Rossignol has a great selection of on-trail specific skis that thrive on G-Forces and high-speeds. If you like going fast, are in a recreational race league, or are a groomer carving enthusiast, the 2020 Rossignol Hero Elite MT Ti is a fantastic choice. The MT stands for Multi-Turn, as it’s a bit more well-rounded than the other skis in the Hero Elite line. Built with a Poplar wood core, they’re on the softer side, but add to that Rossignol’s Line Control Technology, and you’ve got a pretty stiff, stable, and damp ski on which to shred. The turn radius is length-dependent, so the longer the ski, the longer the turn radius. Even so, at 183, the 16-meter turn radius is pretty short, so it’s safe to assume that these things like to be on edge. Slight tip rocker ensures smooth transitions between turns, making it easier and more user-friendly than a fully cambered ski. That said, when you lay these things over, expect to come around pretty quickly. At 74 mm underfoot the Hero Elite MT is built to hang on some pretty glare ice, as the narrower the waist, the stronger the torsional stiffness. Advanced and expert level skiers will glean the most performance out of these skis, and our testers loved the stiffness and versatile turning ability of the 2020 Rossignol Hero Elite MT Ti.
Steve Sulin is a member of his local ski bum race team, and he quickly points out that this will be “my race ski for next year. Can’t wait!” Steve tested the 175 cm length and found it to be appropriate. His top scores of 5’s out of 5 for stability, maneuverability, edge hold, and overall impression are quite amazing, although not entirely unsurprising. These skis are built for those types of scores. The converse is also true, however, with low scores being awarded for flotation, playfulness, and forgiveness. Versatility found its way down the list as well, as these skis are pretty set in their ways. At the end of the day, though, Steve will light it up next year on the ski bum race circuit on the Rossignol Hero Elite MT Ti.
Also on the 175, Mike Thomas would have sized up if possible. Like Steve, Mike had low scores for flotation and versatility, which are appropriately low. If they scored high for something like flotation, they probably wouldn’t be such adept carvers. But that’s not the case, and Mike does a good job in pointing out these subtle and simple differences. His top scores were for quickness, maneuverability, and forgiveness. With a Poplar wood core instead of an Ash wood core found in the other Hero Elite models, you do get a bit more of a flex with the MT.
Marcus Shakun is pretty tall, so it’s no wonder he’d prefer the 183 over his 175 cm test length. But that didn’t stop him from having a wonderful time ripping up the corduroy here at Stowe. His top scores of 5 out of 5 were given for quickness, playfulness, edge hold, and overall impression. While Marcus was the only tester to score the MT high for playfulness, he probably is interpreting that as playing on the groomers as opposed to a more “freestyle” character. Marcus calls the MT a “one ski quiver for the front side. Edge to edge it was lightning-quick. Energetic and snappy out of the turn, stable on edge, and damper shovel with a stiffer tail.” This difference in flex allows you to really push into the turn and hold it strong throughout.
The Rossignol Hero Elite MT Ti is a great example of a front side ski that has been designed and built just right. They’re not that versatile, but rather excel in the one area that it’s intended for. If you’re looking to lay down some serious trenches or gain a few points in your local beer league race, look no further than the Hero Elite MT.
