Armada ARV Alpine Ski

Yeah probably the 175, although something a bit longer would maybe be better, but if you are liking the ARG, than the 175 should be good. The 185 will probably be too big for you.

The flex hasn't really changed all that much since the 2005 model, a little stiffer I found. Super stable for pretty much everything.

Try looking at the recommended. Also a certified binding tech could tell you too. But a good spot would be between +3 and +5 from trad. Any of those three should be alright for 60% park.

Im going to say the the 175s are going to be a lot more useful for you.

I would get the 185's, I think you are to big for the 175's and they are on the softer side and get softer after you put some time on them.

I would reccomend the 185. They may feel long to start but the 175 would be too short.

185

Definitely gonna say the 175. As for bindings, check out the Griffons or Jesters from Marker, or the Look PX 12s. All great bindings.

I own both AR6 and ARV. For park rats that center mount an AR6 it will sink in the backcountry over 8 inches os snow. If u mount it -4 from true center it floats better but spins and switch riding degraded. So AR6 is all mtn for the east coast....ARV's are as wide as u want to go for the east but u there are even wider skis out in heli land. AR6 has a tough park base, ARv has a faster all mtn base. For pow chutes use an ARV and be nice to it in the park.

I think so. They may feel a little big at times but performance around the rest of the mountain would make up for it.

185

Probably. I'd go 175.I agree - get 175...165 way too short for max fun...

dimensions are the same so you should be fine mounting them in the same spot. the flex is a little bit stiffer compared to last years skiI heard the ski is 9% stiffer for 2008-09. For backcountry u may want to test your current mount before re-drilling but for deep pow u may want it to be -6 or -7 from true center or back on the factory midsole mark. Your current mount is for park & all mtn.

185-at 200lbs u may even find the 185cm soft....

The arv are midsoft in flex so you will get chatter at high speeds on hardpack/icey conditions like all softer skis but will make up for it in softer snow and powder, they are a super fun ski. The 185 will feel fairly tru to length for a twin but are real easy to ski depending on what brand your 175's were the arv's might feel a little longer.

These skis are designed to be Armada's do anything ski. They handle pretty well any condition you want them to handle, especially groomers and hardpack. Hope that helped.

I would mount core center. You would really have no reason to put them forward at all. I have mine at core center and they are great in pow, on groomers, ice, I used them in a race league last year for fun. You can still take them in the park for a few jumps and rails, riding switch is still easy on them. Core Center in my opinion.I think what he meant to say is right on the recommended line from the factory. cord center would ski horribly all mountain. I think the recommended mounting point is 5 or 7 cm back and is the way to goI agre with Ty. 2008-09 ARV midsole mark factory seting is -7cm from true center as an all mtn backcountry ski.(Measure tip to tail and divide by 2 to get true center - 185 / 2 = 92.5cm) do not go more than -5 the ski will be good for swicth and park but your backcountry ride may suffer.... Core center is typically where the recommended line is at. That is always the terminology that has been used in the ski shops I have worked at. Hence why I said core center. When you say cord center you must be inferring true center? which would indeed be very bad for all mountain. I have have mine at core center (-7 cm) as stated above.

With a doubt go ARV, I skied the guns for about a season and a half and belive me the arv are far better. the only place the guns felt at home was in real soft snow or powder up to about knee deep. on groomers they chatter at speed, they HATE any firm/icey conditions. and forget about any park on them. even my bacons blow the guns away on groomers and there a powder ski. The ARV's are fun, light, carve really well, skipow and trees up kneedeep and do well in the park.Agree - just rode GUNS in BC pow. A real noodle out ski only for lightweight skiers and pow. Flimsey on hardpack. Guns need snow.

OH YEAH... they are soft so go 185mm, they are so fun. also the 185cm is fatter under foot making it more stable.

Depends on length and weight. 89 - 95 underfoot is pretty wide. If you think you might want a fatter ski for powder, get a size up from your normal. You'll have more underfoot and more length = more float. Just remember powder skis usually have much more float than park skis.

With out a doubt the prophet 100,it is fatter, stiffer, carves like a gs ski and floats well in powder, rips trees, stable at speed, nimble enough for the park. maybe thats why it's considered the best ski made in the 100cm waist group. The ARV is a fun playful ski, but is a little soft for a tru all mountain ski unless you like soft skis. If you are looking for more off-piste performence go prophet 100. IMO the ARV's are not wide enough.

Blends are same ski as prophet 100 without metal matrix .. Super light and very over looked all mountain ski ..

These two skis are totally different. The arv is soft and rips all over the mountain including the park. The msp is a stiff all mountain ski that rips groomers,ice and some park. Both are excellent skis it just depends on if you like soft skis or stiff skis. If I had to choose i would go with the arv's because they are more playfull and rip powder better because there softer.