The Armada JJ, or ARV 116, has become an iconic ski over the years. It’s the definition of a playful, fun-loving, freestyle-inspired powder ski and has, over the years, put a smile on countless skiers’ faces. While these days, Armada has numerous other powder skis, the JJ remains a favorite among pro Armada athletes and weekend warriors alike. It might not be the strongest ski in the world, and you probably won’t see too many big mountain chargers choosing it, but if you’re the type of skier who dreams about backcountry jumps, nose butter 360s off natural rollers, and slashing and smearing turns in the deepest of snow, you’ll love it. It really feels like an Armada ski. Rooted in freestyle heritage and with an attitude that screams new school, innovation, and overall playfulness.
Construction is relatively simple, allowing for that playful and fun-loving feel. At its core, we get a poplar and ash wood core with traditional sandwich construction and Armada’s step-down AR75 sidewalls. Vertical sidewalls underfoot taper and become more like cap construction as you reach the extremities of the ski. It’s a nice touch getting the 2.5 Impact Edge on the JJ, as while most skiers probably won’t be sliding rails on it, as a freestyle powder ski, it’s bound to go through a decent amount of abuse. Armada’s always been known for good durability, and that’s certainly true with the ARV 116. Perhaps the most notable element of construction is Armada’s Smear Tech in the tips and tails. This creates a 3-dimensional, boat hull or surfboard inspired shaping on the base of the tips and tails. The idea is that it’s reducing downward pressure on the surface of the snow and creating super easy edge release in the tips and tails. It all goes hand in hand with shaping, giving the ski an incredibly surfy, smeary feel and lightning quick edge release.
Dimensions
185cm 135-116-135 Radius 18M
