2022 Rossignol Experience 82 Basalt

The new Rossignol Experience all-mountain collection is geared slightly more towards groomer application and firm snow performance than ever before, and this Experience 82 Basalt is a perfect example. At 82 mm underfoot, it basically blurs the line between frontside and all-mountain skis. This particular model is intended to be approachable and appropriate for less aggressive and more intermediate-level skiers who will benefit more from a lighter, quicker ski as opposed to a heavier, more powerful option. To achieve this, Rossignol uses a lightweight Paulownia wood core that uses basalt laminates instead of metal. Basalt is a really cool material for ski construction as it provides a nice amount of stability, responsiveness, and vibration damping at a much lighter weight than metal. If you’re wondering, the basalt stone is washed, crushed, melted, and then stretched into fibers before going into the ski. For those of you thinking “there are rocks in these skis?” the answer is yes, but also kind of no. Its shape is mostly camber with some nice tip rocker, which Rossignol refers to as their All Trail Profile. There isn’t any early taper, meaning that as you tip the ski further on edge, you get a longer effective edge and better grip. Rossignol also uses their Drive Tip Solution construction, which uses a blend of materials to help further reduce vibration and chatter and turn those harsh impacts into smoother and more usable energy once it reaches you foot. Also, at $699 with an integrated binding, the Experience 82 Basalt is a great value.

Mike Anglin skied the 176 cm length in the Experience 82 Basalt. He thought that length worked well for his size, although there is one longer option at 184 cm, which would work well for larger skiers. Where it sits in the new Experience line and given the $699 price point, we want this ski to feel approachable for a wide range of skiers. It’s important for skis like this not to overpower intermediates, and we think Rossignol did a great job of giving them a forgiving feel, while still retaining precision and a quality ride overall. Mike seemed to agree with this assessment, as way reflected in his scores. We got 5 out of 5 scores for a whole bunch of different criteria, including forgiveness. Quickness/maneuverability, playfulness, versatility, and overall impression also earned top marks from Mike. To be frank, not many skis in this price range achieve high scores like that. Stability and torsional stiffness/edge grip only dropped to 4 out of 5 as well, which is quite impressive. “Well, who would think that a ski that has rocks in the construction can be as playful, versatile and downright fun as this Experience 82 Basalt. Honestly blew my mask off with its energy and amazing versatility. At 82 in the waist with a turn radius of 16, it makes short turns and long turns effortless with a ton of energy feedback from the ski. If you can harness that energy from turn to turn you are in for a rocking good time. (That's by far the cheesiest thing I have ever written). Just as comfortable making slower turns on mellow terrain as it is tipping it up and pressing on steeper terrain. A ski that will help a beginner grow but also can keep the advanced expert entertained.”

Brian Cooke skied the same 176 cm length. Brian’s a pretty tall guy and did mention that he thinks he would’ve preferred that 184 cm length. As such, stability and torsional stiffness/edge grip scores suffered a little bit, dropping to 3 out of 5 from Brian. He also commented that in his written feedback. ��It felt a little twitchy at speed. I got this on a pretty firm groomer, which was probably the best for it conditions-wise. The tip deflected a little bit, but it otherwise held an edge well enough. I would assume this would be great for a less aggressive, lighter skier looking for a ski that is easy-going on the frontside.” Your assumptions would be correct, Brian, but as we learned from Mike’s testing, it can also satisfy and entertain a higher-level skier as long as you’re on the right length.

Overall, the Experience 82 Basalt is going to be best for skiers who spend most of their time on groomed slopes and who aren’t the most aggressive skiers.  They strike a nice blend between precision and forgiveness.  It is, as Mike pointed out, a fantastic ski for a beginner or intermediate to use as a tool to promote progression in their technique and capabilities on snow.  It’s not too demanding or too tiring, but as you progress, the ski will remain supportive, and most importantly, fun!