2021 Rossignol Experience 84 AI W

These things tend to sneak up on people. The Rossignol experience would not be complete without skiing the Experience line, and in the middle of that lineup for women is the 84. Built like the 88 but with no metal, the 84 is a quick turner that is both light and stable. More quick and light than stable, but stable and damp for its weight and maneuverability. This ski hits a lot of target audiences, from beginner skiers looking to purchase their first pair or experienced carvers who are looking to have fun and light it up on the groomers. It's not too long ago that 84 mm underfoot bordered on fat, and now it's just middle-ground for front side and all-mountain skiing. Built with a high-density core that's more of a composite of wood, the skis are light and easy to turn. They don't have that true high-end that the poplar core skis have, but for its intended use, it's a very efficient and fun-loving ski. Adding to the performance is Rossignol's Line Control Technology (LCT) that features a central power rail that keeps the ski from counterflexing, maintaining your intended line and direction with minimal vibrations. Unchanged except for graphics for 2021, our testers memories of last year still ring true.

Lauren Lepage skied the 168 and was all 4's down the scorecard. No score given for flotation, since there was no new snow nor any reason to be using these as powder skis, even though there's some tip rocker and a light and playful feel for softer snow. Lauren states that she's "really enjoying the Experience collection from Rossignol! These light skis with great control and maneuverability! The weight doesn't seem to sacrifice any of the carving features or ability of the ski. I feel like they got the ski just right!" Great! For skiers in that solid intermediate range, this Experience 84 checks a lot of boxes for a lot of skiers. Sam Purnell picked up on that low-speed compliance, and for an aggressive skier, that's not always the best thing. She was on the 160 and that was a bit short for her. As a patroller here at Stowe, Sam is a great person to go to for a good look at strong skis. She did value the stability of the ski, even in the shorter length as well as the edge hold. Not so versatile or playful for Sam, as she noted that it was going to be "good for beginners and intermediates on groomers and blue square trails. Not quite the ski for aggressive skiers and skiing." Fair enough, Sam!

Ali Berlin also noted that the ski didn't quite have the energy for her level. Also on the 160, Ali loved the playfulness and forgiveness as well as quickness and maneuverability. Those scores of 4's and 5's aligned well with her 3's for the rest, once again showing that these skis are well-rounded and capable of holding up to a lot of different ski styles and uses. "Not as poppy as the Nova line, although they did handle well through the softer snow and were surprisingly responsive. A good all-mountain ski for an intermediate to mellow advanced skier." Once you cross into that all-mountain designation, you are likely to lose a bit of carving power, but that soft-snow performance is where any lack of pop is made up.

Lots of good stuff going on here with the Rossignol Experience 84 women's ski. From the front-side groomer attack to the bumps and trees, Rossi has really got a nice ski on their hands here-one that many skiers will benefit from in the long run.