Rossignol has a long history of supporting racing at every level, a legacy that’s evident in the breath and depth of its Hero Race collection. Aside from its real-deal race room production model for each Alpine discipline, for both adults and juniors, it has a full line of Masters race models for both speed and technical events. Anyone who is in a race program already has plenty of Rossi race skis to consider, so the Hero Elite collection can shift its sites slightly to provide a more compliant, race-ish experience that translates to in-resort free skiing.

The Hero Elite LT Ti isn’t a watered-down race ski, just one that’s been domesticated. It still uses the race-room fabrication called Line Control Technology (LCT) comprised of a central rib of Ti wrapped in a viscoelastic shell that keeps the ski from counterflexing. The sense of contact throughout the turn is clean and accurate with a finish that focuses on maintaining its solid snow connection.

A close inspection of its tech specs reveals a tip that’s as wide across the beam as a race slalom, with a waist and tail that are also a tad plumper than the norm for a GS race ski. Its shape helps the Hero Elite LT Ti tuck into a tighter arc than it likes to finish, so it doesn’t lose momentum as it barrels downhill. Within the fraternity of Non-FIS Race GS skis, the Hero Elite LT Ti comes closest to being a recreational cruiser, and we don’t mean that in a dismissive way. As a freeskiing tool, it holds its own against all comers.

If you want a Rossi race ski that tailored to your specific competition needs, you have a smorgasbord of choices in its Athlete and Masters collections. If you want more of a generalist with a penchant for speed, the Hero Elite LT Ti should be your chariot of choice.