Alex's space

Skis tested 2003 - 2004 (recovered)

Update 2005:

having bought the Rossi Scratch BC (which are great still), I subsequently tested (then bought) the New Rossi 9s (World Cup edition), at 164 they are the shortest skis I have skiied on since I was a teenager! but they are awsome! as they are the real WC skis they are still built in the old fashioned sandwich way and the big bits of plastic you normally see on modern skis are just represented by a sticker!

designed for shorter radius turns they excel on hard packed snow and ice and whip you round so fast that they sometimes catch you unawares, however as my turn radius is predominantly GS (as with most skiiers) getting them to move fast in long continuous turns is as easy and exhilarating! as they were brand new half way through the season I did not take them off piste much for fear of stones but when I was off piste they did perform well (not quite as well as the BCs but well enough).

I have not tried the commercial version of this ski, but if it is anything like the comparison between the GS versions for WC and Commercial then it should be great.

well done Rossi

Skis Tested this Season (2003-2004)

Rossignol Bandit B2
Rossignol Scratch FS
Rossignol Scratch BC
Salomon Xscream hot
Salomon Xscream AK Rocket

also Rossignol 9X

First the Salomons, generally the go anywhere ski easy type of ski the Xcreams are still very popular, this seasons hot series are still in this gamme ..

For me the Hots were too easy to turn (not necessarily a bad thing) and for someone of my weight did not offer enough floatation in the powder. if on the other hand you want a general ski to do on and off piste and not get too tired they are good. on the negative side they only come with the pilot binding system so are v.expensive.

the AK rockets from last season only came in 195 and are great skis for a powder day. they only have one way of skiing and that is fast. off piste they offer tons of floatation and are also light for their length. on piste in good snow they were fine in very long radius turns but as soon as the snow got a little sticky the tails felt far too long.

Rossignols.

my personal favorites, I have always felt at home on Rossis and this seasons skis are even better than last.

Bandit B2, advertised as a true alround ski and did not disapoint in condtions varying from deep powder in January to slushy pistes in March they prooved great fun (so much so that my father bought a pair)! for me at 182 (typically the longest available to rent) they were a little unsure at high speeds on hardpack but apart from that fantastic.

Scratch FS, the skinner of the 2 scratch models and great fun. only got the chance to ski on them in march conditions in portes du soleil so no off piste but they were fast and carvy on the morning hardpack and soft and smooth on the slush in the afternoon. all in all a great ski at 182. perhaps best off all is the twin tip kick on the tail in the slush as it throws up a trail of snow behind you … great posing stuff.

Scratch BC, ok same as FS but wider! these skis are awsome (the ones i bought). float in powder, carve on piste what more can you want! i got the 188 model and they fly through the spring powder and rip on the pistes. some people have said that they are not too great on piste, but if you set the bindings back in the standard (not new skool) setting they are fine, you can do just about whatever radius turn you want at most speeds (although they work better at higher speeds).

Rossi 9x, GS skiis that do anything. these skis are stunning for on piste work and can hold their own off piste too. I tried the 174s and the 182s both great the 174s even held their own through some powder. both this seasons 9x and 9s are being used by the pros who might have been on dynastars, volkls or salomons before so this says a lot for the ski. (a massive leap on from last seasons 9 series – next seasons are even wider at the tip and look promising).