It’s tough to replace the pink ski that everyone loved. The Ranger 102FR was one of the most well-rounded and respected skis of its time, and it was a pretty bold move by Fischer to replace it. They’ve done a fair job, though, taking many of the strong points about the FR and the Ti version of the Ranger and combining them to create a new and attractive ski for soft snow enthusiasts who don’t mind doing a bit of trail work from time to time. The 2024 Ranger 102 returns unchanged from last season, allowing a new generation of skiers the ability to get on these wonderfully versatile and fun-loving skis. While the 102 is getting a bit wide for pure all-mountain use, it definitely settles in nicely to the softer snow zones around the mountain. Due to the weight and the forces needed to make this ski turn, it’s better suited to advanced and expert skiers who are looking to spend most of their time either in, or in search of, soft and deep snow.

Constructed with a mix of poplar and beech in the wood core, the ski gets a nice mix of energy and sturdiness. The poplar tends to be a bit lighter and more poppy while the beech adds to the density and dampness of the ski. They don’t stop there with damping, though, thanks to the implementation of their Shaped Ti 0.5mmtitanal laminate. In the 102, the metal is full width underfoot, and it tapers in the central portion while remaining longer in the arms over the edges. This gives the ski a damp feeling underfoot with some confident grip while the forebody, shovel, and tails all remain more flexible and floatier for softer snow. In the middle of the ski, Fischer’s Flex-Cut notches in from the sides to create a v-shape that increases the consistency and roundness of the flex. In the 183, the ski weighs2050 grams, putting it in the slightly heavy category, but the lightness of the swing weight is able to balance it quite effectively.

The fact that the metal does not extend to the tips and tails allows for the ski to feel a bit lighter, so it’s tough to talk about shape without bringing the build back into the conversation. Regardless, the ski has a spoonier shape in the shovel and more of a traditional look in the tail. The 103 mm waist in the 183 uses a 138 mm tip and a 128 mm tail to create a 19-meter turn radius. For a ski this wide, that makes a lot of sense and allows the skier to have more input as to the shape and duration of the turn. The idea is to spend more time in softer snow, so this aligns well with that footprint. There’s pretty dramatic splay in the tips and tails that make it float well for the width, and the tail almost has that twin tip quality to it that affords for creative skiing bordering on freestyle intent. These shaping intricacies lead the Ranger 102 to be one of the more well-rounded and far-reaching skis out there in terms of overall soft snow application, and we’re all about it.

While it’s somewhat easy to turn in softer snow, the weight and the intent put this ski more squarely into the advanced and expert realm. More accurately, those skiers will be able to find the peak of this ski’s performance spectrum easier than a progressing intermediate looking for a wider all-mountain/freeride ski. We’ve found that it’s great in soft snow and open areas, allowing for fun-loving and playful skiing no matter what.