What To Look For
Rossignol, long one of the leaders in the alpine ski market, has a complete line of skis to meet any skier's need. Rossignol breaks their skis into four categories: Race, All-Mountain, Freeride and Twin Tip. Rossignol also offers Race, All-Mountain and Freeride skis for women. In each category, Rossignol offers different versions of the same ski. For instance, the men's Freeride category has three versions of the Phantom, with different sidecuts of 80, 87 and 97--the 80 is for more on-piste skiing and the 97 is better for powder. In the All-Mountain category, Rossignol offers the Avenger in sidecuts of 70, 72 and 82, as well as the Classic in sidecuts of 70 and 80. The Race category offers the Radical in versions for slalom, giant slalom and downhill racers. The Twin Tip has six versions of the S ski in different widths for park skiing and backcountry skiing.
Rossignol skis have a wood core that is mixed with either fiberglass or metal, depending on the model.
Common Pitfalls
Because the skis are available in many sidecuts, it can be hard to choose the right model if you aren't an experienced skier. In addition, going with a wider sidecut means you can go slightly shorter in length and still get similar performance. It is best to demo several lengths of ski to find the best fit. Shorter skis allow for quicker turning, but longer skis will go faster and be more stable at speed.
Skiers who have their own preferences in bindings will find Rossignol's inclusion of the Axial or Axium binding on their All-Mountain skis an annoyance. The other Rossignol skis allow the skier to select her own binding.
Many skiers have found the Classic to be the sweet spot in the Rossignol line, offering better performance in varied conditions than the Phantom, though the Classic's square tail doesn't do as well in powder as the rounded tail on the Phantom.
Where To Buy
Most specialty ski shops carry Rossignol skis. In addition, many online retailers such as REI.com, Backcountry.com and Trails.com offer great discounts on Rossignol skis.
Cost
Rossignol skis are priced between $450 and $900, depending on the model. Many skiers will wait until traditional start-of-season Labor Day sales or end-of-season sales to get great deals on skis at up to 30 percent off those prices.
