- Rossignol Experience 86 Mens Ski
- Sidecut: 132/86/120
- Radius: 16 meters
- Full wood core
- Basalt Laminate
- Drive Tip technology
- Textured top sheet
- Tip and tail rocker
- Konnect SPX 12 GW Bindings
- Ability level: Advanced intermediate to expert skiers
A new addition to Rossignol's Experience Collection is the Experience 86 Basalt. Built with the same shape as the Experience 86 Ti, this ski features no metal in its construction, but rather uses Basalt in combination with a wood core to provide a very responsive and lightweight feel overall. It's always refreshing to see ski manufacturers using different materials in their designs to create unique on-snow experiences. The Experience 86 Basalt is no exception The shape of these skis beckons to the skier to make dynamic turns on groomed terrain. They have a bit of tip rocker, but for the most part, the sidecut is fairly extended and there is no early taper so you get a nice long effective edge that gives this ski a certain willingness to get into a turn. It's not hooky, nor is it very demanding, but at a radius of 16 meters, it does create a fairly quick turn shape. At 86 millimeters under the boot, it blends a carving ski with an all-mountain ski, and while this ski definitely excels on the groomed stuff, it's slightly wider platform and lighter build make it fun in ungroomed terrain and a fantastic bump ski. Overall, this ski does a phenomenal job at mixing a lightweight, playful and dynamic feel with a powerful on piste performance. It would be a great choice for a lighter skier, a skier with a slightly more conservative style, or for a skier who simply just wants a light frontside ski for carving but that has the capabilities to venture into some ungroomed terrain as well.