Rossignol Experience 88 2018 Skis Review

Looking for skis, whether you’re a novice or an expert, can be a difficult task. In the spirit of making wise buying decisions, let’s take look at the Rossignol Experience 88 2018 Skis.

There are a ton of options on the market, and it can be confusing to decide which is right for you. However, the Experience 88 skis are lightweight, stable, and give you plenty of edge hold, according to many of our testers.

Unfortunately, however, not everyone speaks of the best experience with these skis (no pun intended).

Some users found them to be problematic in cruddy conditions, too stiff, and unable to provide the smoothest ride when compared to other skis.

Nonetheless, before you make your final decision, let’s take a closer look at the Rossignol Experience 88 Skis. Are they right for you?

Rossignol Experience 88 2018 Skis: The Details

In A Nutshell

• Lengths: 156, 164, 172, 180, and 188 cm.
• Sidecut: 135/88/124 (for 180 length).
• Profile: Camber underfoot with rockered tips and tails.
• Turn Radius: 17 m (for 180 length).
• Level: Advanced Intermediate – Expert.
• Type: All-mountain.

Features

Auto Turn Rocker

The Auto Turn Rocker is a rocker and camber blend, one that features a longer tip profile to help with stability, getting you through the hardest of snow.

The profile also includes a traditional camber throughout about 70 percent of the ski, which helps with power and edge grip.

The rocker at the tip and tail assist in turns and steering, and this allows you to have the ultimate control over your speed. Overall, it’s very versatile and unique.

Extended Sidecut

The Experience 88s also features an extended sidecut to help improve your grip on the snow while reaching high speeds. Additionally, it increases how well the skis can be handled at a slower pace.

The sidecut is extended far into the tip of the ski, guaranteeing that more of it comes into contact with the snow, while also providing greater maneuverability.

No matter your preference, be it fast-paced or leisurely, with hard turns or soft, this set will give you the ultimate stability you need.

Wood Core

The core of the Experience is made of poplar wood and a carbon alloy. Not only does this make the ski about 30 percent lighter, it also makes it easier to control, simple to move around, and incredibly agile.

At the same time, you can still go fast and remain stable. Overall, you’ll never feel weighed down by your skis.

Laminates

There are a couple of different laminates used in this Rossignol ski:

Air Tip: The Air Tip is a patented technology exclusively used in Rossignol skis. The tips of the skis are literally filled with air to make them lighter in weight and easier to turn.

It also ensures the tips stay above the snow surface and help you glide down the mountain, the slope, or wherever you’re skiing.

This makes the center of gravity closer to the center of the ski and closer to the underside of your feet – meaning you will always feel balanced.

Carbon Alloy Matrix: The carbon alloy fiber helps in nearly every area of the ski. It assists with grip, precision, stability, and maneuverability.

This alloy matrix is actually a mix between carbon and basalt fibers. The carbon provides the lightness and the power, while the basalt helps with stability and shock absorption. This all results in quite a ride!

ROSSITIP:

The ROSSITIP is included with most of Rossignol’s skis including the Experience 88. This additional cap increases the durability of your skis by adding extra protection.

This addition protects against chipping and allows your skis to bounce back quicker when tackling bumps and obstacles.

Sidewalls

The Rossignol Experience 88s also include ABS sidewalls that run the full length of each one.

The sidewalls ensure you have the best edge grip possible; that you can be precise when moving on a trail, slopes, or down a mountain; that you have balance, and that you maintain the power to move through even the hardest of snow.

Rossignol Experience 88 2018 Skis Review

The Positives

Lightweight

You’ll never have to worry about the Rossignol Experience 88 skis weighing you down, even in the lightest of powder. Due to the air tip on each ski and the poplar wood core, this ski set is extremely lightweight.

There has been a lot of work done in adding features to this ski that aid in reducing its wait. The Experience’s light weight also contributes to its great maneuverability, as well as pop when doing jumps or performing tricks.

The lightweight build ensures you can ski all day without feeling fatigued, as it’s much harder to get through several hours on a mountain with heavy skis on your feet.

Stable Ride

According to most of our testers, the Rossignol Experience 88 Skis are quite stable on fresh powder and groomers.

A few users also mentioned that these skis are even stable when you put some power behind them. While you don’t need to ride these hard, it’s great to know they’ll respond well if you do.

It seems that the carbon alloy matrix is what provides this stability, as it reduces the vibrations you feel. So, no matter how fast you’re going, there will be no bumpy rides here.

Great Edge Hold

The Rossignol Experience 88 Skis also provide great edge hold.

Numerous users talked about how they liked their full contact with the snow, and they didn’t have to worry about slipping or wiping out while trying to do a trick or make a turn.

They also mentioned that, even at high speeds, the edge of the ski held really well. Your ski will have contact with the snow no matter what angle you’re rocketing forward at.

Amazing Carver

Almost every user mentioned how well the Experience carves through groomers and hard-packed snow.

Despite how wide the ski is, most users thought it to be top-rate at carving. The great edge hold means you can take on even the hardest stuff as though you’re gliding on powder.

If carving is your thing, especially on groomers, this is the ski for you!

Perfect Turns

The Experience doesn’t have the Auto Turn rocker for no reason. While the ski won’t turn for you (that sadly hasn’t been invented yet), it will help you make turns with greater ease.

Just tip the ski on its edge and it will require much less input and power from you. This is yet another way the Experience skis prove themselves reliable.

So, whether you’re pivoting to face your friends or swerving to miss a tree, these are great skis for maneuvering across the slopes.

Affordable Price-Tag

You don’t have to brace yourself at the check-out with these skis. They’re priced affordably, so you can have money leftover to spend on other skiing necessities.

For all the features included with these skis (including weight reducing specialty features), these are quite the steal.

You won’t be giving up quality for the price either. These skis definitely perform, and does it well, with a price-tag that’s easy to miss thanks to the quality behind the Rossignol Experience 88.

Great for Skiers Working their Way Up

Many users have bought these skis to help them perfect their skills to more advanced levels.

While great for intermediate skiers, or those just moving past the beginner stage, more advanced users may find it lacking on its ability to handle a lot of aggression.

The Rossignol Experience 88 isn’t made to be ridden extremely hard, instead, it performs best for less aggressive skiers who are working on tightening their skills and honing their techniques. It performs well with little nudges and doesn’t require a ton of power to be pushed.

Its forgiving and stable, giving riders the confidence they need to work their way up, and since these are all mountain skis, they’re perfect for adventurous riders who want to try their skills in every condition.

The Negatives

Not Good on Cruddy Snow

More than a few testers mentioned that the Experience skis are not the best on cruddy snow.

It’s best to use them on hard, cold snow. Anything that is slushy or chunky will not make for a good ride.

They may become unstable and will generally have a hard time cutting through that type of snow. If you like to ski through crud, these are not the skis for you.

Stiff

These Rossignol skis are also pretty stiff. While this may not be a bad thing for everyone, you must be an aggressive rider who is willing to put some power behind these skis and take control.

They’re not for beginners. You’ll need solid skills in your repertoire.

Not the Smoothest Ride

While these Experience skis are pretty stable and provide you with a smooth ride, that’s not always the case when going at high speeds.

Some users complained that these skis did not provide as smooth of a performance when compared to other models. While this isn’t a common experience, it is something to consider before making a purchase.

Overall Verdict

After going through all the positives and negatives, we do recommend the Rossignol Experience 88 Skis.

While there are a few negatives that should be considered, the positives far outweigh them. When skis are as stable, lightweight, and easy to maneuver as these, they’re hard to pass up.

So, if you’re looking to ski in anything but cruddy conditions, the Rossignol Experience 88 Skis may be perfect for you.

Where to Buy the Rossignol Experience 88

It seems like the Rossignol brand has something for all kinds of sports enthusiasts.

They have a number of products in their lineup from skis to snowboards and even mountain biking, the Rossignol Experience 88 is just one example of their accessible, affordable items.

Rossignol products like the Experience 88s can be found on shelves of retailers both in-store and online thanks to this brand’s popularity and performance over the years.

You’ll also be able to find accompanying products like bindings, helmets, and other winter sporting equipment.

While it’s always best to check sporting goods or specialty stores, you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• EVO (from $299)
• Ski Essentials (from $275)
• The House Outdoor Gear (from $348)

And of course, you can also find these skis on Amazon.

That’s all for our Rossignol Experience review. Willing to give these skis a go?