Random Rossi/Squad thread

Just curious if anyone else wonder what Rossignol is thinking. They finally release skis that are 100mm+ under foot just in time to compete with every other manufacturer going into the 120 range. Come Fall even Dynastar (who has been slow to go really fat) will offer a ski that is 109 under foot and is a 194. It just cracks me up since my team skis are 2 seasons old (black and red b3 graphics) and they are the same dimensions as Squads. So does that mean that Rossignol athletes are going to be skiing 120mm waisted skis with Squad graphics by the end of this season? Just thinking out loud here. Fortunately all my questions will be answered when all the rockstars start showing up at the Bird for next weeks comps. Should get a good look at all of NEXT seasons mid season releases :cussing:

"This shape-ski thing, it is bullshit," said Rossignol president Jacques Rodet at an industry forum in December 1996. "A fad," he famously predicted in his thick, stentorian Gauloise. "And a stupid one."

I have been impressed at how well the French manage to be behind the curve on gear related issues.

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Originally Posted by MT

I have been impressed at how well the French manage to be behind the curve on gear related issues.

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To me it isnt that they are behind the curve, it is that they dont release anything cutting edge to the public. We have known for years that their athletes are getting the skis we all want, they just wont let us have them :cussing:

They need to re-release the Axioms(the wood core) and make them in 183 and 193. They were ahead of the curve with that ski and have since lagged, at the start of this year their fattest ski is the Scratch BC with a 98 waist and only 185 cm. At least they finally made their tele skis the same as the Alpine skis rather than just making it softer at least in the Sickbird. I think the Scratch BC and the Sick bird are great everyday skis but they are still lagging in the big mountain pow day skis.

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Originally Posted by Professor

To me it isnt that they are behind the curve, it is that they dont release anything cutting edge to the public. We have known for years that their athletes are getting the skis we all want, they just wont let us have them :cussing:

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Maybe I should have said that they are behind the curve on the equipment that is released in the U.S.A. If you have the luxury of getting stuff in Europe, Scandi land or CDN things seem to work much better.

Since when have the french been forward thinking? They thought a line of fortifications would hold back Germany at the same time the Airplane and Tank was becoming a major tool of war, They voted down a european constitution because they didn't want to give up vacation time and their Government tralks smack about every other country in Europe without being able to back up shit.

Well I guess we will find out if it is a "french" problem or a Rossignol problem. Cuz after this year they arent a "french" company any more. Although I dont think they are moving production with the switch to Quiksilver and moving to Park City. But it could be interesting to see what changes occur in Dynastar and Rossignol and the approach they take in the ski market. Oh and before anyone jumps in here and starts saying "but you have been wanting squads forever..." "Yes, I have and I still do." But they were ahead of the curve when I started looking for them and they are a bit behind it now that we are seeing all the big skis being produced next year. Not that a 194 ski with a 104 waist is actually small...

BIgger isnt always better, otherwise all the big mtn comps would have been won on line prophets the last 2 years.

Right now there is nothing out there that will match (as a big mtn comp ski) the flex & shape of the 189 and 194 Squad, Including the Legend Pro Plus; look at the sidewall height and you will know what I am talking about. I just got back from the SIA show, the pontoon looked fun other than that . . . not much, I didn't see Bro there.

It is funny how people are skeptical on this ski when it the new versions have been out less than a month. This ski is not for people who suck and may need more width to go fast.

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Originally Posted by Professor

So does that mean that Rossignol athletes are going to be skiing 120mm waisted skis with Squad graphics by the end of this season?

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Depending on who I run into next week I might know a lot more about this soon.

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Originally Posted by Slaytanic Weirmacht

BIgger isnt always better, otherwise all the big mtn comps would have been won on line prophets the last 2 years.

Right now there is nothing out there that will match (as a big mtn comp ski) the flex & shape of the 189 and 194 Squad, Including the Legend Pro Plus; look at the sidewall height and you will know what I am talking about. I just got back from the SIA show, the pontoon looked fun other than that . . . not much, I didn't see Bro there.

It is funny how people are skeptical on this ski when it the new versions have been out less than a month. This ski is not for people who suck and may need more width to go fast.

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Dude, I think you missed the point. and/or I'm not sure what point you're making. A squad really the overarching dominant ski for the big mtn comps? Certainly a worthy entrant but dominating? hardly.

One thing I do find interesting is that the poster who for a long time has been at the vanguard of big skis is now starting to shy away when some of the companies are offering truly large skis. <---- Pussy :cool: :cool: :p :p :p :biggrin:

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Originally Posted by lemon boy

Dude, I think you missed the point. and/or I'm not sure what point you're making. A squad really the overarching dominant ski for the big mtn comps? Certainly a worthy entrant but dominating? hardly.

One thing I do find interesting is that the poster who for a long time has been at the vanguard of big skis is now starting to shy away when some of the companies are offering truly large skis. <---- Pussy :cool: :cool: :p :p :p :biggrin:

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its more that manu gaidet is dominant and happens to ski squads.

i agree with the above as well...

don't really see myself on anything bigger than 115-118 underfoot... kinda small these days :mad:

i'm pretty sure m.g. could dominate on skis from a lot of different companies.

Somebody's been taking bitter pills... ;)

"look at the sidewall height and " wood vs synthetic, of course the sidewalls are going to be thicker on the synthetic ski or else it blow up sooner...having skied both i'll stick to pros,,,,

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Originally Posted by lemon boy

One thing I do find interesting is that the poster who for a long time has been at the vanguard of big skis is now starting to shy away when some of the companies are offering truly large skis. <---- Pussy :cool: :cool: :p :p :p :biggrin:

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You talking about me? I am not shying away from anything. I just wonder at what point it is necessary to have one set of everyday skis and 4 or 5 sets of skis over 100 mm under foot. I would love to try the new BDs and a few others, but the only skis that REALLY excite me right now are the EHPs and the Capital Punishments. One of those will surely be in the quiver next year :D

[QUOTE=lemon boy]Dude, I think you missed the point. and/or I'm not sure what point you're making. A squad really the overarching dominant ski for the big mtn comps?
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Let me explain, Dude. I didn't use the word dominant, you did.

The Pro's, a great ski, in the long lengths are not as stiff as the Squads will be. Not many, if any skis will be. I side with Profess this is now another must add for the quiver.

Hope to try a couple of the Volkl's I saw too.

:cussing:

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Originally Posted by Slaytanic Weirmacht

The Pro's, a great ski, in the long lengths are not as stiff as the Squads will be.

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Nah, but just like the Squad 98's last year there are some funky Dyna stuff around too. Some of the stuff I've seen in the feet of certain Dyna people would be up there with the Squad 98 if not better. Anyways, what comps are won in is kinda beside the point for most people as those skis "don't exist" anyways. Heck, I've played with "Sugar Daddies" that were bigger and stiffer than Squad 98's.

So far I guess Igneous are one of the ony brands who've consistently and for a while offered such skis for the generel public.