The hard-charging, go-getter Armada Reliance 102 Ti returns for 2023 carrying forth the strong-willed qualities from last year’s model. Infused with articulated titanal banding and EST freeride rocker, we get the burly nature of stiffer construction combined with the willingness to float and cruise effortlessly through soft snow. The ultimate in freeride performance, we still get the light weight qualities from the Caruba wood core but with a cohesive blend of rigidity, dampness, and agility. What more could you possibly want? Advanced female skiers will prove a point on these skis, proving their expertise on terrain ranging from bumps and trees to steep and deep back bowls. Upon firmer conditions, have no fear, the Reliance 102 Ti has no problem slicing through crud and remaining stable, despite the wider width underfoot. For true all mountain capabilities, this ski is a fantastic choice for advanced and expert female freeriders.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
AR100 Sidewall
PREFERRED TERRAIN
Big Mountain, All Mountain, Powder
From a construction perspective, the Caruba wood core is a great place to start. It’s light, poppy, and energetic. It pairs very well with the articulated titanal banding that we’ve loved in both Reliance and Declivity series skis. With a full sidewall build, these skis are grippy enough for on-trail ventures while remaining versatile for more off-piste choices and applications. The articulated titanal banding is great because it allows the ski to flex more torsionally, as well as reducing vibrations throughout the shovel and the more chatter-prone zones. When you tip it up on edge, the metal is able to flex in order to make the ski more compliant in carves, both in and out of soft snow.
At 102 mm underfoot, it’s wide enough to float through the fresh, but narrow enough to keep strong skiers engaged on groomed terrain and firmer snow. The tip width of 134 mm and the tail’s 124 mm combine to create a 17.5-meter turn radius in the 172, and that’s right in the sweet spot for being able to make clean and round carved turns as well as longer more sweeping arcs. The nice thing about a ski like this is that it puts you in the driver's seat as to the shape, magnitude, and the direction of the turns. Whether you’re in powder, trees, bumps, or corduroy, the Reliance 102 Ti will hold tight to the line no matter what. It’s a very intuitive ski that delivers a maximum of confidence and control.
As the wider ski in the Reliance line, the 102 Ti is a great choice for advanced and expert skiers who are looking to make the leap and dial in some sweet turns. The overall quality and precision of these skis is quite high—it's silent like a Stockli and powerful like a Volkl. As a result, it gets the best of a lot of different attributes from a variety of skis and mixes them all into one. The Reliance 102 Ti is a wonderful ski that blurs the line between all-mountain and freeride skiing.
