The 2020 Rossignol Experience 84 Ai returns unchanged for this year, and for many skiers, that is a really good thing. There’s always room for improvement, to be sure, but for a ski with this much success, why not let it play out? For such a light ski, Rossignol does a great job by getting some stability and stiffness to its core. They are able to do this by utilizing their Line Control Technology (LCT) using ABS plastic material. This ABS runs the vertical length of the ski and makes the skis stiffer from tip to tail and reduces vibrations. When a light weight ski is able to carve and hang with similarly shaped skis that have metal laminates, you know you’ve gotten some designs right. At 84 mm underfoot, this is a great width for on-piste performance while leaving a little bit of wiggle room for off-trail adventures and snowy days. There’s minimal rocker, but it does help with making the ski easier to get on edge. With an HD Core consisting of Carbon Alloy Matrix and basalt, the skis have a damp feeling, but it’s not metallic. For intermediate level cruisers and above, the Rossignol Experience 84 Ai is a surprisingly capable stick.
The 176 was a bit short for Bob St.Pierre, but the 184 probably would be too, so he made the most out of the opportunities he had. Pretty high scores from Bob across the board, with 5’s out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, and forgiveness as highlights. His score of 4 out of 5 is pretty impressive given the fact that the ski was over 10 cm too short for him. He calls the E 84 Ai “a fun front side ski with more energy than expected.” This energy is mainly derived from the LCT, and it’s impressive to see how many testers pick up on this design not only in this particular ski, but in the Rossignol line altogether. He continues by stating that they’re “easy to roll from edge to edge and it had a great turn radius and a very consistent flex.” It’s probably safe to say that a lot of skiers like it when skis have consistent flexes, and it sounds like the Rossignol has built a good one.
Also on the 176, Dave Carter found it to be the appropriate length for him. His top score of 4 out of 5 for forgiveness is telling of a softer ski, but that didn’t stop David from having an awesome time on it. The rest of his scores were consistent 3’s out of 5, so that means he found the Experience 84 Ai to be versatile and well-rounded. “Lightweight ski for less-aggressive skiers who want a versatile ski.” Light and versatile are two great adjectives to describe this ski. David goes on to comment that the Experience 84 Ai is an “easy turning ski, but not for extremely high-speeds.” Sure, for a ski without metal and a lighter-weight personality, we wouldn’t expect it to behave like a GS ski, but for what it is, it sounds like David nailed the description.
Mike Thomas was pretty stoked on the lightweight performance of the Experience 84 Ai in the 176. It’s a bit short of a length for him, but that didn’t stop him from having a good time. He noted that “they felt light on my feet at slower speeds, but when I went a bit faster, they seemed to get more stable.” This is great information from Mike here, showing that the skis have the ability to be solid and stable for stronger skiers like Mike.
While marketed and intended for intermediate level skiers, the Rossignol Experience 84 Ai is capable of punching above its level. They’re light, forgiving, and a whole lot of fun. Skiers who haven’t been on the Experience 84 Ai will love the versatility and easy-going nature of the skis.
