For skiers who primarily stick to groomed runs and want a ski that balances stability with ease of turning, finding the right equipment is crucial. The Rossignol Experience 80 skis have garnered attention as a versatile option. This review delves into the specifics of these skis, focusing on their performance in East Coast conditions.
Many skiers find themselves in a position of wanting to upgrade their equipment as their skills evolve. One such skier, who previously used Rossignol Experience 78s, sought advice on whether to stick with a similar width or explore wider options.
Ultimately, the goal is to find a ski that offers stability at higher speeds without demanding constant, intense focus on every turn. This review aims to address these concerns and provide a comprehensive overview of the Rossignol Experience 80 skis.
Rossignol Experience 84 2019 Ski Review by Snow+Rock
Understanding Ski Width and Its Impact
The width of a ski significantly affects its performance in various snow conditions. Narrow skis, typically under 80mm, excel on hardpack and groomed runs, while wider skis offer better floatation in soft snow and powder.
For East Coast skiing, where hard snow and ice are common, a narrower ski is often recommended. However, an "all-mountain" ski is designed to be suitable for both groomed runs and off-trail adventures. The reason narrow skis don't get recommended any more is that people want an "all-mountain" ski. "All mountain" means suitable for both, suitable for on the groomed runs AND suitable for off the trails.
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If you are staying on groomed runs or moguls that are well-skied, you have no reason to go wider than 70 mm (unless you have skills to tip to high angles and fat feet and boot out too often). Skiing off the trails in fresh snow that is, say, a foot deep or deeper with a skinny ski is a whole different skill set, and a lot harder to do than skiing on groomed runs with skinny skis.
Now it seems that only carving fans want skinny carving skis, so unless you say you will only ski groomed runs and want to carve all the time, a skinny ski won't be recommended to you.
Based on the information you provided I would suggest something in the high 70s to mid 80s underfoot. You can go higher but getting them up on edge on hardpack requires more effort and solid technique, this combined with your easy going style could lead to bad habits. Meanwhile the lower you go the more the ski wants to be on edge all the time.
For Ontario on piste that will be hardpack and narrow is better than wide, sub 80 in my book. Your knees will thank you. I ski the same conditions and my daily driver is 76. If you do venture out you can rent locally for the trip or buy a second set for that purpose. My away skis are 88 and that is plenty even in a foot of fresh as I do not go off piste.
If you don't do moguls or trees why are you going with something in the 80s for width? If you're doing 90% groomers I'd looking at something in the low-mid 70s that you can go edge-to-edge quicker. It doesn't have to be a crazy race ski with layers of metal. I think that'd fit you needs just fine. If you're doing mostly groomers 85mm is definitely overkill.
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Even at an intermediate's skill level that's going to have a very noticeable difference on your ability to carve than something in the 70s. Also might be time for a 2-ski quiver. If I had only 2 pairs of EC skis it'd be a carving ski roughly 75mm underfoot and a West Coast "daily driver" 90-95mm underfoot.
For width, if you were skiing out west, 80mm to 90 mm would be fine. If you are skiing Quebec, keep it around 70 mm. East Coast?
Consider these points when choosing ski width:
- Narrow skis (68-75mm): Best for hardpack, ice, and groomed runs.
- Mid-width skis (75-85mm): Versatile for both groomed and occasional off-piste skiing.
- Wider skis (85mm+): Ideal for soft snow, powder, and off-trail conditions.
Rossignol Experience 80: Key Features and Technologies
The Rossignol Experience 80 Carbon is designed as an all-mountain ski, offering a blend of on-piste precision and off-piste versatility. Several key features contribute to its performance:
- All Trail Rocker: Delivers a balanced blend of hard snow precision and soft snow playfulness.
- Drive Tip Solution: Blends directional fibers in the tip with soft visco material to absorb vibrations and enhance control.
- Rectangular Sidewall Construction: Provides optimized edge grip, precision, balance, and power.
- Paulownia Wood Core: Reduces ski weight for enhanced agility and control.
- Carbon: Enhances stability and ski-snow contact while remaining lightweight.
- Premium Hardtop: Offers uncompromising topsheet durability.
- Extended Sidecut: Improves high-speed grip and low-speed handling.
The Experience 80 Carbon ski combines the agile feel of a lightweight build with the confident edge control of full sidewall construction for all-resort skiing. Carbon layers and a paulownia wood core reduce overall weight. The confidence-boosting control of Rossignol´s Drive Tip design works with the sidecut and full sidewall construction for smooth turn initiation and a powerful edge through the entire turn.
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Here’s a detailed look at the technologies incorporated in the Rossignol Experience 80 Skis:
Technologies Explained
- DRIVE TIP SOLUTION
Blending directional fibers in the tip of the ski with soft visco material through the forebody, Rossignol´s new Drive Tip Solution harnesses and eliminates vibrations moving through undulating terrain and harsh snow conditions for confidence boosting touch and control.
- RECTANGULAR FULL SIDEWALL
Rectangular Sidewall construction feature a horizontal layering of core materials combined with full-length vertical sidewalls to deliver optimized edge grip, precision, balance, and power.
- PAULOWNIA WOOD CORE
Paulownia Wood Core reduces weight up to 30% for enhanced agility, maneuverability, and control.
- CARBON
Carbon is the Formula 1 of fibers with the most effective strength-to-weight ratio to guarantee enhanced stability and ski-snow contact while remaining ultra-lightweight.
- ALL TRAIL ROCKER
Adapted for every terrain and snow condition, Rossignol´s new Alltrail Rocker delivers a balanced blend of hard snow precision and soft snow playfulness.
- PREMIUM HARDTOP
Rossignol´s new Premium Hardtop offers uncompromising topsheet durability and graphic richness to protect and prolong the life of your skis.
- EXTENDED SIDECUT
Rossignol has extended the sidecut to improve high-speed grip while simultaneously improving low-speed handling. Extending the sidecut far into the tip means that the ski can be in contact with the snow along its full length when the skier is at high speeds.
Performance on East Coast Terrain
For skiers in Ontario and Quebec, where hardpack and groomed runs are common, the Rossignol Experience 80 offers a balanced performance.
The S80Ws did OK through the slush and crud; not fabulous, but fine so long as I kept my eyes open. They just loved the well-groomed snow (which seemed to have been preserved by snowboarders scraping sideways down the slope), and with their short turning radius felt quite lively. We had fun going fast on long runouts, and they were quick to sidle past snowboarders on their blind sides. I'm sticking to groomers right now, delicate flower that I am and don't know how well these would do in trees, powder, etc. They have a wide shovel but I wonder if the 80mm waist would give a woman trouble off piste. But for a nice friendly forgiving ski that's still lively and fun they sure do the job.
The 80mm waist width provides sufficient edge hold on hard snow while still allowing for quick turns. The ski's construction ensures stability at higher speeds, making it suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers who enjoy carving. The skis handle like slalom race skis. Perfect edge hold and a small radius ranging from 10 m to 18 m make them the first choice for short turns.
However, it’s essential to consider the specific conditions and personal preferences. As one user noted, "For Ontario on piste that will be hardpack and narrow is better than wide, sub 80 in my book. Your knees will thank you."
Ski Length Considerations
Choosing the correct ski length is crucial for optimal performance. The ideal length depends on several factors, including height, weight, and skiing style.
For length, the recipe is find where you fit in the range of skier weights, and choose your length at the same point in the range the ski comes in, e.g. if you weigh next to nothing choose the shortest, if you weigh a tonne choose the longest and if you are in the middle choose the middle length.
For you at 5”8” - 185 I recon you could pick either, but you already know that it seems. For reference I am 6”1” - 210# and ski 179. I have tried shorter (and short radius) on demo days and like them as it makes short radius turns on steep terrain easier. My son is 5”11” - 165# and skis 164. Stronger and more capable than I am, they serve him well for both short turns and longer turns at (high) speed.
Two skis of the same length can ski differently, depending on the tip and tail rise. Length wise, it really depends on the rocker/rise of the tip and tail, less rise, low 170's, a lot of rise, mid to upper 170's.
It sounds like you are pretty strong and athletic and I am surprised that you have been on the 158 as long as you have and hearing that you are having trouble with control with speed makes sense.
Consider these guidelines when selecting ski length:
| Factor | Consideration |
|---|---|
| Height | Taller skiers generally need longer skis for stability. |
| Weight | Heavier skiers require longer skis to support their weight. |
| Skiing Style | Aggressive skiers may prefer longer skis for high-speed stability, while more cautious skiers might opt for shorter skis for easier maneuverability. |
| Tip and Tail Rise | Skis with less rise: low 170's, a lot of rise: mid to upper 170's. |
Alternatives to Consider
While the Rossignol Experience 80 is a solid choice, several other skis offer similar performance characteristics.
- K2 Disruption 82 Ti: Known for its stability and responsiveness, suitable for aggressive skiers.
- Head V-Shape V10: Praised for its positive reviews and sexy design.
- Atomic Vantage 82 Ti: A forgiving ski that provides stability on hard snow.
- Nordica Navigator 80: An intermediate ski that allows for hard turns and stable rides at speed.
It is always a good idea to demo different skis to find the best fit for your personal skiing style and preferences. If there is an opportunity to demo, grab it.
tags: #rossignol #experience #80 #skis