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An everyday Eastern shredder or Western weapon when the snow turns to junk and everyone else goes to work.

Those stubborn high-pressure systems may deter the meek from heading up the hill, but you're armed with the Rossignol Experience 88 Ski: the necessary weaponry to slay the snow despite its terrifyingly varied state from the buffed bowls to the borscht-like base. When the sky spits out a boot-deep day, the raised tip and tail can hang, but the 88's extended sidecut and traditional camber were meant for satiating your gravity-taunting lust between the real pukers. It's also a prime plank if you rule a mountain where men don't waste time waiting for 'fluff.'
  • AutoTurn rocker sports a traditional camber underfoot for enhanced edge grip and a slight rise in the tip and tail for improved float and easy steering during most resort days
  • Wood core delivers a natural-feeling flex with great stability and rebound to help you shred those hard-packed days that put hair on your chest
  • Sandwich construction features a wood core as well as basalt and fiberglass laminates for a rigid feel that eats death cookies for breakfast
  • Extended sidecut along the slightly raised tip and tail means you get additional edge hold when you really start cranking big turns down the frontside
  • Cascade Tip uses less laminates in the tip for a soft and lightweight feel that turns easy if you get caught in bumps on the way to a tight little stash
  • Mid-fat dimensions stay on top of the fresh and chopped snow, while delivering a solid platform for carving turns despite the refrozen crud

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Here's what others have to say...

Unanswered Question

What are the actual lengths of the 178's...

Howie Nordstrom

Member since 
Posted on

What are the actual lengths of the 178's and the 186's???

Given the info below what length would you recommend for this ski--178 or 186?

I'm 5'10", 150# (naked), an experienced, expert skier, work patrol, love to rip it, need to ski anywhere on the mountain with these skis & in any conditions (but will switch to my Line Opus on pow days). I've been using K2 Explorer 181 (actual length ~177) successfully, but am tired of system bindings (will be mounting FKS 180L on the 88's). The 178 would allow more front side turning (although the documented radius is already tight), and the 186 would offer more float when I hit the stashes.

TIA!

Backcountry Video

Member since 
Groups:
Posted on

smi3840347

Member since 
Responded on

I'm 6'1" 210 pound ski instructor on the fence between getting the 178 or the 186. I already have a pair of powder boards and looking at the 88 as my ski for hard pack and finding hidden powder stashes when it hasn't snowed recently. How much does the rocker come into play? While instructing (intermediate lessons) I think the 186 might be a bit combersome. Hoping the 178 won't come up short though when I free ride. Any suggestions?

5 5

mipivor1946188

Member since 

Works great as a Telemark Resort Ski in East. Bought these this season with Hammerhead Bindings. I waited to review these until I have used them in different conditions over the last two months. I have used them in icy crust, slush, eastern powder, and a mix of all above. These just rip on the slopes. They grip on ice and at the same time plow through the junk. They do great in both short radius and longer radius turns. I also do alpine turns both carving and short radius. It performs well in all. I ski them with Scarpa T2X red boots. This ski brought me up another level. I am all over the mountain now. I was a timid intermediate skier before these skis. I was previously skiing on BD Kilowatts with O1 bindings.

I also lent them out to an advanced telemark skier who also is a PSIA level 2 telemark nordic instructor. He just fell in love with them. He is an aggressive expert skier. He had previously did a demo with these with Targa bindings. Not enough binding to make this ski perform. They really perform with the Hammerhead. I was looking at different all mountain skis for resort skiing. Great reviews by alpine ski reviewers. . I was also looking at the Volkl Kendo and decided on these due to they were rated by alpine ski reviewers as more forgiving of form. I am not an aggresive skier and do not ski bumps.In the telemark world, there are not many reviews for resort all mountain skis because of their weight makes them less practical to skin up for mountain touring. This probably will change with the The Experience 88 at 178 with the hammerheads weigh in at 12 lbs 5 ounces by my own measurement. I am 6 ft and 175 lbs. So this would need to be part of a quiver of two if you are going to earn your turns. I bought them from backcountry.com because of their no questions asked return policy. How can one go wrong. Great place to buy equipment

4 5

Jooky

Member since 

As a person who skis everyday on a 105 underfoot ski, I was looking for something to train for my Level 3 on. This ski was what I chose based on recommendations from our Rossi rep. I have to say, at first I was afraid, I was petrified. I was not used to being able to just tip and rip. I typically ski twin tips that have less sidecut, so you really have to work to engage the tip, bend the ski and then tip. With this ski, the movement is more about tipping first and shaping your turn after. I'm used to it now and seriously enjoy it. I also thought it wasn't going to be fat enough for crud/chunder, but was surprised at how well the wide tip navigates the crap. I'm not ready to call it a one-ski quiver, but its a go-to tool for everything but the deepest of pow.

bentKneee

Member since 
Responded on

Based on this review, I just mounted G3 Enzo R bindings on Experience 88s. Wow! My other skis are Karhu Backcountry with Hammerheads. I love those skis but the 88s have taken me to a new level at the resorts. The cut through anything - are incredibly stable, hold an edge on everything, even sheet ice. They are much heavier than my Karhus, and that took a little getting used to, but they have become my standard for Eastern skiing. Highly recommended for Eastern Telemark skiing. I have read some iffy reviews about skiing these out west, but I won't be using them for bc, that's what the Karhus are for, and won't hesitate to bring the Rossis with me.

A plug for the bindings. I am very impressed with the G3 Enzo. It's a very active binding with a lot of power. It feels like a tighter more aggressive version of the Hammerhead and is probably comparable to the Axl/Vice. I gave up on G3 after the Targas - which I hated - but they are now back in my books.

4 5

tmac 4718

Member since 

Firm and fast conditions today, now new snow at all. I'm very weight sensitive about my ski/binding setup and the Rossi demo binding didn't help the already heavier E88 in comparison to my super light griffon/kendo setup. If I didn't have my Kendo and the Experience 98/griffon to demo it against I would say the ski ripped! But I found it a little sluggish after being on the other ones. A very smooth and turny ski with great edge grip and stability. Definitely a lot smoother and not near as harsh as the Kendo's ride but I've gotten so used to the light and lively feel of the kendo it's hard to go without it. The E88 doesn't have a speed limit where the Kendo I feel does. The E88 has still plenty of rebound despite its quieter feel. I could alter my turn shapes easier on my Kendo, and also snaking it through the moguls felt much better. Again the E88 did a GREAT job of handling bumps and odd crud terrain but the wider tip and tail were felt, although the smoother feel was very welcomed on the ice packed crud in comparison to my Kendo. Kendo is just quicker edge to edge and lets you control the turn radius more, a fine sword is what volkl says and I agree totally. I always think I want more sidecut in my skis until I demo them and realize that a little narrower tail makes the ski more versatile in my opinion. I thought the E 98 was actually more fun on the hard groomers, it has a lighter swing weight I feel and tenacious bite on the icy groomers. If you want a fast, no speed limit, turny big mountain ski that still has some pop, the E98 is that beast, I preferred it over the E88 today.

5 5

Steve Woodward

Member since 

I am a 15 year ski instructor and got a pair of Rossi Experience 88's at the end of last season. They rip everywhere. Just think turn and they go. Powder, crud, bumps, frozen chicken heads, groomers and hard pack. They were a little grabby on chalk until I detuned the tips and tails. This is a great ski for strong intermediates and up. I am 6' 170# and ski a 178 cm.

Joe Smuck Instructor

Member since 
Responded on

Steve - As an instructor you need an all mountain ski with one that is good on grromers where is where most of your teaching is done. Where are the strong and weak points???? Can you tear up a bump run? I have a pair of B86's and they do everything well. I am thinking of a new pair of skis in the spring (2012). I am also a PSIA instructor and ski 50+ days per year. I teach a lot of upper level lessons both private and groups.

car4135258

Member since 
Responded on

Just got the Rossi E88's. Tried them 1st time in Sun Valley on man-made snow, hard pack, junk, ice. Only on groomers and few bumps on the sides. Great ski. I wanted a fast carver that will hold edge in the hardest pack. They grip. They just want to go fast. They handled everything. Very impressive.

gps3823317

Member since 
Responded on

Hi am struck in between E 83 and E88. I tried E83 this last week and liked it. I could not demo E88. I am a intermediate and ski primarily in groomed slopes and sometime on powder.

Anybody out there try the experience 88...

tmac 4718

Member since 
Posted on

Anybody out there try the experience 88 vs volkl Kendo? I love my kendo for bumps and the quick snappy turns but do not like them for higher speed gs turns and when the snow gets very firm. Odd I know but just had trouble getting the ski to lock up in a carve. I bought them for when it wasn't a JJ day but found myself skiing my JJ's as my hard snow ski for the carving action and edge grip. Thinking that the 88 with more sidecut may engage and hold the carve better. Any thoughts? Also thinking the 98 but people say its a very damp ski.

ksc2611771

Member since 
Responded on

tmac, I'm in a similar state, currently ski 192 bent chetlers and want a groomer day ski. I demo'd the 88's and the 83's (i think) and really loved the 88's. They handled the crude really well and craved a wicked turn on moderate 5 day old, no fresh, Whistler ice conditions. I'm an ex ski racer and was looking for a rigid GS type ski without the commitment of buying a full race ski. I'm waiting for these to go on sale in the 177 length. The 186 seemed too long (I'm 5'9" and 165 lbs), 170 didn't provide enough edge for high speed. Definitely a solid ski to bomb down groomers locked on edge.

tmac 4718

Member since 
Responded on

ksc2611771, I just got a chance to try the Rossi experience 98 and want to try the 88 next. The 98's first impression to me was way to damp, the 178cm in the 88 is what I will look to demo next. My full review of the 98 is on this website also. Did the 88 seem stable enough at high speed without any metal in the ski?