2021 Rossignol Black Ops Holyshred

We've gotten a lot of testers and contributors on these skis over the past few years, and it's pretty rare we hear something that's not sparkling about them. Shaped like a mix of a powder ski and a park ski, this 98-mm waisted ski is built and ready for anything. Unchanged except for the name and graphic for 2021, the Holyshred takes over where the Blackops 98 left off. Built with a wood core, rubber inserts in the tips and tails, and a metal plate underfoot, the skis have all you need for all-mountain fun with a freestyle spirit. That's mostly due to the flexible shovels and tails as well as the twin-tip shape. Rarely in the park, I found a nifty use for the twin tips in the woods, as you can do a basic 3-point turn to get you going in the right direction if you get going too fast-that's why I love them, but park skiers as well as powder hounds will love the turned-up tail for playfulness's sake, keeping them in line with what you're supposed to do on a twin tip. The rubberized tips and tails make for a pretty quiet and stable ski-impressive for something not really designed for hard charging in the crud and off-piste. Not the lightest out there, the Holyshred has a substantial feel to it, so don't mistake it for just a light and quick jib stick.

Bob St.Pierre got to ski the 192, and felt that finally, the ski's shape matched its size for him. Bob also skis the 191 Enforcer 100 and has a 191 K2 Pinnacle 105, so he's no stranger to long skis. He scored the Holyshred 5's out of 5 for playfulness and forgiveness with 4's for flotation, stability, versatility, and overall impression. Safe to say that Bob was pretty stoked about this big twin. "A wonderful overall ski with a very damp, quiet, and fun-loving personality. These skis can do it all-carve, bumps, powder, park-what's not to love?" Bob makes sure to reiterate the quiet and damp qualities of the ski, calling it a "swift, silent killer of any and all conditions and terrain." Other than the killing part, sounds sweet! Jeff Neagle was on the 182 and found it to be his kind of ski. He had top marks of 5 out of 5 for playfulness and overall impression, so if you're into those things too, check out the Holyshred for sure. Jeff "loves skiing the Holyshred. For me it blends the playfulness of a twin tip with the more precise feel of a directional ski. It's not really directional but it's less symmetrical than a lot of twin tips like it which helps when you're just ripping around the mountain. That makes it an excellent choice for someone who wants capabilities in the terrain park, but that's not their sole focus."

Phil McGrory was a big fan of the big size as well, taking the 192 out for a spin. His scores of 5 out of 5 were given for versatility and overall impression, again showing the well-versed nature of the Holyshred. Phil echoes a lot of what Jeff has to say in terms of the directional versus twin-tip shape and how it makes the Holyshred different from many other skis in the category. "The Blackops Holyshred is a playful and versatile directional twin that can handle just about any terrain that a skier looking for a one ski quiver can handle. Though the Holyshred is a directional twin, the ski is still powerful enough to cut through crud and chopped up snow conditions while maintaining the playful feel a freestyle skier will enjoy." So, a twin that acts like an all-mountain ski. Intriguing.

All good things come out of the Holyshred. For a few years now, skiers have loved the all-mountain nature of these 98 mm twins, and love the versatile and fun-loving character. There's a lot more to this ski than most skiers may think.