Oh thank goodness, so glad these got reviewed before the end of the season! Maybe we have just a different sense of turn shape versatility, but I would at least say that the Forza 70 (and the Forza 60 I tried for a couple runs) has a pretty reasonable range of turn shapes . . . relative to my Blizzard Thunderbird R13, though maybe also compared to the Stockli Montero AX, which doesn't seem to cut as tight of turns. Compared to the Thunderbird, the Forza 70 feels more forgiving both to how dialed in you are to making aggressive short-radius turns and also more forgiving to a wider range of conditions, particularly softer, broken-down hardpack. Definitely a stable ski, though not quite as much damping as a Stockli Montero, and its 77mm width makes it more relaxed than the quicker, snappier Thunderbird. I guess I would agree that the Forza 70 is a very specialized ski if you're talking to skiers who ski a lot of ungroomed terrain, but I'm skeptical of what a Midwest skier would be missing out on going for Forza over Experience if your priority is carving anyway, though I'll admit that I haven't actually tried a sub-85mm width Rossignol Experience of any SKU.
@@wisecoonie Hmm, it's been a while now, and there are a lot of skis I haven't tried that are going to be more suitable direct comparisons. I had it out on a day with really awful conditions: loose granulated man-made snow on some runs and moderately soft spring hardpack on others, so I'm mostly going to focus on comparing the two skis I was on that day. I was mostly skiing on my Thunderbird R13s, but the Forza 60 felt a bit more planted to the snow and forgiving for the snow conditions. It's not as smooth as a Montero, but it was still compliant enough and adaptable to the conditions. The Thunderbird had a hard time setting an edge, either getting bucked around on the poorly groomed granulated surface, or it didn't have enough snow to push against in the softer snow. It doesn't give as much energy out of turns as a Forza 70 or a Thunderbird, but it's a bit less tiring to ski and easier to control, so it's maybe a bit more of a safe bet in a wider range of conditions at the expense of power and speed. I think intermediate skiers may not want or have need for anything stiffer or more race-inspired than something like a Forza 60, but the skill ceiling is very high, especially in very snowy climates. I wouldn't trade my Thunderbird for it, which has given me some of the most fun I've ever had on skis. But on choppy/soft snow days, part of me will wish I was on something easier to ski like a Forza 60 or a Montero or a Mirus Cor. Even if the snow is relatively soft, like in the spring or in "hardpack" conditions at Alta or something, a carving ski with less stiffness and/or some rocker might be a more suitable tool than a Thunderbird.
@ Thank you for the extensive comment, i have the Forza 60’s and for my level (upper intermediate), this is such a great choice. A very tolerant ski, easy to control, versatile in different snow conditions and it gives enough confidence to put the pedal to the metal. Very easy to make short turns, it really assists the rider. I demoed the Hero MT TI as well, but I prefer the F60 for its versatility and its forgiveness.
@@wisecoonie Oh cool! Yeah, for an upper intermediate, it seems like a very safe bet. Not surprising to hear we came to similar conclusions. Turning was definitely confidence-inspiring and pleasant.
that snowboarder at 1.30 demonstrating exactly why snowboarders are hated. the bmw drivers of the snowsports world. love that you're reviewing a narrower ski, would love to see you review the rossignol hero master LT.
I agree with your assessment. One addition issue I notice was grip in the steeps sucked. Perhaps it was the factory tune. Very well behaved and precise on green and blue runs. Great carver at slow speeds, but too specialized for me - and I unfortunately bought them before trying them.
I own these and agree. I got them to pass PSIA certification and now maybe to try them in club slalom. They are a ski you bring up and ski on part of the day. The tips are super cool and get lots of attention too. These do not work off trail at all. They are the farthest from being designed to to do that a ski could possibly ski (except for DH and super G skis). Good assessment. Score if qualified for just making perfect 15 degree turn like PSIA wants is 9 or 10. This skis is like a flagship ski. So well built. But yeah, specialized.
I spent most of my season on those in Quebec. They were quite fun and allowed me to improve my carving alot. The tip really pulls you into a turn (I got thr 163cm at 12m radius), but yeah it does feel very catchy if there's soft of chopped up snow. I was running to be first on the slopes in the morning and they make you feel like a hero on the freshly groomed runs. The edge grip was really good for me and they dont like smeared turns, so I was more hesitant to bring them on steeper slopes where I don't have great speed control. This will probably not be my daily driver next year as I got a Montero AR on sale recently!
These skis are somewhat easy to find as used demo in France for a reasonable price (around 350€ to 400€ with look nx13 used less than a week total). I got the hero st 167cm like that. As a former low level racer they're great to stay on piste when skiing with lower level friends. 13m turns mean more time skiing. They're obviously awful (but manageable) off piste. I'm curious how they compare to the forza, which look more like a stiffer/damper hero mt ?
The snow was also not great that day tbh, it was like 40 degrees and sunbaked, good in the shade and groomed runs, but kind of wonky where the Cats skipped.
Oh thank goodness, so glad these got reviewed before the end of the season! Maybe we have just a different sense of turn shape versatility, but I would at least say that the Forza 70 (and the Forza 60 I tried for a couple runs) has a pretty reasonable range of turn shapes . . . relative to my Blizzard Thunderbird R13, though maybe also compared to the Stockli Montero AX, which doesn't seem to cut as tight of turns. Compared to the Thunderbird, the Forza 70 feels more forgiving both to how dialed in you are to making aggressive short-radius turns and also more forgiving to a wider range of conditions, particularly softer, broken-down hardpack. Definitely a stable ski, though not quite as much damping as a Stockli Montero, and its 77mm width makes it more relaxed than the quicker, snappier Thunderbird. I guess I would agree that the Forza 70 is a very specialized ski if you're talking to skiers who ski a lot of ungroomed terrain, but I'm skeptical of what a Midwest skier would be missing out on going for Forza over Experience if your priority is carving anyway, though I'll admit that I haven't actually tried a sub-85mm width Rossignol Experience of any SKU.
What did you think about the Forza60?
@@wisecoonie Hmm, it's been a while now, and there are a lot of skis I haven't tried that are going to be more suitable direct comparisons. I had it out on a day with really awful conditions: loose granulated man-made snow on some runs and moderately soft spring hardpack on others, so I'm mostly going to focus on comparing the two skis I was on that day.
I was mostly skiing on my Thunderbird R13s, but the Forza 60 felt a bit more planted to the snow and forgiving for the snow conditions. It's not as smooth as a Montero, but it was still compliant enough and adaptable to the conditions. The Thunderbird had a hard time setting an edge, either getting bucked around on the poorly groomed granulated surface, or it didn't have enough snow to push against in the softer snow.
It doesn't give as much energy out of turns as a Forza 70 or a Thunderbird, but it's a bit less tiring to ski and easier to control, so it's maybe a bit more of a safe bet in a wider range of conditions at the expense of power and speed. I think intermediate skiers may not want or have need for anything stiffer or more race-inspired than something like a Forza 60, but the skill ceiling is very high, especially in very snowy climates.
I wouldn't trade my Thunderbird for it, which has given me some of the most fun I've ever had on skis. But on choppy/soft snow days, part of me will wish I was on something easier to ski like a Forza 60 or a Montero or a Mirus Cor. Even if the snow is relatively soft, like in the spring or in "hardpack" conditions at Alta or something, a carving ski with less stiffness and/or some rocker might be a more suitable tool than a Thunderbird.
@ Thank you for the extensive comment, i have the Forza 60’s and for my level (upper intermediate), this is such a great choice. A very tolerant ski, easy to control, versatile in different snow conditions and it gives enough confidence to put the pedal to the metal. Very easy to make short turns, it really assists the rider. I demoed the Hero MT TI as well, but I prefer the F60 for its versatility and its forgiveness.
@@wisecoonie Oh cool! Yeah, for an upper intermediate, it seems like a very safe bet. Not surprising to hear we came to similar conclusions. Turning was definitely confidence-inspiring and pleasant.
hope you keep the vids coming this summer.....thanks again for your vids
Thanks For Watching!
that snowboarder at 1.30 demonstrating exactly why snowboarders are hated. the bmw drivers of the snowsports world. love that you're reviewing a narrower ski, would love to see you review the rossignol hero master LT.
Yeah it was wild, he didn't even look
I agree with your assessment. One addition issue I notice was grip in the steeps sucked. Perhaps it was the factory tune. Very well behaved and precise on green and blue runs. Great carver at slow speeds, but too specialized for me - and I unfortunately bought them before trying them.
I own these and agree. I got them to pass PSIA certification and now maybe to try them in club slalom. They are a ski you bring up and ski on part of the day. The tips are super cool and get lots of attention too. These do not work off trail at all. They are the farthest from being designed to to do that a ski could possibly ski (except for DH and super G skis). Good assessment. Score if qualified for just making perfect 15 degree turn like PSIA wants is 9 or 10. This skis is like a flagship ski. So well built. But yeah, specialized.
Thanks for the feedback!
I spent most of my season on those in Quebec. They were quite fun and allowed me to improve my carving alot. The tip really pulls you into a turn (I got thr 163cm at 12m radius), but yeah it does feel very catchy if there's soft of chopped up snow. I was running to be first on the slopes in the morning and they make you feel like a hero on the freshly groomed runs. The edge grip was really good for me and they dont like smeared turns, so I was more hesitant to bring them on steeper slopes where I don't have great speed control. This will probably not be my daily driver next year as I got a Montero AR on sale recently!
Thanks for sharing! always nice to hear feedback from someone who has put mileage on them
I think the 70 refers to the angle the average person should be able to get the ski up on edge to. These are actually 77mm waist.
Yes 70 has degree sign, doesn’t it?
78 mm wide, actually.
These skis are somewhat easy to find as used demo in France for a reasonable price (around 350€ to 400€ with look nx13 used less than a week total). I got the hero st 167cm like that. As a former low level racer they're great to stay on piste when skiing with lower level friends. 13m turns mean more time skiing. They're obviously awful (but manageable) off piste.
I'm curious how they compare to the forza, which look more like a stiffer/damper hero mt ?
The Hero is damper and I'd say they're equally stiff approximately
Elliott back on skis… or is this pre-crash?
Ok… you answered my question in the video 😊
I was wondering why you weren't doing 'believable ski hero' turns - I guess 15m for a 181 is pretty short radius
The snow was also not great that day tbh, it was like 40 degrees and sunbaked, good in the shade and groomed runs, but kind of wonky where the Cats skipped.
Now it’s time for the “Rickety”… the year end ski awards 😊⛷