Armada Halo Ski - 2010 BCS

I loved this ski for a couple reasons. First off, it super light and easy to spin. The halo is really durable too. Great ski.

For all you who own JJ's and Halo's (I own this year's JJ's) and who don't want to see your top sheet graphics ripped up in about four laps, get some of the clear 3M film that they use to protect the front and splash areas of cars. It comes in roles of various lengths and widths. Easy to install.

I pulled the Dukes off my JJ's and layed down 5" wide film purchased from a prominent online reseller then trimmed it with a sharp utility knife... end of problem. 4 days of ripping latter and nothing has yet made it through to the top sheet on the ski (although there are plenty of marks in the film. The stuff is incredibly tough and puncture, cut resistant. When the the film looks beat up at the end of the year, I'll replace it. The stuff peels pretty easy with a little heat from a hair dryer or just direct sunlight.

Weight is really minimal... I've got socks that weigh more than the film I applied.

hey, got a pair about 3 weeks ago, been thrashing them every day. I ride in aus.... Yes it does actually snow in Australia, but u guessed it.... its icy as! Thought i'd just sum everything up in pro's and con's.
~Pro's
:Edges are ace, haven't lost one.
:The s7 base doesn't scratch... that easily. Its pretty tops.
:I don't know how it spins so easily but it just does, edges haven't caught on a take off yet. But that's only taken them to 7'ns.
:The tips are soft and forgiving for pushing even the most sketchy butters.
:The graphics and design of the ski make every1 in the lift line want to know what your riding.
:Riding switch is scarily comfortable.

~Con's
:I like 2 get really low on my carve turn, i.e. i run both hands along the snow, when i do that on the halo's, the outside ski always wants to track out, i think 2 things could contribute to this, 1 is the rockered tips/elf shoe teck, other might be the way the stiffness is proportioned on each ski, i.e. the torque is different on one side of each ski.
:The pretty graphics are going to mark and scratch before your eyes. the laminate thing on top kinda peels out, solution. Keep those sharp 2.5mm edges away from the graphics on the other ski.

Overall... I'd say this is a perfect park ski cross all mountain charger. Go longer in ski length because of the rockered tips, i.e. contact points on the snow are shorter. This means you can go bigger on whatever you want to stomp. I chose the halo over the alpha 1 because i wanted something that would last a little longer, i.e. s7 base over armada's comp base. Lots of rocks in Aus that want to tear out your base. Hope all this was useful, just wanted to tell it how it is. I would recommend these to a friend... but that would mean someone else in the resort would be riding the same skis as me... and i prefer being the only guy riding the coolest skis on the mountain.