2021 Rossignol Black Ops Stargazer

The Blackops line gets totally revamped for 2021, and the Stargazer lady's skis are one of the most versatile and well-rounded models. At 92 mm underfoot in the 162 cm length, the skis have that middle-of-the-road width and build to make them supremely versatile. Skiers all over the world look to this low to mid-90's underfoot width as kind of the Goldilocks zone for being able to do a little bit of everything, from carving turns on the groomers to floating through pow in the back bowls. The Stargazer benefits from a relatively light weight construction and a friendly nature, so is ideally suited for skiers in the advanced realm. In addition to having a pleasant disposition for true all-mountain skiing, they've also knocked the graphics out of the park with all these new Blackops skis, and the Stargazer has to be at the top of the list.

The construction of the skis is all about having fun in a variety of different conditions and terrain. Starting with a full Paulownia wood core, the skis are light and snappy with good positive feedback. From ripping turns on the groomers to floating through the fresh, this light weight wood provides the necessary stability and strength to get you where you need to go. Rossi adds to that its Diago Fiber laminate, which is ingrained in the fiberglass. This is a carbon stringer substitute that is very stiff for how heavy it is. As a result, when combined with the fiberglass, acts as a stiffening agent that gives the ski a burlier and more rugged feel without adding the weight of a metal laminate or another material. While on the lighter side for aggressive experts, it does have a remarkably high-performance ceiling and can be used by a wide variety of skier types.

In terms of shaping and the profile, it's definitely leaning more to the freeride side of things versus front side. With a fair amount of tip taper, the skis have a spoony shape to them that allows for better flotation. As a result, the 92 mm underfoot in the 162 floats a lot more like a wider ski. Since the widest part of the shovel is further back from the tip, the skis plane and rise up easily and smoothly in the soft snow and deeper conditions. For skiers who spend a lot of time dabbling in the off-piste, this is a great shape to have in the front of the ski. The back is a bit more business-like, with less taper and rocker. This will allow the ski to hold on to the turn for longer, creating a smoother carve. This adds to the effective edge length of the ski and makes it feel a bit longer than the size would indicate, especially from the mid-point back. Moderate tip rocker mirrors that taper shape, creating more flotation and an easier transition between turns. Overall, the shape and profile are more freeride-ish versus front side, and since Rossignol makes other skis, like their Experience 88, that shine on the trails, this offers that more soft-snow alternative.

Ladies in the intermediate to advanced range who are looking for something light to take them off-trail and into the softer stuff will love the new Blackops Stargazer. Strange name, yes, but a great ski that has a ton of versatility. With Rossignol's new builds and shapes, the skis will be a great addition to your quiver, or could be that one ski that replaces them all.