THE ULTIMATE
G E A R G U I D E FREESTYLE
DYNASTAR
4FRNT
AMPLID
ARMADA
ARMADA
ARMADA
AR6
Nothing But
Trouble
£310
£355
£268
£268
£328
£300
INC. BINDING
STL
Antidogma
El Rey
Cantika
DYNASTAR
Marie
Martinod
DYNASTAR
HEAD
£370
INC. BINDING
£400
INC. BINDING
£370
INC. BINDING
Trouble Maker
Mojo Spawn 1
HEAD
J.O. Pro
£445
INC. BINDING
AIMED AT
Intermediate-Advanced
LENGTHS
167/177/183
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
74-84mm
TURN RADIUS
22.5m @ 167
AIMED AT
Advanced-Expert
LENGTHS
166/172/178
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
86mm
TURN RADIUS
19.2m @ 172
AIMED AT
Intermediate-Advanced
LENGTHS
157/164/171/178
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
89mm
TURN RADIUS
17.6m @ 171
AIMED AT
Intermediate-Advanced
LENGTHS
150/157/164/171
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
85mm
TURN RADIUS
15.9m @ 164
AIMED AT
Intermediate-Advanced
LENGTHS
161/166/171/176/181
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
82-86mm
TURN RADIUS
21.5m @ 176
AIMED AT
Advanced-Expert
LENGTHS
155/165/175/182
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
78mm
TURN RADIUS
21m @ 175
AIMED AT
Intermediate-Advanced
LENGTHS
160/168/175
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
81mm
TURN RADIUS
18m @ 168
AIMED AT
Advanced-Expert
LENGTHS
160/168/175/181
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
81mm
TURN RADIUS
20m @ 175
AIMED AT
Advanced-Expert
LENGTHS
160/169/178
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
77mm
TURN RADIUS
20.1m @ 178
AIMED AT
Advanced-Expert
LENGTHS
160/169/178
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
77mm
TURN RADIUS
20.1m @ 178
Like all 4FRNTs, these
have a bespoke shape
and graphic for each
length. A graffiti tag
theme is a definite
improvement on the
jeans style topsheet
of last year. The tip
of the STL is light and
easy to manoeuvre.
The tail is stiff, so
good for stable takeoffs and landings. The
flex pattern makes
buttering easy, but
it’s stiff enough to
hold an edge easily in
a hard carve. Perfect
for progressing
from intermediate to
advanced.
Fat freestylers that
want it all. Wide
and solid feeling
but lighter in the
nose and tail so they
spin well in the air.
They’re well built and
are strong enough to
handle big landings
for when you jump
off anything stupid.
Amplid’s graphics
really sum up this
company’s ethos:
fresh, different and
innovative. Still
early days for these
guys but we like the
direction they’re
heading in.
The greatest sidecut
of any Armada ski,
and very tough so it
can handle whatever
you throw at it in the
pipe and on the piste.
Cap construction
adds to the versatility
and makes it a very
forgiving ski, but the
full wood core leaves
no doubt that it is a
proper all mountain
machine. Understated
graphics hit the
mark, too.
A women’s spec
version of the El Rey
– it’s purple and has
flowers on to prove it.
True twin-tip design
and tough enough
to handle the park.
Very smooth to cruise
on and has a decent
sidecut for carving if
you fancy it.
An even more
improved, lighter AR6.
The park is a priority
for this solid, well
made twin and, with
each length of ski
splashed with a
different weird
design by Mad Steez,
your efforts won’t go
unnoticed. This ski is
soft enough to play
around on and try
new things and firm
enough to ride the
whole mountain. One
of the few of its kind
to hit that elusive
combination of pop in
the park and edging
ability on the
mountain.
Basically last year’s
Trouble Makers, these
are lightweight, fast
and have a forgiving
flex which makes
landing a breeze. Soft
and butterable with
an impressive pop.
The only downside is
that steep and deep
isn’t their thing but
then you can’t have
it all. Cheaper than
the TMs because they
don’t have reinforced
rail edges. Spy
thriller graphics are
love or hate.
It will be mine, oh
yes, it will be mine
– the mother of
all girls’ skis, and
super-bling. A high
performance ski with
excellent control
for slopestyle and
the pipe, which is
probably why top
French rider Miss
Martinod has put her
name on them.
These have fast
bases for twin-tips,
are tuned for the
pipe and hold an
edge quite well on
the piste, but are
not so good on solid
hardpack. They’re
stiff for park skis,
and have reinforced
rail edges. There
were some questions
about whether these
were enough of an
improvement on the
Nothing But Troubles
to be worth £100 more.
If the hot blondes
offend your
sensibilities, go
for the big x-rayed
bone. Riding-wise,
this ski was another
nice surprise. It
was developed
from Jon Olsson’s
no compromise
competition ski,
has great hold and
is super quick edge
to edge. No worries
about these sketching
out on ice. They have
a really solid feel
when jumping, too,
and are light in the
air. We like.
These are the lightest,
strongest, most agile
skis that Head makes
thanks to glass
hollow fibres one
tenth of the thickness
of a human hair. And
the tech isn’t just
revolutionary inside
the ski, either. A
high-res digital photo
made everything
possible for the
topsheet of these skis
and the careers of a
pair of Swedish twins.
It has a super poppy tail
and is loads of fun.
Freeze team manager’s
ski of choice! NEIL
Unsurprisingly these
ride like the TMs used
to and I like them more.
STEVE
What the El Rey is to the
guys, the Cantika is to
girls: cool graphics and
it is slightly fatter and
easier to turn than the
ARW. NEIL
Blue leopard print base
and a cowgirl riding a
leopard on the top sheet
– enough said. STEVE
Softer and more
forgiving than the
TMs. NEIL
The Trouble Maker
is less all-mountain
versatile than some but
performs better in the
moguls. DAVE
The narrow waist is good
for the rails and a bit
more spring in the tail
this year makes ollieing
easy – park monkeys
out there will lap these
up. JAMIE C
Look where you’re going,
not at your feet! RHYS
VERDICT
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THESE JUST WANNA
GO PLAY AND WILL
KEEP ANY RIDER
ENTERTAINED. UP
YOUR GAME TO THE
NEXT LEVEL.
TRY IT, YOU MIGHT
JUST LIKE IT! SOLID,
INNOVATIVE, BC TO
PARK PLANKS.
WELL PRICED AND
VERSATILE JIB SKI.
THE GIRL’S VERSION
OF THE EL REY,
TOUGH AND SMOOTH.
BUILT FOR THE
PARK BUT WON’T
DISAPPOINT
ANYWHERE ON THE
MOUNTAIN.
£100 CHEAPER THAN
THE NEW TROUBLE
MAKER SET-UP
AND, ER, WE LIKE IT
MORE.
FOR PARK
DRAMA QUEENS
EVERYWHERE; THE
ATTENTION WILL BE
YOURS.
NICE SKIS BUT
PRICEY FOR THE
PERFORMANCE.
SOLID, LIGHT, GREAT
IN THE PARK, FUN
TO CARVE AND A BIG
PICTURE OF A BONE.
NICE.
RIDICULOUSLY LIGHT
AND INCREDIBLY
CAPABLE. ONE
OF THE HOTTEST
MODELS THIS YEAR.
ARMADA
ARMADA
ATOMIC
ATOMIC
DYNASTAR
K2
K2
K2
K2
K2
£239
£269
INC. BINDING
£300
INC. BINDING
£240
INC. BINDING
£250
INC. BINDING
£290
INC. BINDING
£290
INC. BINDING
£390
INC. BINDING
Tanner Hall
£344
Pipe Cleaner
£372
Twins
She Devil
She’s Trouble
Silencer
MissConduct
MissDemeanor
Fujative
AIMED AT
Advanced-Expert
LENGTHS
161/166/171/176/181
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
86mm
TURN RADIUS
21.5m @ 176
AIMED AT
Advanced-Expert
LENGTHS
166/171/176/181
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
85mm
TURN RADIUS
21.5m @ 176
AIMED AT
Intermediate-Advanced
LENGTHS
155/164/173
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
81mm
TURN RADIUS
20m @ 173
AIMED AT
Intermediate-Advanced
LENGTHS
155/164/173
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
81mm
TURN RADIUS
20m @ 173
AIMED AT
Intermediate-Advanced
LENGTHS
155/165/175
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
78mm
TURN RADIUS
18m @ 165
AIMED AT
Intermediate-Advanced
LENGTHS
159/169/179
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
80mm
TURN RADIUS
20m @ 179
AIMED AT
Intermediate-Advanced
LENGTHS
159/169/179
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
80mm
TURN RADIUS
17m @ 169
AIMED AT
Advanced-Expert
LENGTHS
154/159/164/169
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
80mm
TURN RADIUS
17m @ 169
AIMED AT
Advanced
LENGTHS
159/169/179
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
85mm
TURN RADIUS
23m @ 179
Armada’s most jib
specific ski. It’s
essentially a softer
flexing version of
AR6 and as such is
simply butterlicious.
It has enough tech to
handle stupid stuff
at high speeds too,
and always gives a
soft landing. This ski
is king of the park
beasts and it gets a
bit homesick if you
try to feed it piste or
pow. The graphics
suggest that Mr
Tanner Hall has some
taste, as well.
A limited edition
version of the AR6
built for the pipe.
World cup inspired
race bases and a
stiffer flex pattern
than the original on
a lighter core make
the PC easy to power
up in between walls.
Fairly easy to keep
under control outside
the park gates, too.
Cheap, fun twin-tip
that’s perfect for
progressing on.
Floats well in the soft
stuff, has good pop
and spins well in the
park for the price.
Nice graphics and
the slanted sidewall
means they won’t
chip to shreds.
These girls kick arse.
Great for carving, fab
at jumping and ride
switch amazingly.
They’re also light,
have good grip and
ride the rails really
well. Not as much pop
as some others on
the market, but very
reasonably priced for
intermediate skis. Get
these and they might
just teach you some
new tricks.
Feels very similar to
the Trouble Maker
but with a little more
give. An excellent jib
ski – jumps well and
rides well switch –
and it’s pretty good in
the pow too, cutting
through the heavy
stuff really smoothly.
Pretty stable at all
speeds, easy and fun
to ride. Eyecatching
green graphics steer
nicely away from the
girls-like-pink tag
that, frankly, we got
fed up with by age 0-1
mths. Attractive price
tag, too.
A narrow, light and
agile ski, built for
aspiring tricksters
who want to get
serious in the park.
Don’t expect a lot
from these on the
hill: they can handle
the piste but aren’t
really interested in
carving grooves and
tend to flap and dig
their heels in if you
try to sneak them off
the map.
The new better half
of the Silencer. That
means that they’re
nice to jib, really good
fun and value, but
a little flappy when
driven. They don’t
have quite as much
life as the ‘Meanors,
but they were very
popular with entry
level jib chicks (and
Gavin MacKay).
The counterpart to
the Public Enemy
with a slightly
narrower footprint
and woman-specific
construction that
makes it nippy
and agile. Sound
good? It is. A great
go everywhere jib
weapon with added
punch to make it a
sweet all-mountain
ski with the ability to
throw down any trick
you think of with
style.
They’re cheap for
performance skis,
with no corners cut
where it matters
(full wood core).
Soft flexing at the
tip and tail, stable
on landing, a great
park ski.
Very unique ski due
to its ‘butter zones’.
Awesome in the park
but a bit sketchy
everywhere else. RHYS
Uses a lot of the features
that make the AR6 great
but it’s lighter and
has reinforced edges.
Genuinely good allround as well as in the
park. NEIL
Very nice freestyle ski.
Excellent stability at
high speeds and wicked
graphics! ANDY
A good all-rounder.
Would have preferred
them to be a bit more
lively although they do
hold a pretty good edge
when carving. ANDY
It’s all in the name! Just
so fun in all conditions,
perfect seasonnaire ski.
HARRI
Reasonably priced and
forgiving yet fun to ride,
the Silencer could get
anyone confident in
the park. Skis well all
over, if a little flappy in
pow. DAVE
Amazing value, classic
graphics and a good
little ski, too. STEVE
£250 with bindings!
These little ladies love
to cruise around at low
speeds. If they were
a girl they would put
make-up on to go skiing
and they’d be sure to put
it about a bit. GAVIN
Perfect jib ski and
graphically it rocks.
HARRI
If you see everywhere
as one big fun park then
get these bad boys. RHYS
Ace park ski and fun all
over if you have a jib
mentality. STEVE
The ladies, they like ‘em.
STEVE
Public Enemy
AIMED AT
Advanced-Expert
LENGTHS
159/164/169/174/179
WIDTH UNDER FOOT
85mm
TURN RADIUS
20m @ 179
The PE is still very
much the one to beat
in the park-based allmountain category.
It has enough waist
to handle powder, is
stiff enough to hold
an edge and be stable.
However, the Public
Enemy is heavy, and
if you are going to
spend most of your
time in the park, go
Fujative.
Still a crowd favourite
– deservedly, will sell in
big numbers. STEVE
Freeze’s ski of choice!
Powder, crud, ice, air
and metal: they can do it
all. NEIL
Graphically as strong
as it skis, one for the
gnarly chicks. HARRI
VERDICT
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A QUALITY SKI WITH
BIG JIB AMBITIONS
BUILT FOR THOSE
WHO SEE THE
MOUNTAIN AS A
ROAD TO THE PARK.
FAST, LIGHT AND
OBEDIENT: JUST
THE JOB.
SUPER-CHEAP FUN
SKIS THAT DO THE
JOB. SIMILAR TO THE
PEARLS.
THE NAME SAYS
IT ALL; A PAIR OF
LITTLE MADAMS
THAT RIP.
GREAT VALUE, GOOD
FUN: GO BUY.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING
TO GET INTO
FREESTYLE, THIS
COULD BE THE ONE.
THE IDEAL ENTRY
LEVEL FREESTYLE
SKI?
AGILE NIPPY AND
KICK ASS. BEST
FRIEND POTENTIAL.
VALUE FOR MONEY
WITHOUT TECH
SCRIMPAGE, THESE
ARE GREAT PRO SKIS.
THE IDEAL
ALL-MOUNTAIN
VERSATILE PARK SKI.
030 ■ WWW.FALL-LINESKIING.CO.UK
WWW.FALL-LINESKIING.CO.UK ■ 031