2027 Rossignol Hero LT TI

The 2027 Rossignol Hero Elite LT Ti gets some nice upgrades that make it even more direct to the carve with increased engagement and power. This ski has been a great option for race enthusiasts and front side fanatics who love a ski with a narrow waist and a good, long radius. Although it’s still quite a bit shorter than pure FIS measurements, the Hero LT is capable of stability at higher speeds due to its blend of high-end construction and traditional shape.

Built with a beech wood core, this ski gets its race-oriented DNA. That wood core goes a long way in creating a smooth, stable, and powerful platform to stand on. The Hero LT also uses two sheets of metal for damping and power, giving this ski a top shelf feel, especially when it comes to edge grip on firmer snow. One of the main differences for this year is the implementation of Rossignol’s Power Tip which more directly engages the tip of the ski into the turn. The energy transfer is quicker with more of a sense of control. Rossignol also continues to use their Line Control Technology in the center of the ski to keep the contact of the snow fully intact. It’s a pretty stiff ski and needs to be driven with intent. Tester and collegiate racer Greg Petrics notes: “I loved this ski. It has a delightful "Long Turn" (LT) radius that honestly isn't really all that long. I would strongly consider this for my everyday on piste ripper, but the narrow waist is concerning if the snow is anything but packed powder hero or smooth icy piste.”

At 71 mm underfoot, we do see a pretty bold move towards race-width in this zone. That does make for a very precise and expert-level feel to it which some skiers may not fully enjoy. That 71 mm waist is bookended by 120 mm tips and 102 mm tails to generate an 18-meter turn radius in the 177 cm length. While that may seem a bit short, given the ski’s Long Turn moniker, it is indeed a longer arc than many other civilian-based front side skis. It holds up well at those higher speeds, not only due to the radius but also the construction. Rossignol claims a bit of tip rocker here, but for the most part, this ski is fully (and aggressively cambered) with a very square shape in both tips and tails. We’ll stick with Greg’s feedback here as he continues to state: “This ski was a standout to me in the front side category. I usually shy away from the "LT" or "Long Turn" skis since I sometimes find I get going faster than I'd like on-piste on such skis. But this radius was a delight, and I found it allowing me to make a shorter turn than I would have expected with the printed 17m. There's so much stability this ski provides, I think it really invites you to increase the edge angle and bring down the turn radius below the printed numbers. For anyone looking for a beer league ripper or a ski for the packed powder on-piste days, this one is worth your careful consideration.”

It is more of a specialty ski to be used by more expert level skiers and former racers. It’ll work well as a recreational race ski or an early morning groomer ski but there’s certainly not a whole lot of versatility built in. Where this ski excels, and needs to be used, is on very firm snow on the feet of very skilled skiers. The weight, stiffness, and narrow waist contribute to the upper-end performance spectrum and allow skiers to get the most out of their technical pursuits.