Rossignol S7 Caballero Alpine Ski

These skis make pow turns feel like surf slashes. The early rise points make the stiffer under foot part of the ski crank turns like a race ski, but the softer extra tip and tail adds the extra lift you need in any snow. The only weak point that I would point out is that they are skinnier in the tail than the tip, so they are not a very strong switch-in-pow ski. Forward however, I know no better pillow ski, full speed line ski, spine ski (as Sage showed us all in under the influence,) they even shred groomers very well. Have fun!
C

Well I spent all most all of last year riding on the S7, once I clicked in I was hooked on this fun, versatile, ski. I really liked the way that this ski can handle a wide range of terrain and snow conditions. It excels in all forms of powder, but can carve a nice turn on the groomer, handles gnarly trails like the High traverse at Alta no problem, and blasts through crud and chunder. The ski allows you to slash and swivel turns in new ways and makes for some creative skiing all over the mountain.

I mounted my skis on the +3 line, (3cms) and had improved tail support when landing airs or recovering from the back seat.

This is a great everything ski, and opened my eyes to Rossignol after years of neglect. The early rise make floating of the deep a breeze, and so much fun. With a traditional underfoot sidecut makes this ski super versatile, and makes it love to crank turns pretty much anywhere you go. Slashing trees is as easy as thinking about it, and charging hard lines is no trouble. I know a guy that even throws these around the park, better than most guys on park sticks. Super solid base for stomping booters all day. Way to make a comeback into my heart Rossi!

So I don't know what you would define as big, I'm 6'2" and probly around 200lbs with all my gear on and these skis felt unreal! In a good way. I was skiing the 188's and the first run I made with these reqired a nice little hike into the sidecountry to find some freshies that were still untracked. Once I got there and clicked in it was game on, basically what Sage and others have siad earlier applies. My first turns were through tracked up snow and wind lips of various sizes... they were awsome and buttery smooth. Once I got to the good stuff I could not believe how well they floated and how easy they were to play on from short to long turns they did it all! Super surfy and slashable wich I really like and landing on these things is easy. I got some groomers and bumps and crud also and these skis just handled everything better than I thought they would, ecspecially in the bumps. Bottom line is this is probly the most fun powder ski I have been on and I'am not getting paid to say that.

The 2010 S7 model is selling on Ebay for 599.00. Thats alot cheaper then last years S7 that backcountry is selling now for 639.00.
Although last years graphics are much tighter.

I am 182cm(5' 11") and am 205 lbs.

My regular skis are : K2 Seth 07/08 179, 4Frnt MSP 07/08 181.

I demoed the S7 at Park City the day after last weeks' big storm and was blown away. I had never tried a true rockered ski - the Seth does not count - and was slightly nervous of their performance. I needn't have been. They are super easy to get on with - as long as you don't take liberties on the hardpack. As everyone has said, they crush everything even remotely soft. I won't repeat everyone elses comments but it is true, they rock. I skied the 188 and it felt no longer than my MSPs, if in doubt go longer. These skis are almost impossible to find in the 2009 guise but as a forewarning for 2010 - which I believe are very similar but with a slightly narrower waist - buy 'em now before they sell out.

Well I must say that these do indeed tear the mountain a new A. My only recommendation is NOT to mount them +3 if you are a more traditional skier like me. I had to move the binding back to +1 to create more tip so I could get some turns when there is not 12 inches (sorry ladies)....

Against my better judgment, I rode my brand new s7's (instead of my rock skis) at the Bird on Nov 15th. I was so anxious to resolve a concern I had that I couldn't wait for more coverage. Bad news: I have a couple minor scratches. Good News: They can hold an edge (concern resolved). With camber in the tip and 115 under foot it doesn't take a pro skier to tell me they will float in pow or "blast through crud and chunder". That is expected. I believe the reason anyone would buy these skis is because they want everything a full rocker ski can do for them.... and hold an edge on the groomers. Don't get me wrong, they hold an edge like a 160 size ski, but they DO hold an edge.... and I can't wait to experience them in 3 feet of Utah's finest.

I skied the 188's in early December in Alta for a couple of days. I got to take them out in powder, crud, and groomers.

These skis are sweet - It was almost impossible for me to dive the tip in powder. They float amazingly, and will turn on a dime. On the hard pack, they rail! They have the sidecut of a slalom race ski - and about the running length of one as well (166CM +/-). It was fun to lay down some arcs on the way back to the lift.

Downside - I am 6'/210#'s and often found myself over powering them at speed. They ski much shorter than the 188 length suggests. When I pointed them straight though crud, the tips started flopping all over the place. I found myself wanting more stability at speed in the crud - but that's probably a function of my size. Also, the tail rocker will make you wheelie if you land an air in the back seat.

Bottom line - for the non-fat-asses this ski will make you a more versatile skier. Even for the heavy set (me) they were tons of fun. They are fun and playful and I can see these things blowing up like pocket rockets did a couple of years ago.

Let me start by sayin they have a tighter turn radius then most racing skis. the total space your riding on is about 3 feet and the makes it more manuverable, good enough for anything from heavy sticky groomer to light fluffy pow pow. These skis can do anything. i'm alomost 6 foot 150lbs and used the 176cm. I loved it. i'm buyin a pair next season. ALSO!!! the "magnetraction" at the tips.(fatter midway through the ski rather than the tip)allow it to have such a tight turn radius and it grabs any kind of snow. I'can;t say mush more other than WAY TO GO ROSSI!!!

Bringing the PNW to this discussion... this is the true one ski quiver for WA state. As I'm sure most folks know, we've had a bit of a slow start snow-wise out here. The good news, lower snowpack = more pillowy smaller features. The S7 inspires confidence... It floats, but is still super nimble and can be powered through the somewhat mixed bag of terrain that we're riding at present.
Bottom Line, I'm a 5'10, 150 pound skier that works at a resort, rides 120+ days a year, but is by no means close to pro. I mounted them at +2 with a pair of Dukes, and I've been nothing but impressed with this ski. If you want to do it all, s7 is all you need to know.
Thanks to everybody else who's reviewing, sage and cody especially... your opinions are appreciated.

Just picked up a pair of these and mounted them with some slighty older Marker Piston controls. Conditions were deep cut-up and windblown Alaskan powder in the 2-3 foot deep range. I mounted these on the +3cm line and the Jury is still on that decision for me, but the skis worked fantastic for me... you can drive forward hard into the cut up crud. The pintail makes the board stable and predictable, with the added benifit of throwing up a wicked rooster tail. These skis ski short. Easy to initiate even in less than ideal conditions. The tail is very well behaved considering it's length, stays our of the way. The only time they bothered me was when climbing the high traverse. I kept stepping on my own tails and the hiking was awkward and clumsy. I am sure I just need to get used to them, and would be a minor irritation anyway. These things carve surprisingly well on the groomers. There is a speed limit on them, especially as the groomers got hard and bumpy. They won't dump your ass on ice either. I found some navigating around some rocks and I had sufficient control. I would NOT want to take these down an icy couloir, but that's not why you are buying these, right? This is a dedicated pow board and a fantastic one at that! I am also 52 and generally ski with guys half my age, so I am thrilled these skis reduce the effort required. More accurately though, you'll just kick it up a notch or two and burn your legs out just the same. :-)

These skis make skiing crud and powder so easy it's retarded. Even skiing some fresh man-made zipper crust is stupidly easy. They're a fast, stable ski that can get into trouble as easy as it can get you out of it. You can scruff speed super easy. Just a little flick and they're sideways. There is a ton of sidecut so beware. This will only help intermediate skiers and expert skiers should be able to adjust to the quick turn radius. All the sidecut makes them that much easier to carve the hardpack and maneuver through the trees. These skis are so versatile I'm not sure why I will ever ski my Scratch STZ's again. Now I need to get my girl friend a pair so she can keep up.

just spent almost a day on these little guys (188 length) and damn. they are like a determined little slut...it says put me wherever you want, do me however you like, and it promises it will be the best ride of your life! you need these skis. why havent you bought them yet?

in all seriousness, my usual all-mountain ride is 184 b-squad and these felt almost as burly. sure at high speed chop, they were a bit squirely but not really that bad (wish i had the super 7 - 195 length, im sure that thing is perfect!). and i was so surprised as to how far i could lay them over on the groomers...seriously an amazing ski!

Yo,

So I dropped the 700 bones and bought these bad boys. They live up to the hype that is for sure. 6'2", 190lbs, I ski Abasin/Vail/Beav mostly. Took these out 3 times to date. Once on a 2 inch day at Basin. The 2 inches of pow felt like 6. These puppies can carve!!! Unless it is solid solid ice (in which case you are spinning like a top), these hold an edge really well and you can really carve some turns on 'em. Day 2 - groomer day at Basin. Results - fun, except for super hard pack, then you are kinda effed on the control but all reverse/reverse skis are like that.

Day 3 - Snowcat day at Monarch. Super sick! Rockered skis are the bomb! Makes turning effortless. Tight tree pow is now my friend. Plus these things throw a sweet "stay the hell off my ass" tail of snow everywhere.

MOUNTING - I read every thread on here and tgr forums about mounting these and everyone said anywhere from 0 to +3. Do not listen to the posers on this site (JFe) that don't have this ski, haven't ridden it, and are posting mounting advice!! Go back to bed losers! Get a job and buy some skis! Anyways, +3 is ridiculous. It is so far forward you have no tip in front of you (you are already limited by the huge rocker) and your tail is long. Don't get me wrong, you could rip them, but unless you've skied true park ski center mounts, +3 is whack. I mounted at +1.5. That seemed to hit the spot real nice. Not too much tail, effortless float. +1.5 BABY!!!

ps Mounting at 0 would rock too but if you're an inboundser like me, and your pow days fall apart at 1pm when all the pow has been chewed up...you will love the +1.5 mount. +1.5!!!!!!!

I almost felt guilty - like I was cheating against flat boards. The turns were so incredibly fluid and responsive in the power and trees today in Colorado. The S7 is an incredibly fun ride! Effortless! Marker bindings were perfectly mounted forward +3 for 6ft 165 lbs aggressive skier. Obviously. blue ice at the end of the hill is not you friend on these supper wide sticks.

I had been skiing both Armada ARG's and Armada JJ's, this ski replaced both. Rossi has truly taken a step up in my book, they seem to hold every single line you put them on, and have just enough stiffness under foot and in the tail to stomp sketchier lines, but still float with easy in deep pow. The best all around one quiver ski for the West.

The S7's are the steeze for pow, chunder, and crud. I bought them thinking the would be my pow only skis but they have quickly become my 4 day after storm crud busters as well. They are amazing in the pow as well though. The huge shovel and rockered tip will simply not sink into the pow, not matter how far you lean forward. Only complaint is I am 6 2 180 and I have the 188s and I wish they were longer. Definitely get a rockered ski longer then you would get a regular ski. They are sick skis and recommend them to anyone in the market for clown shoes.

Just got the S7s today and took them out even tho there was no powder to ride. So just took them on groomed run and they performed very well for a 115mm wide ski. Love them and cant wait to get into some pow

These are hands down one of the most fun skis I have ever used. In super deep pow there are some other skis that I would say are more fun, but all in all this ski rides the whole mountain better than almost any other ski out there.

Pros: Turns Crud into Pow, Turns easily but not too easily, Floats well, stomps everything

Cons: Narrower tail makes them feel sloppy on traverses and really hard pack. They don't float quite as well in super deep pow as you would expect them too. Nose flops a little bit.

Similar Items Used: Armada JJ, Moment Bibby

All in All: If you want one ski that can do everything on the mountain (even surprisingly pipe, but not rails) well, then this ski is for you. I would say it is best for someone that skis about 40% crud, 40% powder, 30% everything else. If you ski at Jackson, Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, Tahoe, or anywhere else similar...check these out for sure!

These skis are far more versatile than I gave them credit for prior to riding them. I had read all of the reviews, blogs, and general hype that this ski had received, but was still leary of its ability to "do everything." In past experiences with bikes and surfboards a "do it all" tool typically means that it CAN do everything decently, but sacrifices top end performance at either end of the spectrum or for a particular task (in this case powder skiing, groomers, steeps, straight-lining, etc.). Anyways, after half of the season at Alta had passed me by I decided to get on a pair and see what they can do. Well it turns out they can do just about everything! The rocker skis pow exceptionally. The tight 17.5m turning radius slays groomers. The fairly stiff flatter section underfoot allows the ski to take speed...even in crud. Again the rocker performs well in spring slush helping to prevent "grabby" snow from pulling you down. These skis even ski well through bumps! All in all I have been extremely impressed not only with their versatility, but with their ability to be versatile and still perform in all conditions. These truly are a one ski quiver for out west. If I do have any one complaint about the ski, it is that is a little too soft for really mocking in my opinion. Luckily with the Super 7 coming out next year, this problem will be alleviated! I'm sold!!!

These skis are by far one of the best skis I have ever ridden. The rockered tip and and tail with the camber make this ski one of the most versatile set of boards out there. In the pow they charge and float with no sign of the bottom in sight. Put them on the chop after the amazing pow session and the still charged and just slashed everything left in sight. On the groomers a little slow edge to edge b/c of the waist width but still held an edge and carved great once you got them over there. Awesome ski would recommend them to anyone.

This ski is very versatile. It's early rise tip and 115 underfoot width help to keep the ski floating on powder. The ski has some side-cut that allows the ski to carve on the groomers while making your way back to the lift. The tip and tail are soft while the middle of the ski remains fairly stiff to keep the ski stable in crud and tracked snow. Would highly recommend to anyone who is looking for one ski to do it all!

For me these skis were not all that great. I have skied them in all conditions, ranging from powder to ice and wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be. The only place these skis really excelled was in tight trees. They are super fun and you can make the tightest turns possible. This is probably due to their super short running length, its like skiing snowblades without the chairlift ridicule. In powder the float was not that great, the skis just felt really short and wimpy. Performance in choppy cruddy snow was good, as long as you stay balanced you can carve through some pretty junky snow. They were stable landing airs, and pretty decent in moguls as well. I am not sure if it was the tune (or lack thereof) but I had to almost lean back into the backseat to get the sidecut to hook up and get the skis to carve on hard snow. Eventually I got used to it, but I would rather be able to drive my skis from a more athletic stance. The truth with these, is that if you are a smaller dude (or dudette) these skis probably rip like none other, but for bigger dudes look elsewhere.

Super fun, slashy skis that are great in the chop and pow. Really fun

Hey Rossi! Make some skis for men! 188 isn't long enough in a rockered ski for anyone over 6'! That being said, I did really enjoy skiing on the S7s. They seemed to be able to go just about anywhere with ease. The bell tip,115 waist, and rocker made for some fun in the pow and more beat up snow. The traditional camber underfoot made getting back to the lift no problem.

I would highly recommend these for someone who skis out West in pow a good percentage of the time, but doesn't want a 1 trick pony. They aren't dedicated pow sticks, but they are certainly a lot of fun in the deep stuff!

I rode these in some pretty good snow at Snowbasin a few weeks ago and loved them. They're almost as maneuverable as Pontoons in powder, but way more manageable on groomed snow. You can definitely feel the short running length when on a groomer, but I still felt comfortable going pretty fast. These are, by far, the most versatile and easy-to-ski powder-specific ski I've tried so far.

This ski really blew me away in terms of how fun and forgiving it is. The way the tip is designed with the widest point located slightly back from the tip make the ski refuse to hook in crusty or heavy snow. The flex is medium in my opinion which makes the ski forgiving and doesn't beat you up by lunchtime. This is a ski I could ski in so many conditions from a couple inches of fresh snow to 30" of blower. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a one ski quiver, but if you're looking for a powder ski this is one that you would not worry about taking out if the conditions were variable.

Makes everything almost too easy. The rockered tip and tail help to keep the ski from getting swallowed in bigger pow amounts and the amount of effective edge and sidecut actually gives some good/great short turn carving. The only negative on this ski is it doesn't handle the icy crud too well.

As for the mounting of these skis, I've seen a lot of opinions and I figured I would give mine as well. I put the Marker Dukes on these skis at +3. Yes, it does lessen the tip, but then I just treat it like a slalom ski and keep my balance point near the middle of the ski.

Overall, this ski is for any all mountain or big mountain skiers who get into big pow as much as they do groomers. Also, the topsheet is cool, it definitely grows on you.

These skis are so much fun and very easy to ski. They take no effort to turn and with a subtle touch you can make a variety of turn shapes. They seem to excel in playful, bouncy turns, but they are capable of high speed charging as well. A bit soft for an everyday resort ski, but they would make an awesome backcountry ski. Definitely not for hard chargers who like stiff, planky boards.
Surprisingly(or maybe not) these ski just like my 185cm Ravens(Scratch Steeze) only they feel a little shorter.

These are really fun skis. They float very well in the powder! The thing that came as a suprise to me was how decent they did on the groomers as well. I thought that they were going to be complete dogs on groomers but were actually pretty playful and carved alright. The place where I wasn't such a fan or these ski's was in the crud, has very soft tip and tail and I just felt like I was getting tossed around a lot on these. I would recommend these for those deep powder days!

Agreed Shedd...but hell it worked...I have the s7 on order as we speak....I guess I can always come back here and share if they don't "blast through chunder"...looking forward to riding 'em....stay tuned

... and even next year.

I have skied alot (and I mean alot of skis) over the last 15 years and this is without a doubt the most versatile ski in the above mentioned timeframe. This is the best ski Rossi has made since the Cut 11.5!!! (Which for you Ol' Timers and Soul Boyz know) Coincidentally, that was "THE" ski that absolutely, blew the F'ing doors off the hinges as far as just what is possible on skis. If you can still find this ski in a 188cm, buy it; no matter the price. It rails on hardpack due to it's short, underfoot sidecut + it slays crud due to rocker'd tip + pow is literally orgasmic = smiles all around.

p.s. Rossi, you best be pressing a shit-ton of these this summer and early fall ....

While I do trust Rossi skis and am stoked to see them getting into the reverse camber world, i'm inclined to be slightly skeptical of a glowing review from a sponsored rider. Although if he was involved in designing them, they obviously work for him quite well. But name dropping a resort that he doesn't have to pay to ski at? C'mon. I'm sure the S7 rips, but I want reviews from real people that paid for the ski. Everyone who has looked at any magazine recently (or ridden the tram at snowbird) knows Sage rides the S7. Let's hear from somebody else.