2019 Head i.SL vs 2019 Rossignol Hero Elite ST Ti

[shaneynice]

I'm deciding between these two skis. Has anyone tried both or spoken to reps at Head/Rossi about them?

Rossignol has a proper plate on the ski this year & it seems like the Head is relatively unchanged.

I'm 30, 6'2 / 200lbs & looking for a really fun daily carver with an SL feel & radius.... currently on a Head iRace (16m radius).

Neveitalia has done a thorough review of both skis but I don't speak Italian
https://www.neveitalia.it/materiali/sci/2019/rossignol/hero-elite-st-ti

Thanks for any insights & thoughts!

 

[KingGrump]

Chrome will translate the page for you.

 

[shaneynice]

Yea -- even with the translation via chrome -- it's still hard to totally understand.. Thanks

 

[markojp]

Haven't skied the Rossi, but own last season's iSL. Very very fun. They just ski well. Scalpels on your feet, and rock solid/predictable at speed. Tenacious edge grip, but release well and predicably. 5'11" #205, so similar size.

(to clarify, I'm talking about the iSL RD FIS slalom ski.)

 

[shaneynice]

Nice Marko, are you on the 165 or the 170?

 

[KingGrump]

Yea -- even with the translation via chrome -- it's still hard to totally understand.. Thanks

You are from NYC so you should have plenty of experience dealing with non-native English speakers. Just wave your hands and things will become clearer.

Synonyms:
Curve = Turn
Compact slopes = Ice
"shoot" at the end of the turn = rebound.

It's pretty clear for me. Maybe I've lived in NYC too long.

 

[markojp]

Nice Marko, are you on the 165 or the 170?

165.

 

[Tony S]

I'm deciding between these two skis. Has anyone tried both or spoken to reps at Head/Rossi about them?

Rossignol has a proper plate on the ski this year & it seems like the Head is relatively unchanged.

I'm 30, 6'2 / 200lbs & looking for a really fun daily carver with an SL feel & radius.... currently on a Head iRace (16m radius).

Neveitalia has done a thorough review of both skis but I don't speak Italian
https://www.neveitalia.it/materiali/sci/2019/rossignol/hero-elite-st-ti

Thanks for any insights & thoughts!

Where do you ski? (Question behind the question: How hard is your ice?)

I have not been on the Head. I owned the 2015-16 ST Ti in a 162. I am 5' 7" 135lbs. It's a fun carver but it does not have the grip of a race ski. Based on what markojp said about the Head, guessing the Rossi probably is a less "serious" ski, even with the new plate. Whether that's good or bad for you depends ...

 

[markojp]

To clarify, I'm skiing the iSL RD FIS ski in a 165. Don't mess with the non-FIS skis. They have even more side cut, are generally a bit too soft in the forebody, so they get squirrelly and weird. The FIS skis need attention, but they aren't the big bad dream crushers some make them out to be.

 

[shaneynice]

I mainly ski out west, Deer Valley etc... so not as much ice on the east coast... & interesting to hear... maybe the RD is the move.

 

[markojp]

... maybe the RD is the move.

Absolutely for your size.