2021 Rossignol Experience 88 Ti

We love talking about the 88's. We could do it all day. In this width, you're really getting all you need from a pair of skis. Remember when anything above 80 mm was considered a fat ski? Well, at 8 mm wider than 80, these would have been seen as absolute boats back in the day. It's interesting now that they're all-mountain skis with an emphasis on carving. But that's where we are now, and the Experience 88 Ti takes up an enormous amount of space in the "do it all" category of skis. If you're anywhere on the intermediate to expert spectrum and do a mix of skiing at different speeds and in varied terrain, you'll be happy on this ski. It's just one of the most versatile and well-rounded skis on the market today, and our testers have picked up on that year after year with this build. Thanks to the LCT that Rossi uses on its skis all the way up to the world cup, the basalt vertical strut that runs the central length of the ski makes for a great balance of carving power and dampness, all while keeping the ski light and maneuverable. When you get down to it, it's all about creating the same performance as a higher-end ski but with a lighter weight so that mere mortals can ski it all day. While not a powder ski by today's standards, we shouldn't be so quick to eliminate an 88 mm underfoot ski from our list of one-ski quivers. How often does it snow more than 6 inches overnight?

Jeff Neagle skied the 180 and found it to be a good length. Other than a 3 for flotation, Jeff scored the skis 4's the rest of the way. This is on the high-side of average scores, showing the well-roundedness and high-end capabilities of the E88. "The Experience 88 Ti has a really nice blend of performance characteristics for most skiers and most ski resorts. In other words, it is a very well-rounded ski. My favorite thing about it is how it transitions between on-piste and off-piste terrain and snow conditions and never really feels out of place. I suppose a downside to this is that you could say it doesn't excel, as in it's not the best in class in either application, but its ability to do both is very impressive."

Steve Sulin was on the 173, and while he may buy a 180 for himself, the testing length of the 173 was more than adequate. Like Jeff, all 4's down the line except for a 5 for overall impression. These skis rarely fail to impress. Steve runs the retail, rental, and demo shop here so he's seen a lot of these go out the door. Calling them a "go-to model," Steve says they "can do anything. They love to have fun and carve up the whole mountain. They're quick and nimble and I really like the shorter size for a quick carving ski. They're also great in the bumps." Steve is right to note that the skis do have a shorter turn radius than some of the other skis in this range, leading them to be strong carvers in a tight group. On the 180, Phil McGrory's scores were right on track-mostly in the 4's again showing the versatility of these great skis. Phil says that the Experience 88 Ti "is a light weight true all-mountain ski. The tip construction and gradual rocker profile give the ski a lighter swing weight and smooth turn initiation. The ski feels very stable at speed and on steep terrain along with solid edge grip on packed or firm snow. Quick turning and very nimble skills allow the ski to be very maneuverable through tighter terrain such as moguls and trees." Yup, sounds like it does it all!

All-mountain mortals will love the overall experience of these skis, from front side to back, they quite simply do it all.