The AR is not designed to be a bigger AX. We could have copied the construction and proportions to a wider width, but that's not what this ski is about.
If a bigger AX is what you are looking for I suggest the 95, it is an extremely close crossover for feel and sweet spot and IMO performs just as well on the groomed. If somebody loves the feel of the AX, 9/10 times they will love the feel of the 95.
Mathieu wanted to create a very versatile ski for a variety of conditions and skiers. A ski that anyone could use to get better on, a ski that could carve hardpacked as well as bust crud and still manage a surprise powder stash, also a ski that is a sleeper for those that really like to push a ski at high speed on steeps and chopped snow.
The wood core is the same as a Stormrider core. The ski is as wide as the 95 Stormrider in the front and has Laser sizing in the tail. However, the tip design is more like a Laser with a forward contact point and very little rocker. The ski has a 12cm slit in the front titanal and a 6cm slit in the tail for smooth turn entry and exit. Because the ski does not have turtle shell, it does not get as giddy until aggressively pressured.
At slow speeds it rounds a turn and handles a variety of snow conditions as a simply well behaved ski made to nicely navigate mostly frontside terrain.
Here's some of what I have observed so far with the AR so far..
My brother who tech reps for me had kind of a "meh" response to it the first time he skied it at Big Sky during a demo we were doing. He thought it was a nice ski, but wasn't overwhelmed.
I sent him back up for another run and told him to leave his kids behind and step on the gas.
He fell in love with the ski, came back with a huge smile, ordered one for his very skilled wife, and is now struggling whether to add the 105 or the AR to his own quiver this year. My other tech rep called dibs on one of my demo fleet AR. Mind you, these guys would be regarded as experts, they get to test all the models, and they can pick any Stockli they would like.
It isn't a super floaty ski in powder due to a narrower width at 83mm, but with the tip so wide compared to the tail, the nose always rises, even in Alta powder.
AX=Push energy and energy bounces back. This to me is a play ski. This type of ski boosts ego and makes me feel good about my turns.
AR=Push energy and that energy mashes into the terrain. This to me is a rally/charging ski. This kind of ski boosts my adrenaline and makes me feel good about the runs/conditions I skied.
Who is the AR for:
1-Skier, typically skis a 60-70mm ski that would like a ski for variable conditions, some east powder, and nice cruising between the fresh variable sections of newer snow.
2-Skier, mid level, needs one ski quiver, prolly east coast and could benefit from the smoother ride/edge hold of Stockli and a shape that rounds out easy turns.
3-Skier 30-50 yr old freeride badass, thinks anything under 100mm is a carver. Wants groomers as part of the repertoire and charges chopped snow at speed.
4-Skier looking for a 1 ski quiver at a resort with < 350" annually and loves all the terrain, groomers and side trails alike.
5-Skier at powder resort that wants a 2nd ski for the "thaw" but can't bring themselves to buy a narrow ski in case their secret pow stash is still good a week after the last storm, but realizes groomers can be a total party.
Who is the AX for?
1-Skier looking to have delusions of grandeur and wants to fantasize that they could have been a racer at some point even though they might stink.
2-Skier who is a former racer and wants a fun versatile play carver that handles abnormally well off piste for a carving ski.
3-Skier who is an instructor and faces a wider variety of conditions than the instructor that uses the Laser SC.
4-Skier who wants to work their way up to race performance skis, but isn't ready yet.
I'm finding that 2 types of skiers really like the AR and 1 type doesn't.
The first type love it more than the AX as less powerful skiers that like how easy the ski handles bumpy on-piste skiing and easy turning.
The second type love it more than the AX as skiers that want a full throttle weird snow charger that they can also carve groomers with.
The third type that may not click with the AR as much as the AX are those who fall in between these two categories. They don't need a ski that turns so easily, but at the same time they are either limited in physicality or skillset that they are unaware that it has some really high gears in variable snow.
