Member of the Month

Rock_Inhabitant
June, 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 is no longer core...

profile picture
Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 130
Once upon a time, in the land of early new-school skiing, in 2002, various legends in freeskiing such as Tanner Hall, J.P Auclair, Julien Regnier, and more created the brand known as Armada Skis out of a basement. The company set out to create exclusively freestyle twin-tipped skis, bravely pioneering freeskiing along with core brands at the time such as Line, Ninthward, and a few others. These brave soldiers created this brand to create skis to ski the way they wanted to ski. Their first skis were the Armada ARV (Armada Radical Vibe) and the AR5, a tribute to the original 5 Armada skiers. They were the first truly rider-owned and rider-manufactured freestyle ski brands to come around.

After Armada was initially kick-started, immediately they began supporting their own riders as well as others and various events in skiing, bringing a very strong and well-respected name to the table of new school skiing and very quickly. Armada was the absolute fucking shit, no modern ski company today is as badass as Armada once was in its beginnings. The brand image, what the brand did, and the skis were all just almost too good.

Over time, Armada remained rider owned until about somewhere between 2015-2017 when Erik Snyder, Armada's CEO, sold the company to Amer Sports Corp., a large corporation that sells shit for countless different sports to over 100 countries... This was the official point Armada became no longer a core brand anymore, where they were previously, by definition, one of the most core...

Currently, Armada still makes fun skis and sponsors valid athletes, but have lost their direct involvement in freeskiing that originally made them such a fucking good brand everyone loved. They aren't owned and made by riders, they sponsor less projects and events, and the skis became shittier. In addition, since Amer Sports bought Armada, they fucking sold themselves to an even bigger corporate Chinese company in 2019, Anta Sports, making Armada even more distance from newschool skiing than ever before.

This, my fellow newschoolers members, is why Armada is no longer core.
May 5 2023 5:11PM
64 51
profile picture
Jems
Posts: 7359 - Karma: 94,438
armada charges $650 for brand new arv96s ain’t that a fucking joke?
May 5 2023 5:13PM
70 2
profile picture
Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 130
Jemsarmada charges $650 for brand new arv96s ain’t that a fucking joke?


Complete joke for a shitty sculpture of cheap pieces of Chinese shit.

Fuck you to everyone who downvoted me for saying Armada isn't core anymore, learn a thing or two.
May 5 2023 5:15PM
29 45
profile picture
SchizoSkier
Posts: 2658 - Karma: 28,254
Did ur dollos also blow up after 15 days?
May 5 2023 5:22PM
55 0
profile picture
Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 130
SchizoSkierDid ur dollos also blow up after 15 days?


No, my old pair of Ninthward Dollos are still kicking it with some old FKS 18s actually. Very much not blown up.
May 5 2023 5:25PM
30 7
profile picture
Vish-shoe
Posts: 1949 - Karma: 14,422
Bro wrote a whole essay 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀☠️☠️☠️💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀☠️💀💀☠️💀💀☠️💀☠️☠️💀☠️☠️☠️💀☠️💀💀
May 5 2023 5:28PM
15 55
profile picture
Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 130
Everyone downvoting this either didn't actually read it, is insecure about people using the word core, or is just outright dumb, or some combination of the such. Armada was the coolest, now look where they are compared to Vishnu...
May 5 2023 5:29PM
38 24
profile picture
dwt802
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 30,639
Well, Armada certainly isn't what it used to be, but it is still a good company overall compared to most modern ski companies. They at least try to keep their brand image and still sponsor dope skiers even if the quality may suck now and they're less involved.
May 5 2023 5:56PM
36 0
profile picture
sindreplassen
Posts: 1078 - Karma: 9,791
ain’t reading allat but armada is core again when they cut the oldheads and pay seamus flanagan
May 5 2023 5:58PM
27 2
profile picture
Ski_Alot
Posts: 5884 - Karma: 3,501
Damn I'm not reading all that. Congratulations or sorry i guess
May 5 2023 6:06PM
17 11
profile picture
Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 130
sindreplassenain’t reading allat but armada is core again when they cut the oldheads and pay seamus flanagan
Ski_AlotDamn I'm not reading all that. Congratulations or sorry i guess


I understand it is 2023 but this thread isn't even 15 sentences come on now...
May 5 2023 6:17PM
20 9
profile picture
tdollo
Posts: 3746 - Karma: 18,058
huh? Armada's skis are the best they've been now with new sidewall construction. Fuck off with this Core vs not core bullshit
May 5 2023 7:51PM
33 4
profile picture
BallClapper
Posts: 1773 - Karma: 4,014
SchizoSkierDid ur dildo also blow up after 15 days?


hmmmm
May 5 2023 8:01PM
1 1
profile picture
Bio_8
Posts: 236 - Karma: 1,121
May 5 2023 8:20PM
14 2
profile picture
bustedpivot
Posts: 145 - Karma: -3
Armada makes rental shop fleet skis and soft goods for LGBTQ+ skiers. Not hating, but this is where they're at.
May 5 2023 8:59PM
9 56
profile picture
Pakanaka
Posts: 311 - Karma: 1,966
IamcoreOnce upon a time, in the land of early new-school skiing, in 2002, various legends in freeskiing such as Tanner Hall, J.P Auclair, Julien Regnier, and more created the brand known as Armada Skis out of a basement. The company set out to create exclusively freestyle twin-tipped skis, bravely pioneering freeskiing along with core brands at the time such as Line, Ninthward, and a few others. These brave soldiers created this brand to create skis to ski the way they wanted to ski. Their first skis were the Armada ARV (Armada Radical Vibe) and the AR5, a tribute to the original 5 Armada skiers. They were the first truly rider-owned and rider-manufactured freestyle ski brands to come around.

After Armada was initially kick-started, immediately they began supporting their own riders as well as others and various events in skiing, bringing a very strong and well-respected name to the table of new school skiing and very quickly. Armada was the absolute fucking shit, no modern ski company today is as badass as Armada once was in its beginnings. The brand image, what the brand did, and the skis were all just almost too good.

Over time, Armada remained rider owned until about somewhere between 2015-2017 when Erik Snyder, Armada's CEO, sold the company to Amer Sports Corp., a large corporation that sells shit for countless different sports to over 100 countries... This was the official point Armada became no longer a core brand anymore, where they were previously, by definition, one of the most core...

Currently, Armada still makes fun skis and sponsors valid athletes, but have lost their direct involvement in freeskiing that originally made them such a fucking good brand everyone loved. They aren't owned and made by riders, they sponsor less projects and events, and the skis became shittier. In addition, since Amer Sports bought Armada, they fucking sold themselves to an even bigger corporate Chinese company in 2019, Anta Sports, making Armada even more distance from newschool skiing than ever before.

This, my fellow newschoolers members, is why Armada is no longer core.


mabye the downvotes have something to do with ur profile name
May 5 2023 9:46PM
28 0
profile picture
BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 6735 - Karma: 58,156
i remember rolling through Pine Knob back in the day with the only Armadas in the park
May 5 2023 10:21PM
9 0
profile picture
WoFIowz
Posts: 9788 - Karma: 72,394
What are you smoking op? All this means is you don't like their PR methods. That doesn't change anything.
May 5 2023 11:17PM
12 2
profile picture
Juviticus
Posts: 339 - Karma: 1,754
IamcoreComplete joke for a shitty sculpture of cheap pieces of Chinese shit.

Fuck you to everyone who downvoted me for saying Armada isn't core anymore, learn a thing or two.


They're made in the same factory as Atomic and Solomon's skis bro. You clearly have never actually interacted with anyone that works for Armada, if you did, you'd feel different. Everyone can have an opinion, I just think yours is stupid
May 5 2023 11:43PM
18 3
profile picture
Juviticus
Posts: 339 - Karma: 1,754
IamcoreEveryone downvoting this either didn't actually read it, is insecure about people using the word core, or is just outright dumb, or some combination of the such. Armada was the coolest, now look where they are compared to Vishnu...

Ah yes, Vishnu the pinnacle of "cool" in skiing. I see you on those an suddenly my respect is restored you simply must be a top notch skiier if you like that brand. Do you orgasm to zootspace?
May 5 2023 11:47PM
13 0
profile picture
lastskier
Posts: 158 - Karma: 1,687
I don’t think it’s a good comparison to throw armada’s ‘core’-ness against Line’s or Ninthward.

Line skis have been made out of Chinese factories for a significantly longer amount of time than Armada has been part of a corporate portfolio. (Nothing against line skis)


the OG ninthward quite literally fucked over the vast majority of its riders, fucked this website out of ad pay, and got sold to a new owner who only bought it for it’s brand name. Armada historically actually does a great job of hooking up folks like Corey Vanular (Whomst ninthward fucked out of royalties for sales of his CVP skis)

Core OG Armada always had better vision than they had business sense. When they were forced to sell the company, it’s because they were way deep in the red. The fact that the company got sold, but still maintained a lot of their riders and staff, speaks to them trying their best to stay aligned with that initial vision.
May 6 2023 12:10AM
29 0
profile picture
GayWolf420
Posts: 37011 - Karma: 114,279
BradFiAusNzCoCaPine Knob

my guy right here. Best park in the Midwest besides Troll.
May 6 2023 12:10AM
5 0
profile picture
JAlps
Posts: 555 - Karma: 1,935
lastskierI don’t think it’s a good comparison to throw armada’s ‘core’-ness against Line’s or Ninthward.

Line skis have been made out of Chinese factories for a significantly longer amount of time than Armada has been part of a corporate portfolio. (Nothing against line skis)


the OG ninthward quite literally fucked over the vast majority of its riders, fucked this website out of ad pay, and got sold to a new owner who only bought it for it’s brand name. Armada historically actually does a great job of hooking up folks like Corey Vanular (Whomst ninthward fucked out of royalties for sales of his CVP skis)

Core OG Armada always had better vision than they had business sense. When they were forced to sell the company, it’s because they were way deep in the red. The fact that the company got sold, but still maintained a lot of their riders and staff, speaks to them trying their best to stay aligned with that initial vision.


based take, truly WSWB
May 6 2023 12:29AM
4 0
profile picture
Newsheepers
Posts: 2160 - Karma: 4,105
Vish-shoeBro wrote a whole essay 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀☠️☠️☠️💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀☠️💀💀☠️💀💀☠️💀☠️☠️💀☠️☠️☠️💀☠️💀💀


fr like people be doing too much, Imma use this for an english presentation or something, bookmarked for later
May 6 2023 1:14AM
4 4
profile picture
migidimigi
Posts: 398 - Karma: 2,924
So Armada skis made in Austria at the best ski factory in the world are Chinese shit but Vishnus made in random factory in China are the best American products ever?? Dude you are out of your mind
May 6 2023 1:40AM
31 0
profile picture
weastcoat
Posts: 6219 - Karma: 70,837
Lego plastic sidewall moment
May 6 2023 2:09AM
6 0
profile picture
fucintight
Posts: 209 - Karma: 591
can't stop wont stop w the bigotry lol
bustedpivotArmada makes rental shop fleet skis and soft goods for LGBTQ+ skiers. Not hating, but this is where they're at.
May 6 2023 3:24AM
8 5
profile picture
KilaTsunami
Posts: 2612 - Karma: 24,952
Thanks captain obvious
May 6 2023 3:31AM
3 0
profile picture
FinnJD
Posts: 31 - Karma: -59
IamcoreOnce upon a time, in the land of early new-school skiing, in 2002, various legends in freeskiing such as Tanner Hall, J.P Auclair, Julien Regnier, and more created the brand known as Armada Skis out of a basement. The company set out to create exclusively freestyle twin-tipped skis, bravely pioneering freeskiing along with core brands at the time such as Line, Ninthward, and a few others. These brave soldiers created this brand to create skis to ski the way they wanted to ski. Their first skis were the Armada ARV (Armada Radical Vibe) and the AR5, a tribute to the original 5 Armada skiers. They were the first truly rider-owned and rider-manufactured freestyle ski brands to come around.

After Armada was initially kick-started, immediately they began supporting their own riders as well as others and various events in skiing, bringing a very strong and well-respected name to the table of new school skiing and very quickly. Armada was the absolute fucking shit, no modern ski company today is as badass as Armada once was in its beginnings. The brand image, what the brand did, and the skis were all just almost too good.

Over time, Armada remained rider owned until about somewhere between 2015-2017 when Erik Snyder, Armada's CEO, sold the company to Amer Sports Corp., a large corporation that sells shit for countless different sports to over 100 countries... This was the official point Armada became no longer a core brand anymore, where they were previously, by definition, one of the most core...

Currently, Armada still makes fun skis and sponsors valid athletes, but have lost their direct involvement in freeskiing that originally made them such a fucking good brand everyone loved. They aren't owned and made by riders, they sponsor less projects and events, and the skis became shittier. In addition, since Amer Sports bought Armada, they fucking sold themselves to an even bigger corporate Chinese company in 2019, Anta Sports, making Armada even more distance from newschool skiing than ever before.

This, my fellow newschoolers members, is why Armada is no longer core.


chat gpts opinion isn’t valid
May 6 2023 9:15AM
12 3
profile picture
tri_photo
Posts: 1530 - Karma: 7,195
Over time, Armada remained rider owned until about somewhere between 2015-2017 when Erik Snyder, Armada's CEO, sold the company to Amer Sports Corp., a large corporation that sells shit for countless different sports to over 100 countries... This was the official point Armada became no longer a core brand anymore, where they were previously, by definition, one of the most core...

[/quote]
My question to you, OP..

In this day and age of running companies and such, is it possible to be truly involved in skiing to the point that Armada was, and be a profitable company? I'm not sure it is anymore.

Times.. have changed.

Side note - seems like you have an interesting stance/opinion on this, I'd post something like this as an article next time. I enjoy perusing through those and usually there is some good dialogue and whatnot. Just a thought.
May 6 2023 9:27AM
9 0
profile picture
jakeordie
Posts: 661 - Karma: 3,263
tri_photoIn this day and age of running companies and such, is it possible to be truly involved in skiing to the point that Armada was, and be a profitable company?

When you say "truly involved" are you referring to their brand image? Because making a company profitable has very little in common with marketing hype.
May 6 2023 10:23AM
2 0
profile picture
tri_photo
Posts: 1530 - Karma: 7,195
jakeordieWhen you say "truly involved" are you referring to their brand image? Because making a company profitable has very little in common with marketing hype.


You know.. I'm not sure what I am referring to. Good question man
May 6 2023 12:43PM
2 0
profile picture
EggMann
Posts: 160 - Karma: 959
I hate this gimmick account
May 6 2023 1:31PM
11 0
profile picture
Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 130
JuviticusAh yes, Vishnu the pinnacle of "cool" in skiing. I see you on those an suddenly my respect is restored you simply must be a top notch skiier if you like that brand. Do you orgasm to zootspace?

Of course I orgasm to zootspace daily, praise jet & zoot
May 6 2023 3:20PM
3 5
profile picture
Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 130
FinnJDchat gpts opinion isn’t valid


Not chat, just knowledge
May 6 2023 3:21PM
2 5
profile picture
Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 130
EggMannI hate this gimmick account


Good, you should
May 6 2023 3:22PM
1 6
profile picture
Young_patty
Posts: 3258 - Karma: 37,293
Yeah sorry dude but Imma counter:

- one of the best teams in skiing
- B&E
- decent skis and outerwear
- sponsors a ton of local events (especially in the Midwest)

like If Armada isn’t core then nothing is, they’re a literal backbone of the park skiing scene.
May 6 2023 3:59PM
30 1
profile picture
asparagus
Posts: 2460 - Karma: 27,957
They got bought out but still sponsor a ton of ski events (including local ones). They also somewhat support street skiing so here's some core sauce for ya
May 7 2023 3:15PM
7 0
profile picture
Bio_8
Posts: 236 - Karma: 1,121
May 7 2023 4:49PM
12 0
profile picture
brandoh
Posts: 62 - Karma: 552
I'm going to go out on a limb to embarrass myself as a snowboarder but Armada is most definitely still keeping it real (core is up for another debate).

The fact the Armada still hosts and sponsors events in the Mitten is a big boost to freeskiing.






Armada sending a filmer (who to ever you are, you should probably drop some layers) to clip walker_shredz is a big boost to the outside who can't burn Three Kings down on a daily basis.

But lets dive into the facts that iamcore presented.

The fact that Armada is still owned by some Chinese Conglomerate probably irks a good amount of people (same here). To name some problems, that's a pretty big market cap for people skiing on armada skis that probably can't afford healthcare unless their parents have that (which is an if).



Anta Sports - once they quickly realized they needed to capitalize on COVID-19 and Xi Winnie The Poo wasn't allowing them to do it, bought Armada (a company that from multiple sources was debt ridden out the asshole). They then used Armada's core image and Anta Sport's "connections" to leverage into every motherfuckin rental ski/snowboard rental shop everywhere to become the Capita of skis. (But still keep in mind that Capita isn't owned by some conglomerate).

Also, at the same time, they continue to support @E-DOLLO who has Harlaut Apparel which directly conflicts with their bottom line. No other brand would ever do this - from Never Summer to Line Skis. If you think not, look at a brand like Burton and Mark McMorris (one of the "goats" of snowboarding), they continue to keep it in house (Burton). Even though Burton is family owned and not publicly traded, the fact that you can't have your own riders profiting for their own other than the "Instagram or TikTok Creator Fund" and "Brand Sponsored Posts" is fucking ridiculous. Give credit where credit is due and the fact that Armada sponsored and supports skiers against their bottom line.

Somehow, after buying this Core brand, they have continued to stay relevant and sponsor and support the unknown, along with allowing the skiers that they sponsor to create their own wealth. I just wish they can support the personal lives of people that ski on their skis and are devoted to them. Whether that means health insurance, supporting more local comps and jams at woodward, or getting behind level1 and expanding their tour, that would mean the world.

Props and I hope Armada continues to be Armada.

At the end of the day (for those who have an attention span of more than 30 seconds), read this blog: https://www.newschoolers.com/news/read/It-Time-Talk-Core

This was a rant, but there at the end of the day, there are good people out there throughout all brands and not everything you see on NS is the truth.
May 8 2023 6:48AM
12 2
profile picture
sindreplassen
Posts: 1078 - Karma: 9,791
Bio_8

my friend bought those ar5s for like a dollar a while back, they are so sick
May 8 2023 8:09AM
2 0
profile picture
johnblaze
Posts: 1442 - Karma: 2,482
My 0's with the titanium, and Whitewalkers are two of the best skis I've ever had. Still have the first black and pink ARVs sitting in the shed. Need to hang em up or something. Core or not; I fuck with Armada!
May 8 2023 1:47PM
8 0
profile picture
WunhungL0
Posts: 278 - Karma: 1,578
I do enjoy my 20/21 ARV115s top sheet sure can take a beating for me. Summer sales are where it's at but full price is rough.
May 8 2023 4:50PM
1 0
profile picture
SuspiciousFish
Posts: 2781 - Karma: 16,801
People forget that ski companies are still companies with stuff like expenses, balance sheets and stuff. Eventually you get to a point where what you are doing is not sustainable and you have to sell the business to survive.
May 12 2023 2:40PM
0 0
profile picture
SofaKingSick
Posts: 9071 - Karma: 58,832
johnblazeMy 0's with the titanium, and Whitewalkers are two of the best skis I've ever had. Still have the first black and pink ARVs sitting in the shed. Need to hang em up or something. Core or not; I fuck with Armada!


it's titanal in skis, not titanium, just fyi. some sort of aluminum alloy

that's so sick that you have the original ARVs btw. post a pic if you feel like it
May 12 2023 2:55PM
4 0
profile picture
johnblaze
Posts: 1442 - Karma: 2,482
SofaKingSickit's titanal in skis, not titanium, just fyi. some sort of aluminum alloy

that's so sick that you have the original ARVs btw. post a pic if you feel like it


you got that. setting a reminder now
May 12 2023 5:03PM
1 0
profile picture
lastskier
Posts: 158 - Karma: 1,687

Returning to the point I made earlier. Armada comes through with the hookups
May 13 2023 5:51PM
1 0
profile picture
JChockey22
Posts: 36 - Karma: 31
I had a break like a 3 year break from skiing due to personal reasons... well back in 2016 when my mom suggested I start skiing again I kind of brushed her off until I got an email about a ski expo ... any who fast forward a few months and I go to said expo my niece won me a season pass playing corn hole lol soo I decided ok if im gonna ski I need new gear as my gear was 14 years old and I got It when I had no idea how to buy gear lol ... well I was pumped up now and thought Im an adult that has his own money now haha ..I wanted a pair of Armadas as I remember how awesome they were like OP had stated .. but as I got to researching I was truly disappointed to learn that this bad ass ski company is just now a bullet point in a stock portfolio with products made by outsourcing to the lowest bidder then as the research went on I learned Line and Volkls freestyle planks were made in china... I was bummed learning that these awesome companies who me and my friends coming up would drool over their skis and wish we could get them Especially Armada basically sold out ..now I dont know if this is acceptable or core lol or not but I ended up getting a pair of blizzard regulators that season and last year I got IMO the best ski ive ever owned Moment wildcat 108 .. but I wish I could go back to being 13-14 again and actually get a pair of armadas when they were the coolest ski company
Jun 10 2023 3:53AM
3 6
All times are Eastern (-4)