I've run on Rossi 7SK starting in 1998 until about 2014 and Rossi 9S from 2005 to present. They were cheap at a local ski shop because no one wanted them; I figured they were high quality skis and if racers could carve on them, I could learn to as well. (It's a variant of being a Luddite about shaped skis, except I had a rational reason (rational can be wrong, but it was rational as opposed to just not liking something because it's new (nevermind a threat to established practice)). No apologies, it worked for me.)
What I believe I got out of them is equipment that could always do more than I was able to ask of it (which I've been fortunate to have, in several venues, and always appreciated). Particularly in terms of pushing energy in and then getting it back out at the end of a turn or other maneuver. (Simply: I could feel the power in the skis, in their construction.)
I now have an opportunity to buy some new skis, I'm looking to go notably shorter, and get something with notable sidecut (I've demo'd Head i-speeds, Volkl Deacon & RTM, Rossi Hero ??, Fischer Curv). My question is, will any build other than the racing lines have the same kind of construction and give the same kind of torsional stiffness and energy return ? I'm a lay consumer, so for example I have a lay understanding that a layer of titanal above and below the wood core is good for torsional stiffness.
Don't misinterpret that I'm looking for race skis even though I'm not a racer. Rather, I want the qualities I've experienced in race skis, and will be happy if I can find them in a "lower" grade of ski. But if not, I'm inclined to go with race skis again. (My lay impression is that just like in Formula1 auto racing and high-perf computing, the top of the tech artform drives technology development down the product pyramid, but that dissipates down the line, and if you want those qualities, you might as well get as close to the area in the product lines where they're available, as you can.)
Particularly looking for comments about Atomic, Head, Rossi lines & grades, or your suggestions about models of other brands to look at.
Thanks!
I'm a northeastern frontside skier, BTW. It is what it is...
What I believe I got out of them is equipment that could always do more than I was able to ask of it (which I've been fortunate to have, in several venues, and always appreciated). Particularly in terms of pushing energy in and then getting it back out at the end of a turn or other maneuver. (Simply: I could feel the power in the skis, in their construction.)
I now have an opportunity to buy some new skis, I'm looking to go notably shorter, and get something with notable sidecut (I've demo'd Head i-speeds, Volkl Deacon & RTM, Rossi Hero ??, Fischer Curv). My question is, will any build other than the racing lines have the same kind of construction and give the same kind of torsional stiffness and energy return ? I'm a lay consumer, so for example I have a lay understanding that a layer of titanal above and below the wood core is good for torsional stiffness.
Don't misinterpret that I'm looking for race skis even though I'm not a racer. Rather, I want the qualities I've experienced in race skis, and will be happy if I can find them in a "lower" grade of ski. But if not, I'm inclined to go with race skis again. (My lay impression is that just like in Formula1 auto racing and high-perf computing, the top of the tech artform drives technology development down the product pyramid, but that dissipates down the line, and if you want those qualities, you might as well get as close to the area in the product lines where they're available, as you can.)
Particularly looking for comments about Atomic, Head, Rossi lines & grades, or your suggestions about models of other brands to look at.
Thanks!
I'm a northeastern frontside skier, BTW. It is what it is...