2022 Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender Ti

The Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender Ti is back for another season with no changes to its shape, construction, or even topsheet graphic. These skis were brand new for the 2020/21 ski season and marked a fundamental shift from Rossignol’s previous freeride skis like the Soul 7. The Sender Ti is the stiffer, heavier, and burlier version of 2 skis that share very similar shapes, the other being the non-Ti Sender. This ski is the real deal and is designed to offer powerful performance for aggressive skiers who want to charge through off-piste terrain and softer snow conditions. That concept is reflected in the fact the ski only comes in three total lengths, wth the shortest being 180 cm. In other words, if you want a shorter length, Rossignol thinks you should be on the lighter Sender too. There’s a lot going on in this ski’s construction. A poplar wood core kicks things off, then Rossignol adds two Line Control Technology ABS struts. This is similar to how they build their race skis, but with ABS instead of metal. They then give the ski a full sheet of metal just above the base, then a partial sheet of metal underfoot. Damp Tech in the tip and Carbon Alloy Matrix complete this complex build. The shape is a little more straight-forward. The ski has less rocker and taper than the previous Soul 7. It’s still a directional ski and there is still noticeably more tip rocker than tail rocker. Instead of abrupt taper like the Soul 7, this tip has a more modern look to it.

Mike Anglin skied the 187 cm length in the Sender Ti. He liked that length for his size and ability level, but did comment that he thought it skied “maybe a little short,” rather than true to size. That makes sense to us, although we’d also say it’s not going to ski as short as some skis due to not having much tail rocker at all. Mike had some exceptional scores for the Sender Ti. None of our criteria received scores lower than 4 out of 5, and flotation, stability, playfulness, and overall impression all earned full 5 out of 5 marks. “If your mission is to enjoy smooth, playful turns in deep fresh or spring baked snow then enter the BlackOps Sender Ti to your quiver. The 106 waist width, and the Ti in the construction lead to those smooth, playful turns in whatever shape you want regardless of the 23m turn radius. Can be a bit much in the bumps if you’re not on it, but the BlackOps can handle any terrain with ease. Advanced intermediates to freeride experts will enjoy a mountain mission on the BlackOps Sender Ti.” Josh Wolfgang skied the same 187 cm length and loved the stability of the Sender Ti. That’s certainly one of the highlights of this ski and something that really sets it apart from the previous Soul 7. A common complaint of that ski was its lack of stability, but the Sender Ti has it in spades. We got a 5 out of 5 score for stability from Josh, with all other criteria at 4 out of 5. “This is a super stable ski. You can really send it down the hill. Can handle high speeds and still feels planted. Wide underneath so you can dig into the soft snow without worrying about booting out.”

Brian Cooke was lucky enough to get on the Sender Ti both during our actual Ski Test, as well as on another day of testing earlier in the season at Sugarbush. Brian skied the 187 cm length, which he described as “perfecto!” More impressive scores from Brian too. Once again, none of our criteria fell below 4 out of 5, and flotation, stability, torsional stiffness/edge grip, versatility, and overall impression all earned full 5 out of 5 scores. “Loved this ski. Skied it a couple times this season (once on 6" day at the Bush and once at Stowe). Plenty of stiffness for hardpack, plenty of float for soft snow, and plenty of power for midday crud. I loved how snappy this ski felt. Had fun blasting through soft snow bumps with these things. Maybe I'll buy a pair?!” Brad Schauerman owns and frequently skis a pair of Nordica Enforcer 100. One of our first impressions of the Sender Ti was how in a lot of ways, its shape is similar to an Enforcer shape, just a little wider and with a bigger turn radius. We know Brad likes his Enforcers, so we expected him to take a liking to the Sender Ti too. “These skis were very fun. They lay some nice trenches. Good at making all sorts of turn shapes and good for getting through all types of snow. Good all-around 1 quiver ski.” From Brad, only forgiveness dropped to 3 out of 5 with all the rest of our criteria falling nicely at the 4 out of 5 mark.

The Sender Ti is an awesome ski for skiers who like to ski fast and aggressively through softer snow conditions. It’s not the quickest or most playful ski on the market with its flatter, stiffer tail, but accomplished skiers won’t find any issue with its maneuverability. It is, on the other hand, a bit much for an intermediate or a less aggressive skier. Even a lighter-weight advanced skier may find it a little stiff and heavy. It’s a fantastic ski, but in reality, the Sender (non-Ti) is likely more appropriate for the vast majority of skiers. If you’re not charging, or if you need something shorter than 180 cm, consider the Sender. For powerful skiers, the Sender Ti is the ticket.