2022 Rossignol BLACKOPS Gamer

For wide skis that love to be used in playful and freeride formats, the Rossignol Black Ops Gamer is at the top of the game. Built with a poplar wood core and Rossignol's Diago Fiber, these skis are damp and stiff, allowing skiers to really max-out the aggressive and hard-charging zones on the mountain. In addition for the build, they also use their ABS material in their Line Control Technology, so an additional vertical strut running through the central chord of the ski makes a big difference in the longitudinal stiffness. At 118 mm underfoot, they have the appropriate amount of taper and rocker to keep them afloat, as if the width wasn't enough. There's a good amount of camber underfoot, though, and this gives the ski quite a nice bit of energy in and out of the turns.

While not a true twin tip in the freestyle sense of the word, the fairly dramatic splay that comes from the tips and tails can certainly be used in a freestyle or trick-loving format. Switch takeoffs and landings in the backcountry are really what this thing is shaped to do, and for those who ski in places that provide opportunities like this, that is a very nice thing to have. While on the heavy side for touring, mostly due to the poplar core and rubber laminate, simply attach these skis to your favorite mountain sled and gain access to some of the most remote zones in the backcountry. Due to the shape and weight, they're not the most versatile skis on the planet, but rather some of the best singular purpose skis around. Freeride and flotation go hand in hand, and the Rossignol Gamer is the right ski for the job. While they definitely fall under the "tool" ski category, they're a fun option in that realm to be sure.

Harrison Gorham got to feel the strength and power of the Gamer on his 186 cm test length, and he loved the flotation and forgiveness of the ski, with those categories earning 5's out of 5 to go along with the same top score for overall impression. His next-highest scores of 4 out of 5 went for versatility, torsional stiffness, edge grip, playfulness, quickness, maneuverability, and stability. With all 4's and 5's on his scorecard, it's pretty safe to say that Harrison was a fan of the Gamer. He notes that the skis are "awesome. Wide and stable at speed, but buttery and surfy, too." That's a very nice combination for a freeride ski to have, and we're stoked Harrison is picking up on that.

Not everyone is in the market for this ski, but for those who are, this should be at the top of the list. They're all going to be fun, especially in this category, but the Gamer just has more of that freestyle influence that separates it from the crowd, and we here at SkiEssentials.com couldn't be happier about that.