Great ski in the crowded 88mm class
Pros: Finess skiers rejoice with a fantastic ski
Cons: Speed limit, strong skiers can over power it. Snub nose can be a "plow" off piste.
Product:
Length Tested: 178
Dimensions/Turn Radius: 16M
Camber (select one, delete the rest): Early Rise, Tip & Tail w/camber,
Binding: Rossignol FKS 155
Mount point: Suggested (boot center)
Tune: 1/2
Environment & Conditions:
Location of Test: Winter Park Co/Sugar Bowl Ca/Northstar
Number of Runs: 20+
Snow Conditions: Packed Powder + crud
Demo or Own: Demo...now OWN
Tester Info:
Username: Philpug
Age: 47
Height/Weight: 5'10" 190lb
Ski Days/Season: 40-60
Years Skiing: 35
Aggressiveness: (select one, delete the rest): Moderate(Finesse)
Current Quiver: 12 Blizzard Bonafide, 12 DPS 112RP, 12 Kastle MX88
Home Area: Squaw & Northstar
Preferred Terrain (select one, delete the rest): bumps, off-piste, trees
Review:
One of the new generation of Rossignol. While the template is asking for "cons" of the ski, by no means are the items listed "cons" but more limitations and directions for who the ski is best suited for. The Experience 88 is a great intermediate to advanced ski for all but the strongest and largest skiers. The Experience 88 has a huge sweet spot and a very easy ski to ski. If someone is looking for a value 88 waisted ski with an on groomer bias, the E88 will be at the top of my suggestion list.
Other skis in class:
Fischer Watea 88, Kastle BMX88, Blizzard Bushwacker
12/6/11 Update: With the Tahoe weather looking dry for the foreseeable future, I started looking got a hard snow ski to add below my Blizzard Bonafide, a a ski that would also be good when we have the occasional houseguest. The Experience 88 seemed to fit the bill. I took the E88 out a few days ago and forgot what a fun ski it was. The early rise if the tip and tail are a great complement to the E88's shape and help Rossi create a fun ski for hard snow yet wide enough to ski well in cut up conditions. At $599.00 it is a great frontside bias alternative to the off piste oriented Blizzard Bushwacker. I mounted mine up with Rossi FKS155's, the single pivot little brother to the FKS18's.
