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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Armada is no longer core...

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Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 118
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Armada still makes fun skis and sponsors valid athletes, but have lost their direct involvement in freeskiing that originally made them such a fucking good brand everyone loved.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.
2 years ago
64 52
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Jems
Posts: 7706 - Karma: 100,758
armada charges $650 for brand new arv96s ain’t that a fucking joke?
2 years ago
70 2
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Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 118
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.
2 years ago
29 46
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SchizoSkier
Posts: 2858 - Karma: 31,046
Did ur dollos also blow up after 15 days?
2 years ago
55 0
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Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 118
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.
2 years ago
30 7
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Vish-shoe
Posts: 1949 - Karma: 14,600
Bro wrote a whole essay 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀☠️☠️☠️💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀☠️💀💀☠️💀💀☠️💀☠️☠️💀☠️☠️☠️💀☠️💀💀
2 years ago
15 55
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Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 118
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...
2 years ago
38 25
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dwt802
Posts: 3362 - Karma: 33,159
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.
2 years ago
37 0
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sindreplassen
Posts: 1178 - Karma: 10,735
ain’t reading allat but armada is core again when they cut the oldheads and pay seamus flanagan
2 years ago
28 2
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Ski_Alot
Posts: 5918 - Karma: 3,827
Damn I'm not reading all that. Congratulations or sorry i guess
2 years ago
18 11
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Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 118
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...
2 years ago
20 10
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tdollo
Posts: 3880 - Karma: 19,811
huh? Armada's skis are the best they've been now with new sidewall construction. Fuck off with this Core vs not core bullshit
2 years ago
34 4
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BallClapper
Posts: 3704 - Karma: 16,803
SchizoSkierDid ur dildo also blow up after 15 days?


hmmmm
2 years ago
1 1
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Bio_8
Posts: 236 - Karma: 1,126
2 years ago
15 2
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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.
2 years ago
9 57
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Pakanaka
Posts: 319 - Karma: 1,968
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
2 years ago
29 0
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7520 - Karma: 66,838
i remember rolling through Pine Knob back in the day with the only Armadas in the park
2 years ago
9 0
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10048 - Karma: 76,036
What are you smoking op? All this means is you don't like their PR methods. That doesn't change anything.
2 years ago
13 2
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Juviticus
Posts: 444 - Karma: 2,215
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
2 years ago
19 3
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Juviticus
Posts: 444 - Karma: 2,215
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?
2 years ago
13 0
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lastskier
Posts: 186 - Karma: 1,887
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.
2 years ago
30 0
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38053 - Karma: 129,279
BradFiAusNzCoCaPine Knob

my guy right here. Best park in the Midwest besides Troll.
2 years ago
5 0
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JAlps
Posts: 555 - Karma: 1,939
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
2 years ago
5 0
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Newsheepers
Posts: 2168 - Karma: 4,231
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
2 years ago
4 4
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migidimigi
Posts: 453 - Karma: 3,292
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
2 years ago
32 0
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weastcoat
Posts: 6499 - Karma: 75,330
Lego plastic sidewall moment
2 years ago
6 0
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fucintight
Posts: 298 - Karma: 741
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.
2 years ago
9 5
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3339 - Karma: 32,136
Thanks captain obvious
2 years ago
3 0
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FinnJD
Posts: 31 - Karma: -61
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
2 years ago
13 3
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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.
2 years ago
9 0
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jakeordie
Posts: 664 - Karma: 3,277
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.
2 years ago
2 0
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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
2 years ago
2 0
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EggMann
Posts: 160 - Karma: 988
I hate this gimmick account
2 years ago
12 0
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Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 118
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
2 years ago
3 5
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Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 118
FinnJDchat gpts opinion isn’t valid


Not chat, just knowledge
2 years ago
2 6
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Iamcore
Posts: 72 - Karma: 118
EggMannI hate this gimmick account


Good, you should
2 years ago
1 6
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Young_patty
Posts: 3333 - Karma: 39,128
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.
2 years ago
31 1
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
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
2 years ago
8 0
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Bio_8
Posts: 236 - Karma: 1,126
2 years ago
13 0
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brandoh
Posts: 67 - Karma: 588
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.
2 years ago
13 2
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sindreplassen
Posts: 1178 - Karma: 10,735
Bio_8

my friend bought those ar5s for like a dollar a while back, they are so sick
2 years ago
2 0
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johnblaze
Posts: 1542 - Karma: 2,836
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!
2 years ago
8 0
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WunhungL0
Posts: 287 - Karma: 1,612
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.
2 years ago
1 0
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SuspiciousFish
Posts: 2794 - Karma: 16,914
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.
2 years ago
1 0
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9718 - Karma: 65,552
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
2 years ago
4 0
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johnblaze
Posts: 1542 - Karma: 2,836
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
2 years ago
1 0
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lastskier
Posts: 186 - Karma: 1,887

Returning to the point I made earlier. Armada comes through with the hookups
2 years ago
1 0
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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
2 years ago
3 6
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