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The Scores (out of 10)
- Overall Score: 8.66/10
- Rank: #1
- Hard-Snow Integrity:8.78
- Stability at Speed: 8.78
- Carving: 9.11
- Quickness:8.44
- Responsiveness:8.67
- Playfulness:7.89
- Forgiveness:8.11
- Crud Performance: 7.11
- Versatility:8.44
The Specs
- Price: $800
- Lengths: 160, 168, 176, 184
- Dimensions: 127-82-115
- Radius: 15 (176cm)
- Level: Intermediate to Expert
In a Nutshell
- Pros: Carving (#1), Stability at Speed (#1)
- Cons: Playfulness (#1), Crud Performance (#4)
Winner, winner, chicken dinner—the Rossignol Experience 82 Ti was named 2023’s best performing frontside ski after blowing testers away with its performance across nine skills categories at the gear test in Sun Valley, Idaho. “This is the ski!!” said tester , a freeski coach from Utah. “Rossignol knocked it out of the park with this ski,” said tester . “Racers, new skiers—everybody will be smiling.” The rest of the feedback from the test crew echoed the sentiment, confirming that the Experience 82 Ti is the benchmark ski for the frontside category.
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While this year’s frontside category showcased a number of different styles of frontside skis, ranging from race-inspired to narrow all-mountain, entered a true frontside ski with two sheets of Titanal to establish stiffness, countered with a , giving the Experience 82 Ti plenty of recoil and energy. The ski is lightweight and forgiving, yet also has the ability to nuke turns at high speeds. The construction allows the skier to dive into each turn, no matter the turn shape or the speed. And since this year’s ski test was hosted at , a resort that boasts 3,400 feet of vertical drop of pure groomers, this ski shone like a diamond.
Though this is a carryover from 2022 without any construction updates, the Experience 82 Ti really impressed testers this year with its blend of performance and playfulness. It has a throttle that acquiesces to any and all speeds, allowing every skier to drive at their ability and comfort level. Intermediate cruisers could push their skills with the ski’s easy-going nature, while more advanced skiers will enjoy tapping into its reactiveness and power. Even at high speeds, testers noted very little chatter, thanks largely to Rossignol’s Drive Tip Solution, which blends directional fibers into the tip of the ski to eliminate vibrations, making power transfers from one turn to another easy as pie.
At 82mm underfoot, the Experience 82 Ti is too wide to be considered a carving ski, but that’s how it skis. It rails like a champion on the corduroy and looks to get on edge every chance it gets. With each turn, you’ll continue to gain confidence as an athlete, no matter what level you consider yourself. The ski would be a great fit for any groomer-lover across the country, regardless of the type of snow you’re likely to encounter—be it boilerplate, manmade, soft ‘roy, or a variable mix. “It’s a phenomenal choice for the widest of skier demographics,” said tester , a professional bootfitter from Utah. “You’ll have complete confidence that you chose the right ski for whatever the mountain offers.”
Without a doubt, carving on groomed terrain is this ski’s strength, but testers were hard pressed to find a true weakness. This ski received its lowest marks in the Crud Performance and Playfulness categories, but even there, it performed among the Top 5 of all the frontside skis tested (and even scored the highest marks in Playfulness). This ski may not be the best choice for anyone looking for a frontside ski that can bust up crud off the groomed, but then again, that’s not really what this ski is designed to do.
ٱ:See how the Rossignol Experience 82 Ti stacks up against the Blizzard Brahma 88
Testers’ one word of advice: Choose your length carefully. “Choosing size will be more important if technique and tip drive is lacking,” said Schiller. “Could be a handful if the weight and balance of the skier is less aggressive.”
But in the right length, this ski will do pretty much any skier’s bidding and make them look good. “This is a ski that could make lots of skier abilities happy,” summed up tester Chad Jacob, a race coach from New York. “It cruises and charges all the same, giving back as much as you want to give it.”
grew up ski racing, starting on the icy slopes of New England and finishing at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She now lives in Park City, Utah and works as the Director of Marketing & Communications at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team. She also freelance writes and consults in the skiing and Olympic industry. When she’s not traveling with the team, her home mountain is Deer Valley Resort, where she loves to arc turns on groomers, but also knows all of the secret spots for days-old powder. Harkins has been testing skis since 2016 and has been a SKI gear tester for three seasons.