Review: Armada AntiMatter 100 & AntiMatter 100W

Fresh off the release of their live-scored, feature length, team film, Ornada, it seemed Armada skis could not stop mic-dropping cool stuff last winter. In one fell swoop, they added Ben Richards to the team and made the announcement by default when he climbed on top of the first FWT podium of the season with a pair of their new skis, the Antimatter 114, in hand. Richards, and the Antimatter, continued to dominate the FWT all winter long, but those details are beside the point. Designed by another dominant freeride competitor, Max Palm, the Antimatter takes the place of the Declivity in the brand’s lineup.

While Richards’ weapon of choice was the larger Antimatter 114, the ski comes in a range of widths, ranging from 82mm to 108mm underfoot and all the way up to the 114. There’s also the Antimatter W line, which has the same widths available, with the same construction, but with a slightly different range of sizes available and different colorway options.

Sandwiched between the Antimatter 92 and 108, the Antimatter 100 was made to be an ultra-versatile ski that bridged the gap between a narrower, more freestyle inspired ski and the burly big mountain feel of the 108 and 114. 

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2027 Armada Antimatter 100 & 100W Specs

• Lengths skied: 175cm, 182cm
• Lengths available: 154cm*, 161cm, 168cm, 175cm, 182cm, 189cm
• Sidecut: 130mm-100mm-120mm (168cm)
• Radius: 18m (182cm)

*Only Available in the 100W

Shape, Flex, and Construction

The Antimatter 100 has several notable components to its shape that a lot of freeride skis these days are using, but in a fairly unique combination. At 100mm underfoot, this ski hits a pretty key mark when it comes to versatility in different conditions, made more so by the tip and tail shapes. The tip boasts a width of 130mm, with a good bit of progressive rocker as well as a multi-radius shape that gives a little extra edge length. The tails also have a fair amount of rocker, that technically make this ski a twin tip, but the flat shape, save for a touch of scalloping, also make this a more directional ski, as opposed to a “true” twin. While they’re not totally straight, the tails also have a straighter shape than the tip, adding to that more directional feel. In combination with a pretty middle-of-the-road 18m turn radius, the shape allows for solid edge grip in turns, but not so much you can’t slash and smear out of them.

Like Armada’s ARV series, the Antimatter uses a 100 percent poplar core which cuts down on weight and keeps the ski light and full of life. However, the Antimatter is made to be a burlier freeride ski, so Armada layered in what they call Speed Metal—titanal layers placed underfoot that taper towards the tip and tail of the ski. The design of the metal layers allows for all the damping and stability of a ski you’d want to take on big terrain with, but allows the playful nature of the poplar core to shine through as well. This also means that the ski’s flex is noticeably progressive throughout the length of it, as the metal stiffens it underfoot and gives way to a softer flex in the tips and tails.

On Snow Performance

As you can imagine given the contradictions in the ski’s construction, the AntiMatter 100 is also quite multidimensional when put on snow. Although it’s a very, very fine line, there is a balance between the burliness of a ski made for someone like Max Palm or Ben Richards, and a freeride ski that’s accessible for mere mortals. The Antimatter 100 nails that balance, assuming the mere mortals hopping on it have good ski technique.

Unlike other Armada Skis, like the ARV, the Antimatter 100 doesn’t really have a gentle “hop on and feel it out” setting. As soon as it finds a bit of grade, the Antimatter 100 wants to be driven and the faster you ski it, the better. Despite the rocker in the tail, the Antimatter 100 tracks like a true directional ski when in a turn, but releases more easily, which speaks to its Armada origin. Even in uninspiring conditions on icy groomers, the Antimatter 100 inspired confidence in our testers due to the stability and consistency of the ski.

“I appreciated that this ski isn’t a pushover like many skis in its class. It wants to be skied with good technique and is there for you at speed,” said one tester.

Although nearly all of our testers noted how the Antimatter 100 rewards good technique, most also said that it didn’t punish them when things got a little loose. “The Antimatter 100 didn’t make me feel like I was getting thrown into the backseat when I backed off aggressive, carving turns and ventured into tighter, icier, or side-hit-ier terrain,” noted another ski tester.

It blasts through chopped up snow and slush easily and is nimble enough to take into trees and tighter terrain, and rather than shutting a skier down at slower speeds, it allows them to unlock the playfulness and flex in the tips and tails. The Antimatter 100 does tend to do better and be more enjoyable to ski in open terrain, which isn’t surprising given the ski’s propensity for speed. Some folks also noted that it wasn’t the best in deeper snow, but that’s to be expected from a 100mm underfoot ski with wider counterparts in the same line.

Comparisons

Perhaps the biggest competition to the Antimatter 100 is the Völkl Revolt 101. Another athlete-designed freeride ski, the Revolt 101 is also directional, although can be ridden switch, and has a vaguely similar sidecut and multi-radius rocker.

Like the Antimatter 100, the Revolt 101 is also similarly damp and can lock into a turn. However, it uses multilayer woodcore to stabilize and stiffen the ski, rather than metal. Some folks found this to be a hindrance in the Revolt 101 at high speeds, versus the AntiMatter 100, which had excellent edge grip in hardpack, even at high speeds. Generally speaking, the Revolt 101 is also built with advanced skiers in mind, although might be a touch more forgiving when it comes to easing into things than the AntiMatter 100. The Revolt 101 also skied a bit more like a reverse-cambered ski with how surfy it felt underfoot. In contrast, the AntiMatter 100 wants skiers to be driving forward hard, more like you’d feel with other, aggressive metal skis.

When it comes to shape, the Antimatter 100 is also comparable to the 4FRNT MSP 99. Both the Antimatter 100 and MSP 99 have lightweight hardwood cores layered with metal and a pretty similar sidecut shaped to lock into a turn and release just as easily. If you’re used to skiing 4FRNTs, the MSP 99 is likely going to feel a bit more approachable, however the shape of the tail might not be quite as playful as the Antimatter’s. However, the MSP 99s also might have a bit more of a speed limit than the Antimatters, given that they’re made to be more of an all-mountain daily driver and less of a ski-and-destroy freeride weapon. 

What type of skier is the Antimatter 100 best for?

As we’ve mentioned repeatedly, this is not a beginner ski and it’s not the directional, metal, all-mountain ski of five years ago. If you’re on the upper end of millenial, enjoy carving more than anything else, or your ski pants aren’t at least one size too big, this is not the ski for you. However, for the freeriders at Grand Targhee, Revelstoke, or Mt Hood Meadows who want to channel their inner Nub on a ski that they can push the limits of on low-tide days, the Antimatter 100 is well worth a look for your next daily driver.