Rossignol Black Ops?

Glad to hear that Bandit and kid are loving the Blackops 118! They really are great.

Had mine out this week after starting the Spring like day on my 21 CT 1.0, then 184cm Sender Free 110 skis. Got beat up before lunch and then started to refreeze a bit when temps started to fall again.

Was impressed how well the SF 110 was in the heavy, then refrozen snow but did notice some tip noise against the frozen snow and wondered if the Airtip was at fault. After switching to the BO 118 the last few hours and still hearing a similar noise, I was relieved to know it was just incredibly noisy snow. So should be okay still on the SF 118 when it comes out too I think.

Just saw this video of Logan on the SF 118 in Revelstoke.

https://youtu.be/bw2FPAUrJ9A?feature=shared

Some stoke from Baker Boyd skiing the 118s. He says in the comments that he likes them at -4 to -5 from true centre.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3RLL...RmZjcwZmVxb3pw

I only took my blackops 118 on my trip to steamboat. They were good in everything that wasn't ice, but man they were HOOKY in bumps. I had them at -4 from recommended at first (previous mount) and moved them up to -1.5 from recommended. I ditched my poles and had a blast sending everything I could. If the hooking was smoothed out I would think they're perfect. Never had an issue with tip diving or anything, I probably could have skied them on the line. They were a little tiring to ski but I have a very lazy style so I was able to manage.

Those Heritage FR110 might be superior skis for my taste since they don't hook (no camber), or I'll also look to try those new Dynastar M-Free 112's since they have closer to center mounting. I LOVE the mfree 99's and 108s, it was just the mount point that stopped me.

5'10 140lbs 23 yrs old.

Serviceable skis for someone with my build, but it feels like the older crowd would be better off with a more traditional heavy ski.

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Originally Posted by scumpup

I only took my blackops 118 on my trip to steamboat. They were good in everything that wasn't ice, but man they were HOOKY in bumps. I had them at -4 from recommended at first (previous mount) and moved them up to -1.5 from recommended. I ditched my poles and had a blast sending everything I could. If the hooking was smoothed out I would think they're perfect. Never had an issue with tip diving or anything, I probably could have skied them on the line. They were a little tiring to ski but I have a very lazy style so I was able to manage.

Those Heritage FR110 might be superior skis for my taste since they don't hook (no camber), or I'll also look to try those new Dynastar M-Free 112's since they have closer to center mounting. I LOVE the mfree 99's and 108s, it was just the mount point that stopped me.

5'10 140lbs 23 yrs old.

Serviceable skis for someone with my build, but it feels like the older crowd would be better off with a more traditional heavy ski.

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Definitely sounds like a tune issue as they are quite surfy when flat and a blast in bumps.
Sounds like an edge high ski that needs a stone grind with a decent amount of passes to flatten the base and then make sure the base bevel is uniform tip/tail at 1 degree. Should be transformed after that.

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Originally Posted by noslow

Definitely sounds like a tune issue as they are quite surfy when flat and a blast in bumps.
Sounds like an edge high ski that needs a stone grind with a decent amount of passes to flatten the base and then make sure the base bevel is uniform tip/tail at 1 degree. Should be transformed after that.

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word. will give it a go.

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Originally Posted by scumpup

word. will give it a go.

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Ski Barn in Wayne, NJ is supposed to be good if you’re close to there. Tell the tech you think the ski might be edge high so they do enough passes to flatten them.

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Originally Posted by Bandit Man

Finally got out on my new BO118’s mounted on the rear line (-2/2.5) in proper conditions (8-12” of pow). My previous pair was mounted on the line and I didn’t really jive with them. The mount point change made a HUGE difference to me. No issues with float at all, yet still so agile and playful. I generously retuned the rocketed sections and the tails felt so loose in deep snow…quite close to Billy Goat loose. Still felt great on soft groomers with the rearward mount. I really wish I would have tried a remount on my previous pair sooner. Love these things!

Attachment 486983

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Something is just registering for me now.... you have these skis mounted at -2cm from center or from recommended?

I'm just surprised because if I'm not mistaken you tend towards directional skis in general?

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Originally Posted by Shorty_J

Something is just registering for me now.... you have these skis mounted at -2cm from center or from recommended?

I'm just surprised because if I'm not mistaken you tend towards directional skis in general?

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I went -2-cm from recommended, so about -5-cm from true center. It’s a bit surprising to me, too. I still really enjoy driving skis like my K108 and M102 in appropriate conditions, but have also clicked with skis like the BO118, Sender 110, and Blade Optic 114 (the first two with a slightly rearward mount) in softer conditions.

I blame KC. His promotion of all these youthful, progressive style skis has me all mixed up. [emoji6]

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Originally Posted by Bandit Man

I went -2-cm from recommended, so about -5-cm from true center. It’s a bit surprising to me, too. I still really enjoy driving skis like my K108 and M102 in appropriate conditions, but have also clicked with skis like the BO118, Sender 110, and Blade Optic 114 (the first two with a slightly rearward mount) in softer conditions.

I blame KC. His promotion of all these youthful, progressive style skis has me all mixed up. [emoji6]

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I also blame KC, but he just bought mindbender 108ti and seems to like mounting a little further back!

Everything is all mixed up!

I remember you sold some reckoner 112 recently and I wonder if you gave those another shot with this new feedback from the BO118 if you would feel differently about them?

I like my katanas at -11 and I like my reckoners at -5... go figure!

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Originally Posted by Bandit Man

Feel sorry for taller/bigger guys since this ski is so dialed.

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Honestly the length is what has kept me from trying them. A 190 sounds like it would be a fun ski.

Just scored a pair of the 98’s and agree the line is way forward. Probably need to move them at least -2. Weird, day one I was infatuated with this ski, but I’m about day 6 or 7 now and not so much. Might need a tune or a rest.

What don't you like?

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Originally Posted by JRainey

What don't you like?

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I think mostly the 182 just skis a bit short mounted so far forward. We got a bunch of snow that was layered up with different density. I wished I had been on something with a bit more float than a 98, not the skis fault. I always want my middle quiver ski to push up towards 6-8 inches as I hate over gunning conditions with the big boards.

I also got pretty tired and that never helps, just hit it too hard over four days and was sloppy by the end. The Black Ops aren’t going anywhere I just need a reset. At their best what I really enjoy about them is the flex and rocker profile gives them a little pop and playfulness, but when you stomp down on them underfoot you can still engage the short radius and ride out some mean crud.

5’10” 165lbs directional skier. Purchased a pair of 186cm BO118s after loving my 184cm SF110s. I mounted the BO118s at -5.5cm from center. My SF110s are mounted closer to -7.5cm.

Today was my first day on the BOs. Conditions were 6” of heavy new snow. They felt electric. Absolutely love this ski. It had me giggling with delight. It’s an amazing combination of stability and playfulness. The biggest surprise was how little I noticed the weight (I don’t spin).

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Originally Posted by Cagey

5’10” 165lbs directional skier. Purchased a pair of 186cm BO118s after loving my 184cm SF110s. I mounted the BO118s at -5.5cm from center. My SF110s are mounted closer to -7.5cm.

Today was my first day on the BOs. Conditions were 6” of heavy new snow. They felt electric. Absolutely love this ski. It had me giggling with delight. It’s an amazing combination of stability and playfulness. The biggest surprise was how little I noticed the weight (I don’t spin).

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Love this and agree 100%. For all the "these are the heavy skis ever!" talk, they sure do disappear under your feet, don't they?

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Originally Posted by Cagey

5’10” 165lbs directional skier. Purchased a pair of 186cm BO118s after loving my 184cm SF110s. I mounted the BO118s at -5.5cm from center. My SF110s are mounted closer to -7.5cm.

Today was my first day on the BOs. Conditions were 6” of heavy new snow. They felt electric. Absolutely love this ski. It had me giggling with delight. It’s an amazing combination of stability and playfulness. The biggest surprise was how little I noticed the weight (I don’t spin).

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Love the “giggle through crud/tracked snow” feeling of the BO 118 too. So fun!

Curious about the -4.25cm from rec mount on the 184cm Sender Free 110. Thought I was far back at -3cm on that ski.

Have had a larger buddy skiing the BO 118 around -3.75cm without issue. Skis longer with good float but still playful for them at that spot.

Regarding the -7.5cm mount on my 184 SF110s, I’ve been really happy. I was told by a shop I trust that this was the spot that a bunch of their affiliated riders were gravitating towards. I was skeptical but trusting, and I gotta say I couldn’t be happier. I appreciate the support on the front of the ski. It’s damp. It mobs. It wants to play. It will hold an edge in a big GS turn. That said it doesn’t want to make tight turns, it would rather slarve them. Not sure how this would change with a different mount.

Palisades is my home mountain. I’m not sure how much of the rec for this mount was based on the need to get some additional float our heavier snow.

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Originally Posted by Cagey

Regarding the -7.5cm mount on my 184 SF110s, I’ve been really happy. I was told by a shop I trust that this was the spot that a bunch of their affiliated riders were gravitating towards. I was skeptical but trusting, and I gotta say I couldn’t be happier. I appreciate the support on the front of the ski. It’s damp. It mobs. It wants to play. It will hold an edge in a big GS turn. That said it doesn’t want to make tight turns, it would rather slarve them. Not sure how this would change with a different mount.

Palisades is my home mountain. I’m not sure how much of the rec for this mount was based on the need to get some additional float our heavier snow.

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That mount would definitely make them float well, be nice and stable and ski longer. Could definitely see larger skiers who want the shorter 184cm length for tighter spots to like them around -3cm to -4cm.

Was on my SF 110 on Tuesday in spring conditions on a smaller hill and still impressed by their ability to make tight carves once you give them a bit of speed. Find they have an even lower “min speed” than my old 21 CT 184cm CT 3.0 did and as the softer tips/tails are easier to bend.

Still deciding if I’m bringing the BO 118 or SF 110 as the wider of 2 skis on a month long trip to Banff(Sunshine/Lake Louise/Kicking Horse) and Revelstoke. Will have to see the forecasts when I go next week but I’m sure either would kill it!

Just got my first real day on my new Blackops 118, mounted -2.5 from recommended, or -5 from true centre. In pow, they are a ton of fun. They bounce and slash and feel plenty nimble in trees. On harder snow, they’re a bit weird. I can’t drive the tips to initiate a carve. And they’re grabby on groomers, in spite of dulling the tips and tails past the rocker point.

But overall, really fun pow skis. I still like my 182 M-Free 108s better, as long as conditions don’t warrant more float.

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Originally Posted by D(C)

Just got my first real day on my new Blackops 118, mounted -2.5 from recommended, or -5 from true centre. In pow, they are a ton of fun. They bounce and slash and feel plenty nimble in trees. On harder snow, they’re a bit weird. I can’t drive the tips to initiate a carve. And they’re grabby on groomers, in spite of dulling the tips and tails past the rocker point.

But overall, really fun pow skis. I still like my 182 M-Free 108s better, as long as conditions don’t warrant more float.

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Don't you want them to be grabby on groomers? I find them to be loose in soft snow and one of the most fun +110mm carvers. My Billy Goat asym are even looser in soft snow, but way less fun on groomers.

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Originally Posted by D(C)

Just got my first real day on my new Blackops 118, mounted -2.5 from recommended, or -5 from true centre. In pow, they are a ton of fun. They bounce and slash and feel plenty nimble in trees. On harder snow, they’re a bit weird. I can’t drive the tips to initiate a carve. And they’re grabby on groomers, in spite of dulling the tips and tails past the rocker point.

But overall, really fun pow skis. I still like my 182 M-Free 108s better, as long as conditions don’t warrant more float.

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Sounds like another crappy factory Rossignol tune(edge high and/or low or uneven base bevel). Stone grind flat and reset the base bevel by hand to 1 degree tip to tail.
Shouldn’t have to detune any modern, non indie ski below their widest taper point and they should be plenty loose flat but properly bite on edge.

The MFree 108 will still always be looser due to increased rocker and taper with the Sender Free 110 being the more precise version of that ski.

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Originally Posted by D(C)

Just got my first real day on my new Blackops 118, mounted -2.5 from recommended, or -5 from true centre. In pow, they are a ton of fun. They bounce and slash and feel plenty nimble in trees. On harder snow, they’re a bit weird. I can’t drive the tips to initiate a carve. And they’re grabby on groomers, in spite of dulling the tips and tails past the rocker point.

But overall, really fun pow skis. I still like my 182 M-Free 108s better, as long as conditions don’t warrant more float.

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That grabby feeling was something I just couldn’t get past on my first pair. On my newest pair, I carried a gummy and just kept hitting the full length of the ski until they felt right. I like them now on groomers but it was a much more involved process than with other skis.

Finally mounted my 118’s after a year of sitting in the back of my gear room and got them out in some less than ideal conditions last weekend. So good everywhere, especially in soft bumps. Can see pulling these out any time the snow is soft! Love them at -2 from rec

Attachment 489078


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by D(C)

Just got my first real day on my new Blackops 118, mounted -2.5 from recommended, or -5 from true centre. In pow, they are a ton of fun. They bounce and slash and feel plenty nimble in trees. On harder snow, they’re a bit weird. I can’t drive the tips to initiate a carve. And they’re grabby on groomers, in spite of dulling the tips and tails past the rocker point.

But overall, really fun pow skis. I still like my 182 M-Free 108s better, as long as conditions don’t warrant more float.

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Interesting as the symmetrical dimensions make these totally carvacious and fun on hard pack or junky pushed around piles on the groom. Been lucky on the first couple pair that I owned and actually put a fair number of days on both never receiving a tune either pair and they skied with great grip the whole time. Rocks can change that of course. Not a fan of detuning. Had shops ruin pairs of my new skis early on thinking everyone likes or needs the same thing. My last couple pair of 118’s I didn’t ski as much as the first two as I wanted to try different skis and now holy crap 8 years later I’m older and while the intensity is still there
I am drifting toward other things and not skiing quite as much. Short story made even longer never detuned the last two pair and they raged pretty much like the earlier ones. Up at Blackcomb Base that computerized Winter Steiger automated machine takes human error by and large out of the equation imo if you feel the need to flatten and restore base and side edge’ to oem spec.


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