Armada VJJ

Armada debuted their first women’s powder ski, the awkwardly-named VJJ, in the fall of 2011. It was based on the design of their hugely popular men’s powder ski, the JJ. This fall, they’re rolling out the second incarnation of the women’s version and it’s better than ever.

Shape
Rarely do ski companies give women as much beefy power as Armada has with the 115-millimeter-waisted VJJ. It’s a full-blown rockered powder ski, wide underfoot and with a large, shoveled tip and tail to blast through powder and crud with total ease and grace. It’s a stiff ski, with strong torsional rigidity for hammering on steep terrain.

Go Anywhere
The VJJ is most at home on a powder day, lapping the steeps at Jackson Hole, Snowbird or Squaw Valley. But here’s where you’ll be surprised: Thanks to camber underfoot and a lightweight wood core, it’s actually got decent edge control on hardpack (you can rail a high-speed turn without much tip flapping on groomers). For such a fatty, it’s more nimble than you’d expect in the trees or bumps.

Hero Status
Ultimately, this ski made me feel like a better, stronger skier—no terrain was too hard, no snow too heavy or chopped up. Although it may be too burly a ski for an intermediate, for advanced women looking to improve their skills and step up their game or for girls already competing in big-mountain contests, it’s a solid choice that will give you confidence and a stable ride underfoot.