitten Factory and they're carbon (I think?).

Anyways, I think they're all great choices but if it were to me I'd try out the KFs or the ON3Ps.
Apr 3 2015 11:08PM
0 0
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
shin-bangsup man,

ive ridden the rayzrs for this season. sadly this season has come to an end.

material wise both KF and on3p are the winners over armada. armada has skinnier edges, not as good of bases, and uses a full edge wrap which is a sin in my eyes. ive seen 3 pairs of my friends tst and magic js completely and slightly blow up from an impact in the tip. \

as for the rayzrs i love them. i ski the whole mountain to get to the park. so i ride a ton of all mtn... small cliffs, jibs, jumps, log rides, cat tracks, the whole nine yards. They handle everything really well being center mounted and symmetrical. super fun on rails (what little rails i do) and ive had no edge cracks this season.

pm me if you have any questions about the rayzrs. theyre decently stiff and a killer all mtn park ski. get them!


Very good shin bang. OP, i would consider the rayzrs as they have held up very well for my friend.

I personally have the Kartel 106 so ill give you so input on them. Ive only been on them 3 days but i have a pretty solid idea of how they handle.

First off, one thing I ABSOLUTELY LOVE about ON3P and Kitten Factory, is that they put rubber in their skis. When people say "they don't chatter" you think "yeah bs rockered skis are gonna chatter". That is true, rockered skis do chatter, but with the rubber, you can't really feel it. Shin bang and I even got 96.6 (thats what ski tracks said) and we did fine. The ON3Ps rip, I like the turn radius too. Im a fan of turn radius that are 20+ but i find that when the turn radius sits around 20 you can haul down groomers and still manage them very well in the park or other tight areas.

Now for trees, both skis will do very well because of their rocker, Im gonna go out an a limb and say the ON3Ps could potentially be better since the taper isn't in direct contact with the snow, making for a slasher feel. But shin bang had no troubles at all this season so that was basically and assumption.

Both skis are pretty light for the durable materials used, so throwing them around on bombs and trees isn't a problem at all really.

Both are great skis, and you could find both at a good price since both companies have sales on each. For the most part asymmetrical skis do carve better so maybe thats a plus to the Kartels, but then again, my friend didn't seem like he had any problems.
Apr 4 2015 11:36AM
1 0
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,992
.lenconVery good shin bang. OP, i would consider the rayzrs as they have held up very well for my friend.

I personally have the Kartel 106 so ill give you so input on them. Ive only been on them 3 days but i have a pretty solid idea of how they handle.

First off, one thing I ABSOLUTELY LOVE about ON3P and Kitten Factory, is that they put rubber in their skis. When people say "they don't chatter" you think "yeah bs rockered skis are gonna chatter". That is true, rockered skis do chatter, but with the rubber, you can't really feel it. Shin bang and I even got 96.6 (thats what ski tracks said) and we did fine. The ON3Ps rip, I like the turn radius too. Im a fan of turn radius that are 20+ but i find that when the turn radius sits around 20 you can haul down groomers and still manage them very well in the park or other tight areas.

Now for trees, both skis will do very well because of their rocker, Im gonna go out an a limb and say the ON3Ps could potentially be better since the taper isn't in direct contact with the snow, making for a slasher feel. But shin bang had no troubles at all this season so that was basically and assumption.

Both skis are pretty light for the durable materials used, so throwing them around on bombs and trees isn't a problem at all really.

Both are great skis, and you could find both at a good price since both companies have sales on each. For the most part asymmetrical skis do carve better so maybe thats a plus to the Kartels, but then again, my friend didn't seem like he had any problems.


good review sir.
Apr 4 2015 8:43PM
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