2021 Rossignol Black Ops Sender

Replacing a legend is no easy task. While the Soul 7 wasn't everyone's cup of tea, it certainly resonated with a whole lot of skiers, as it's pretty rare that a company will let a model run like that for as long as Rossi did. Great flotation and turning for a ski of its width. What could be better? Well, a bit less rocker and taper in the tips, and a more consistent construction from tip to tail and you've got the 2021 Rossignol Blackops Sender. There's also a Sender Ti which includes more metal as well as longer lengths and a bit more width and longer radius. But the meat of the customer ski base should be looking at the Sender with its 104 mm waist and it's LCT made of rubber. It's fun how rubber has become the popular material over the past two years, and ski companies are smart to pounce on it. It is a great damping agent, and if you get some stiff rubber, it gives some good feedback as well. If you're looking for that soft-snow ski with a good deal of compliance to it, the Sender is a fantastic choice. For a ski that's 104 mm underfoot, it's surprisingly nimble, mostly thanks to the lighter weight construction, as Rossignol has really thrown a lot into the development of this ski as a replacement to the Soul. Our testers and contributors really liked this effort from Rossi, noting that the Sender should find a nice audience in the ski community.

Steve Sulin tested the 178, but would have been comfortable on the 186 as well-the shorter length just made quicker turns for him. All 4's down the card for Steve, with a lone 5 out of 5 for overall impression. This makes us believe that the Sender is a more versatile ski than the 104 mm width may indicate. Steve notes that the Sender has "lots of energy from the turn and is quick and nimble." Again, that's pretty good praise for a ski this wide. Not just pigeon-holed as a quick turner, Steve states that the skis "crushed soft snow and crud and loves to be pushed and skied hard. Even in the shorter length, I couldn't overpower it." Also, sounding surprised, Steve says it's "even good in the bumps." These characteristics certainly match the scores on the sheet as well. Also on the 178, Josh Wolfgang found the length to be good and the skis to be versatile. All 3's right down the middle of the sheet for Josh. Sometimes it's not that the scores are high, but that they are consistent that stands out-speaks to the well-roundedness of the ski. Josh found the skis to have a bit lower of an end than Steve, stating that "this is a good intermediate all-mountain cruiser. It has a speed limit but also can be fun if you do not want to drive it too hard. Pretty damp tip which is a nice change from the Soul 7 it is replacing." Also, that's a good argument for a skier who should likely be on the Sender Ti, if you're looking for that high-speed compliance.

Another 178 tester, Harrison Gorham, found it skied true to size. He scored a 4's out of 5 for flotation and forgiveness with playfulness and maneuverability not far behind with 3.5's. Always a fan of fashion, Harrison notes that the skis have "cool graphics, great for a skier that shreds on groomers and off-piste. Flotation is awesome on pow days. Has a pretty stiff tail with a playful flex in the tip with plenty of rocker. Swivels very well and keeps you on the front of the skis because of that stiffer tail." It's nice to note that the ski does have some substance behind all that style.

A great replacement for an all-time influential ski is not an easy thing to come by, and Rossignol has done a fantastic job so far with these Blackops line skis, and the Sender is going to find a lot of fans this year.