Ski: 2019-2020 Rossignol Super 7 RD, 190 cm
Actual Length (straight tape pull): 186.2 cm
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2126 & 2173 grams
Stated Dimensions (mm): 145-120-126
Blister’s Measured Dimensions (mm): 143.5-118.5-127
Stated Sidecut Radius: 30 meters
Core Construction: Paulownia + Carbon/Basalt Laminate
Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 79 mm / 31 mm
Traditional Camber Underfoot: ~4-5 mm
Factory Recommended Mount Point:
- “All Mountain” = -5.8 cm from center; 87.3 cm from tail
- “Freeride” = -7.8 cm from center; 85.3 cm from tail
Blister Recommended Mount Point: “All-Mountain” line
Test Locations: Arapahoe Basin, CO; Taos, NM
Days Tested (Total): 9
[Note: Our review was conducted on the 17/18 Super 7 RD, which was not changed for 18/19 or 19/20, apart from graphics.]
Intro
For 2017-2018, Rossignol is switching up every ski in their “7” series lineup, except for the Super 7 RD. And we are quite happy to have the Super 7 RD come back unchanged, aside from a graphics update.
We presented some of our initial conclusions about the Super 7 RD in our 16/17 Winter Buyer’s Guide, and in our Deep Dive of the Salomon QST 118 (which also comes back unchanged for 17/18), I talked about how the QST 118 compares to the Super 7 HD and the Super 7 RD.
But let’s make sure we’re all clear on the whole “Super 7 HD” vs. “Super 7 RD” thing.
HD vs. RD
For the 16/17 season, the Super 7 “RD” replaced the Rossignol Squad 7. The “Squad” moniker had a long run in Rossi’s modern-day history, and the name has served to signify Rossi’s big mountain ski with a big sidecut radius.
And so, for 17/18:
Super 7 HD = For 16/17, this is a tweaked version of Rossignol’s 15/16 Super 7. And next season (17/18), this ski gets updated again (as does the Rossignol Soul 7 HD), and we’ll say more down the road about those updates.
Super 7 RD = The 16/17 & 17/18 Super 7 RD is a tweaked version of the 15/16 Squad 7, and we think the new ski is a clear improvement over the 15/16 version.
Over the years (and in keeping with modern trends), the weight of the Squad has decreased, and given its length and width, the latest Super 7 RD is coming in pretty light.
Flex Pattern:
I’d sum up the flex pattern of the Super 7 RD like this:
Tips: 6
Underfoot: 10
Tails: 7-8
I’d also say that this is a really nice flex pattern. When I call the tips a “6”, that is at the very front of the ski, and the ski then ramps up consistently and evenly from 6 to 10 without any hinge points.
And the same is true for the back of the ski — that “10” underfoot holds behind the heel piece, then smoothly softens to about a “7” at the blue portion of the tail.
Some Important Questions about the 16/17 & 17/18 Super 7 RD:
What does the shape, construction, weight, and flex pattern of this ski all add up to on snow?
How does the 16/17 & 17/18 Super 7 RD compare to the 15/16 Squad 7?
How does the Super 7 RD stack up against the other ~118mm-wide, big mountain / big sidecut skis out there?
We’ve already answered some of these questions in our Buyer’s Guide and Deep Dive article mentioned above, and we are now just waiting to catch another storm cycle to A/B the Super 7 HD & RD in deep snow. Thankfully, that storm finally arrived, so now, here is our full review of the Super 7 RD…
NEXT: The Review — 16/17 – 17/18 Rossignol Super 7 RD
Sounds like this ski could be very similar to the all new Armada Tracer 118Chx. Any plans to review?
No immediate plans, George, but we’ll put it on the list.
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for the great review. How would you say this ski compares to the Praxis Protest?
Cheers,
Davyn
Great review, it seems like the Super 7 RD and QST 118 are quite similar. I’m just curious as to why is seems like this review is much more positive than the QST 118. Or are the skis not that similar?
Thank you, Jason. And while I fear this may be an unhelpful response … I think Paul and I have both accurately laid out how both of these skis perform on snow. So in that sense, the two (long) reviews are themselves the answer to your question about how similar / different the two skis are. But the short answer (which Paul points out in his review) is that the QST 118 is a more powder-specific ski than a good number of ~118mm-wide skis we’ve reviewed. Which makes sense, given that it is the replacement of the Salomon Rocker2 122.
This summer, I bought the Super 7 RD on the strength of your reviews, mostly. No demo.
Today I went to the ski industry demo at Loveland Basin, all the brand reps there, including two from Rossignol. I asked if the RD skied like the honeycomb (blue) Squad 7. I told them I’d just gotten the RD, but my fear was that it might ski too much like the honeycomb, blue Squad 7 (see below).
They told me it was that same Squad 7, mostly no difference except cosmetics. Construction and shape were the same. (Never mind that it’s about 150 gm lighter, and paulownia plus carbon & basalt laminate instead of poplar?) They went into further detail also, but I only half remember it.
They said I should have gotten another ski, possibly the Black Ops, which was their ski of choice: playful charger, they said. (And that ski, they said, was actually made by modifying the older, pre-honeycomb, heavier Squad 7.)
I’d read your RD reviews, and so was incredulous. I asked them the same questions in a bunch of different ways, and got the same answers.
Yikes!
I’d read your review and deep dives on this ski (including deep dives on it and the QST 118 comparing it to the RD) and it sounded very interesting. It seemed like the RD had solved the reported problems with the Squad 7 (tips “walling off”/stalling on jumps and on abrupt transitions in lots of snow unless mounted back; and “stuck tails” at turning when wanting quicker maneuverability, esp. in powder bumps: both problems I too experienced when demoing the Squad 7).
Having lots of “pop” to go along with float seemed especially appealing to me about the RD, though I’d use that pop, I’m guessing, in mogul turning, and up and down fun rather than lots of bigger jumps.
[But will they want to go too fast for me, to do these things that sound so good? That too has been my reservation. Note: My Katanas 184 & 191, and Bibby Pro 184s don’t need too much speed for me.]
So, as I said, I got a pair this summer, and have looked forward to trying them if and when the snow gets deeper.
Please, are these Rossi reps just ill-informed about their own ski????????
As usual, you guys nailed it with this review. I have three days on them in PNW rain, powder, and heavy powder. Best ski I’ve owned, and glad I pulled the trigger based on Sam’s recommendation and your reviews. The ski is surprisingly easy to ski and very predictable, stable enough through chop, not hooky, and can also pivot/slash really easily in powder or on groomers. The camber and pop makes bouncing around in powder a blast. Really quick for a 190 ski with a 120 waist, but the long turn radius allows it to go straight and fast too. Very fun ski, even on groomers.
Just for reference, I skied both the 190 and 184 Bibby pros for two years and never totally loved either one. The 190 is definitely more ski and damper than the RD, but the RD has much better float than the 184 and I think just as versatile. So, if you want an easier going Bibby 190, I would definitely recommend the RD (hopefully Rossi keeps making it).
I also had a pair of K2 Mindbender 116s to start off this season, but found them too soft in the tip for my liking. They are really good at short radius turns and have good float in powder, but the RD has a more consistent stiffer flex and a lot more pop. If you like to go fast and straight, the RD is a much better call.
Hey Man!
Did you mount the ski at the „all-mountain“ line?
Just wondering how many of you have these and weighed them?
I just picked up a brand new pair of 17/18’s and on my scale one is 2275 and the other 2315!?!? That is a far cry from the weights Blister measured on the pair of 17/18’s they tested.
I wanted to put Shifts on them (likely still will) for slackcountry stuff, but the extra heft certainly surprised me.