Hero Elite ST Ti
We usually judge a race ski for its Power properties and let the Finesse chips fall where they may, but the new Rossignol Hero Elite ST Ti stands out for its easy-going temperament in a field of more finicky rides. For example, both the Hero ST Ti and Atomic S9 can be described as “quick” and “agile,” but they go about their business in different ways. The S9 practically detonates at the end of the turn, while the Hero is more mellow, even allowing a little drift between turns. The Hero ST operates comfortably from a centered stance, slinging short turns side to side with the reliability of a metronome.
Hero Elite LT Ti
The 2019 Rossignol Hero Elite LT Ti is a new ski in several significant ways, but it remains the same model in spirit. The new elements begin with a deeper sidecut and a wider chassis overall, making the ski less true race-like and easier to tip into a tidy turn. The new model’s tighter sidecut radius feels all the quicker due to a lighter poplar core and most importantly, Line Control Technology (LCT), that uses far less Titanal than the usual two sheets to maintain snow contact. LCT consists of a central, vertical Ti laminate in a viscoelastic shell that runs end-to-end, resisting the ski’s natural tendency to counterflex.
Firebird SRC
Beneath the SRC’s burly Marker WC Piston Plate is an edge-to-edge layer of bi-directional carbon Blizzard calls C-Armor that turbo charges the ski’s power and stability through the middle of the turn. To augment acceleration across the fall line, two vertical carbon laminates, dubbed C-Spine, trisect the core from end to end. Working in unison with the Firebird SRC’s traditionally cambered baseline, C-Spine generates propulsive rebound that translates the dissipating energy of one turn into an aggressive entry into the next. “It’s very quick edge to edge” confirms one of the California Ski Company crew.
SLX Fusion
The SLX is one of the rare slalom skis with a open mind about turn shape, defying the notion that SL skis are too specialized to serve as free skis. All it takes to produce a liquid, long turn is lay off the edge angle. But you don’t buy an SLX to make big turns but to link together a string of pearl-round turns that never feel rushed. Note the SLX’s especially high Finesse score, backed by above-the-category-average marks for Forgiveness and Low-Speed Turning. Few slalom skis are as easy as they are powerful. The SLX belongs to this exclusive fraternity of friendly SL’s.