Ski: 2021-2022 Rossignol Blackops Sender Squad, 194 cm
Available Lengths: 194 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length (straight-tape pull): 193.3 cm
Stated Weight per Ski: 2350 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2412 & 2426 grams
Stated Dimensions: 145-112-133 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 141.1-110.4-131.5 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius: 25 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 56 mm / 26 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 3.5 mm
Core: PEFC-certified Poplar + titanal underfoot + Diago Fiber + ABS inserts + “Damp Tech” tip insert + fiberglass laminate
Base: sintered, 30% recycled
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -6.25 cm from center; 90.4 cm from tail
- There is another line that is -8.25 cm from center; 88.4 cm from tail
Intro
Rossignol overhauled their freeride ski lineup for 20/21, with the new “Blackops” skis replacing the long-standing “7” series of skis.
Now, before that happened, there had already been a couple “Blackops” skis — Rossignol just wouldn’t really talk about them. You’d see them under the feet of some of their athletes, hear industry folks whispering about them in back alleys, and occasionally see some specs with most of the info redacted.
With the full overhaul for 20/21, the Blackops collection dropped its cover, so to speak, and skis from the collection made a big, public splash.
That is, except for one: the Blackops Sender Squad.
During the initial launch of the series, the Sender Squad was technically a part of it, but info was limited and actual models were even harder to come by. But this year at the Blister Summit, we got our hands on a pair of these 112mm-wide, 194cm-long chargers (which return unchanged for 21/22). Similar to the original Blackops, the Blackops Sender Squad is a unique ski that’s designed for going big and fast, and it’s actually what sparked our GEAR:30 conversation about the skis with the best suspension of all time.
Below you can watch our Blister Summit Brand Lineup video (the Sender Squad comes up at 56:20) and Blister Members can check out Jonathan Ellsworth’s Flash Review for his initial thoughts on the ski, but while we wait for the snow to come back and get more time on this big gun, we wanted to lift the veil on it and dive into its design.
What Rossignol says about the Blackops Sender Squad
“Float, slash, or carve, send it on the Blackops Sender Squad. This is a limited-edition, full-gas freeride ski for pushing your limits. Athlete-driven design combines a wood core with race-developed layup and a wide 112mm underfoot platform for an energized ride that responds to hard-charging input for riding big lines and ripping at will. This beauty is handcrafted in our race room for limited-edition style.”
Interestingly, this description is pretty dang similar to the one that Rossi originally put out for the freestyle-oriented Blackops 118 (now called the Blackops Gamer). Some big differences include the Sender Squad’s narrower 112 mm waist, and apparently, its “race room” construction. That said, a lot of brands say similar things about their “athlete-driven” skis, so what actually sets the Sender Squad apart from its competition?
Construction
The foundation of the Sender Squad is a PEFC-certified poplar wood core, which is wrapped in Diago fiber (a sort of carbon fiber). There is a titanal layer for binding reinforcement, but it doesn’t extend very far outside the binding area. The ski also reportedly features Rossi’s “2LCT ABS” construction, which is essentially two ABS stringers that run longitudinally down the ski. There’s also a “Damp Tech” elastomer insert near the shovel of the ski for better damping. Lastly, it’s finished off with the usual fiberglass laminate.
It’s also worth noting that, like most of the other Blackops skis, the Sender Squad features 100% recycled steel edges, 30% recycled base material, and 15% recycled top sheet material. In addition to the PEFC-certified wood core, it’s cool to see at least some steps being taken to reduce the environmental impact of ski construction.
Shape / Rocker Profile
The Blackops Sender Squad looks very similar to its smaller siblings, the Blackops Sender and Blackops Sender Ti. The three skis’ shapes are extremely similar, with very little tip and tail taper. The Sender Squad does have a slightly more rounded tail shape, but other than that, it’s obvious that these skis are part of the same collection (their top sheets are nearly identical, too).
The Sender Squad’s rocker profile does differ a bit, though. This is most notable in the tail, with the Sender Squad having a slightly deeper tail rocker line and a bit more tail splay than the standard Sender and Sender Ti. The Sender Squad doesn’t have a twinned tail and it’s mostly cambered, but it’s still notably more rockered than some more traditional chargers like the old Head Monster 108 and Dynastar M-Pro 105 (aka, the Pro Rider).
Overall, the shape of the Sender Squad isn’t too far off from some other big, athlete-oriented skis like the Nordica Enforcer 115 Free and the original-construction Blizzard Bodacious. The Sender Squad’s rocker / camber / rocker profile is a bit more typical for a modern, directional, hard-charging ski.
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Blackops Sender Squad:
Tips: 6.5
Shovels: 7
In Front of Toe Piece: 7.5-9.5
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-9
Tails: 8-6.5
One surprising thing about this “athlete-driven” ski is that it’s not an exceptionally stiff ski. Sure, it’s also not exceptionally soft, but even compared to the Rossignol Blackops Sender and Sender Ti, the Squad is not quite as stiff at the very ends. The Sender Squad is strong around the middle, but there’s a fairly slow and smooth ramp-down in stiffness as you move from that midsection to the tips and tails of the ski.
Sidecut Radius
At a stated 25 meters for the single available length of 194 cm, the Sender Squad’s sidecut radius is pretty much par for the course for a big-mountain charger. There are others with longer sidecut radii, but Sender Squad definitely doesn’t look like an ultra-turny ski.
Mount Point
This was a big surprise when we measured the Sender Squad, and spurred some conversation in our Blister Summit Brand Lineup video with Rossignol. The Sender Squad’s recommended mount point (printed as “0” on the ski) is about -6.2 cm from the true center of the ski. That sort of mount point is what we typically see on more freestyle-oriented skis, though it’s not as close to center as the Blackops Gamer.
That said, there’s also another line on the Sender Squad that’s 2 cm behind the “0” mark, which puts that more rearward mount point at around -8.2 cm from true center. Still, that’s not nearly as far back as skis like the Dynastar M-Pro 105, Blizzard Cochise 106, or Head Monster 108
Weight
As we’d hope for a ski like the Sender Squad, this is not a lightweight ski. Our pair of the 194 cm Sender Squad is coming in at around 2420 grams per ski, which makes it one of the heavier skis around today. It is not the heaviest, and it’s actually a bit lighter than the 186 cm Rossignol Blackops Gamer, but the Sender Squad has the sort of weight we’d like to see in a ski that’s designed to stay composed at very high speeds in consequential terrain.
For reference, here are our measured weights for some notable skis. Keep in mind the length differences to try to keep things apples to apples.
1820 & 1821 Majesty Havoc, 186 cm (20/21–21/22)
1850 & 1886 Head Kore 111, 184 cm (21/22)
1910 & 1941 Scott Scrapper 115, 189 cm (17/18–20/21)
1959 & 1975 Volkl V-Werks Katana, 184 cm (16/17–20/21)
1964 & 1972 Moment Deathwish, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
2034 & 2052 Blizzard Rustler 11, 188 cm (17/18–21/22)
2046 & 2120 Black Crows Corvus, 188 cm (18/19–20/21)
2079 & 2105 Kastle FX106 HP, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
2096 & 2100 Salomon QST 106, 181 cm (19/20–21/22)
2097 & 2113 DPS Alchemist Wailer 106 C2, 189 cm (19/20–20/21)
2110 & 2119 Moment Wildcat 108, 190 cm (19/20–20/21)
2112 & 2125 4FRNT MSP 107, 187 cm (18/19–20/21)
2116 & 2181 Faction Dictator 3.0, 188 cm (19/20–21/22)
2125 & 2134 Kye Shapes Metamorph, 185 cm (19/20–21/22)
2153 & 2184 Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender Ti, 187 cm (20/21–21/22)
2165 & 2211 K2 Mindbender 108Ti, 186 cm (19/20–21/22)
2165 & 2219 Icelantic Nomad 105, 191 cm (19/20–20/21)
2182 & 2218 Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, 185 cm (17/18–21/22)
2232 & 2242 Blizzard Cochise 106, 185 cm (20/21–21/22)
2232 & 2244 ON3P Woodsman 108, 187 cm (19/20)
2243 & 2287 Salomon QST Blank, 186 cm (21/22)
2295 & 2344 J Skis Hotshot, 183 cm (20/21)
2302 & 2342 Dynastar M-Free 108, 192 cm (20/21–21/22)
2312 & 2386 Prior Husume, 188 cm (17/18–20/21)
2321 & 2335 Fischer Ranger 107 Ti, 189 cm (19/20–21/22)
2325 & 2352 Folsom Blister Pro 104, 186 cm (19/20)
2353 & 2360 Volkl Katana 108, 184 cm (20/21–21/22)
2397 & 2427 Volkl Katana, 191 cm (13/14)
2412 & 2426 Rossignol Blackops Sender Squad, 194 cm (20/21–21/22)
2438 & 2492 Rossignol Blackops Gamer, 186 cm (17/18–21/22)
2449 & 2493 J Skis Hotshot, 189 cm (20/21)
2495 & 2521 Head Monster 108, 184 cm (17/18)
2603 & 2604 Dynastar M-Pro 105, 192 cm (16/17; 20/21)
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) Just how aggressive do you have to be — and what sort of terrain do you need to be skiing — to really enjoy the Blackops Sender Squad?
(2) The Sender Squad has a pretty forward mount point for a big, directional ski, so how will those accustomed to more rearward mount points get along with this ski?
(3) With its hefty weight, wide platform, and long length, how demanding does the Sender Squad feel in tighter terrain like moguls and trees?
(4) At 112 mm underfoot, should we be thinking of the Sender Squad as a powder-oriented ski, a wide all-mountain ski, or something else entirely?
(5) The Rossignol Blackops Sender Ti also comes in a 194 cm length, so who should be going with that ski, rather than the 194 cm Sender Squad?
Bottom Line (For Now)
As we’ve noted many times over the past few years, we’ve seen a decrease in the number of big, heavy, no-compromise chargers. The Rossignol Blackops Sender Squad is a refreshing shift away from that trend. It’s got the shape, weight, and rocker profile that make us think it’ll be very good for going very fast, but then adds a mount point and flex pattern that make us think it could be a bit more accessible than its specs would suggest.
You can watch our Blister Summit Brand Lineup video, listen to our GEAR:30 podcast on ski suspension, and read Jonathan’s Flash Review of the Sender Squad for some of our initial thoughts on the ski. Then, stay tuned for a full review in the future.
Flash Review
Blister Members can read our Flash Review of the Sender Squad for our initial on-snow impressions. Become a Blister member now to check out this and all of our Flash Reviews, plus get exclusive deals and discounts on skis, and personalized gear recommendations from us.
That is an absolute monster of a ski.
Do I want to ski it? Yes, sounds fun.
Do I want to own a pair in the heavy PNW concrete and tight terrain I am prone to skiing the majority of my ski season…. ehhhh… not so sure. Although, and I bought this ski second hand based off of your reviews, the BO Gamer (186-118) is maybe my favorite ski ever.
Greetings, you must compare and contrast this weapon with the 2013/14 Volkl Katana 191cm. ( green ski ). I have a pair and I refuse to sell it because it is ( at least to me ) the very best freeride ski ever produced… Period! In my opinion, Volkl should re-introduce this reverse cambered classic ! I still get asked about these skis when other skiers see the Katana name but don’t recognize the top sheet. For me, this is the ski that can perform very well in just about any condition. Sure, there are better pow skis and better boiler plate groomer carvers, but this ski can handle such a wide range of conditions that it is a super and superior ski to most of the newer, lighter, and more user friendly offers ( that will stay mostly on the easier pitches and pistes ). It’s a heavy board that’s quiet and smooth even in the crappiest snow conditions – and that’s why I love it. An old patroller buddy of mine who skis on a number of Blizzard Cochise iterations once said to me skis are getting too light because ski companies want to widen the market share of a particular model that is supposed to be a free ride ski aimed at skiers that really don’t want or can ski a FWT contender. And that’s OK, but don’t kill off the truly hard core ski just for greater market share. There are still hard core skiers that want boards that you can truly fly on, and Rossi, with this ski offering is trying to fill the needs of this niche. BTW, when asked how to make a heavy ski lighter, just say ski faster!
Cheers,
D.H.Jensen
DH Jensen, I had that Katana and have the Sender Squads. The BOSS (seriously, Rossi made that the initials of this ski) is an updated modern version of your Katana. Think of it as the Katana is a 2013/13 Baja rally truck, and the BOSS is the 2020/21 version. It’s just been updated with modern tech and materials. I will say the Katana isn’t as demanding of a ski, that is only because it’s fully rockered and it slides around so well, where you have to ski the BOSS.
Thinking of the BOSS makes me want to figure out how to get to Chili or Argentina this summer.
Yep, given that he’s also a huge fan of the original Katana, I know Jonathan will be chiming in with his thoughts on that comparison once we post our full review & Deep Dive comparisons of the Sender Squad.
The BOSS! That’s cute. It’s definitely on my radar for a Kat replacement. It’s just so rare a ski that it might be impossible to see it in the flesh so-to-speak before I just order one. Lots of ski trips planned to B.C. this winter so maybe I’ll luck out at one of the little shops at Fernie, Red, Nelson, or Revy?! Hope so, and thanks for your input.
Cheers,
DHJ
Couple of thoughts:
Firstly, measured dimensions are oddly off, don’t tend to see that kind of discrepancy so often. Maybe you got an early version?
Secondly, I think there’s a feature on circular economy and recycling worth writing. Great that they are using some recycled materials, though the cynic in me feels it’s PR, kind of table stakes at this point, but what happens to skis at end of life and actually how long is that life? First buyer, maybe get sold on secondhand a couple of times. Then what? Tough to break them down into constituent parts; they end up in mostly remote mountain town locations so how do they get collected; and what happens to them then anyway? Landfill, a few Adirondack chairs get made etc?
If I recall, Technica had set up some kind of boot centre for recycling boots and I heard there was some scheme for skis being trialled in Europe?
I have demoed this ski twice now, wow, for a couple of hours total, first on a “day after” half a foot of powder, and second on the afternoon of half a foot (different day), in chop/crud. On the latter day, is was very good, so damp, but heavy.
I skied it on the line, as did a friend the first day also. To him, it was just a fat super G ski, super fast stable, and he said he’d rather just have a true racing super G ski, and left it at that.
I had a different reaction. To me, it made charging on both groomers and crud more stable – I felt like I was going maybe ten to twenty miles an hour slower than I actually was, and yet I was going much faster than people I normally have a hard time keeping up with, me trying to slow down these days and all.
I skied it on the recommended forward line. I did not think to shift around the mount point. From your podcast, I am tempted to move it forward to see if it gets more turny, like the Black Ops Gamer will at a certain more forward point, and like the K2 189 Pettitor did, so incredibly.
Have you tried moving the mount point forward to activate a more “turny” dynamic, as suggested in the podcast? I am really hoping you have and can let me know how that worked. (And does the Sender Squad thus become more playful, a bit narrower crud ski, a bit narrower and thus at times more versatile than the Black Ops Gamer 118 at a similar more forward mount point?)
Conflicted about this trend to fruitify the Squad.
I’ve had six or seven pairs in this lineage, from the original single-size Super 7, through the Squads, to my current Super 7 RDs… My RDs [“190″cm, 120mm underfoot, 30m turn radius] are a blast in all conditions; and have only felt like a handful in the backcountry touring on sticky days- which is obviously not what they were intended for.
Making this ski more accessible makes me sad.
Even relegating the full balls incarnation to a “halo” ski for special orders would be reasonable (true “Race Department” style). I’ve enjoyed these skis on four continents, all over AK, Canada, and the US and use them as my daily drivers. There are plenty of shorter, softer, smaller turn radius skis on the market already- leave us a few monsters to keep our imaginations alive!
Long live the Squad.
Sorry, but this is a really bad take on this ski.
The Sender Squad is definitely ‘more’ ski than the original Super 7. It is also ‘more’ ski than the Super 7 RD. I really disliked the original Super 7, and I really loved the Super 7 RD. The Sender Squad is different than both. But not “less” than either.
You ought to ski it.
The main point is: you can give a ski a *very* high speed limit by dialing in its suspension. That’s the Sender Squad. (And for antother example, see the Dynaster Pro Rider 192.)
Interesting – Have skied the Pro Rider & have a pair of the Legend Big Dumps (38m R)… Primarily responding to the shortening of the turn radius and narrowing of the waist. I really, really like my RDs; I just don’t want them shortened, narrowed, or made more accessible.
I get your point about dialing in a ski’s suspension- completely agree. I was saying I wasn’t thrilled about the 2015ish blueprint of the Squad Family disappearing.
I haven’t skied the Sender Squad yet, so can only comment on the preceding review, but the reduction in turn radius, narrowing in dimensions, and change in mount point implies a trending towards “more skiable”. More skiable is not a problem I have with my RDs… As I mentioned I’ve put hundreds of days on them in varied conditions and love them.
As for the Dynastars, I enjoyed the Pro Rider, and have a pair of Legend Big Dumps, but for a charger style ski with a GS turn mechanic, the Squad line has really struck a sweet spot for me over this past decade.
While the Super 7 isn’t a ski I take out anymore (still have a pair) eleven years ago they were a revelation; as were the 2013(?) Squads. The big mountain charger is a category I hope to see flourish, and the Squad family has been a mainstay of it.
As for suspension, if you’re saying the Sender exceeds the RDs on the more cowbell end of the spectrum, I can’t wait to take it for a spin.
https://blisterreview.com/podcasts/the-mt-rushmore-of-ski-suspension-ep-143
Holy hell are these fabulous skis. Railing groomers, the suspension is real and not “dead” but allows you to send it with confidence. The thing that surprised me was how capable these skis are in tight terrain. I ski Moment Wildcat 108s and have skied Black Crows Anima (both heavily rocketed in tail). The stability the squads offer while still being nimble is remarkable. I have mine mounted at recommended and find them playful, too. 6’4 200lbs. I find myself reaching for these over the wc108s more lately and that is saying something
Rossignol announced the new Sender and Rallybird series about a week ago. I’ve been interested in picking up a pair of the Sender Squads so I was curious if the construction has changed at all from the original version. Based on the features I see listed online, it appears the answer is no. It looks like only the top-sheet has changed. I prefer the older black/sand graphic. I’m sure Blister will eventually post more coverage of the new model year. Perhaps there are construction changes in the other Sender and Rallybird models.
Ha, I’m actually working on that post right now, but the construction of the Squad will not change for 22/23. From the Sender line, the Squad is the only ski that doesn’t have any constructional changes, whereas the other Sender skis get subtle construction changes and the Rallybirds stay the same, construction-wise.
We really wanna see that full review!
I’ve got two days on the Sender Squad and I’m really digging them. These things are weapons! I had to adjust to them, but things are clicking now. They really encourage and reward a hard charging style. For the record, I’m 6’3” 175lb, mounted them at -1cm of the recommended line, and Mt. Hood is my home base for skiing. I had considered the Sender Squad as a replacement for my Nordica Enforcer 110 Frees, which I like but are limited at high speed through bumpy conditions. These two skis turned out to be more different than I expected.
The Squads deliver big time on high speed stability and top-class suspension. The Squads are like riding a mountain bike with more travel. You find yourself going faster and tackling gnarlier terrain with confidence. Mellow terrain feels kind of…boring. The Squads provide a very stable platform for landing jumps. I found myself getting bigger airtime than I normally do. I do notice the additional weight and length compared to my Enforcers, especially when it comes to initiating turns in tight spaces (trees). That’s a tradeoff I’m personally okay with. They float pretty well for me in the 4-8” of powder I’ve skid so far. If you’re worried about this ski lacking energy while carving, then it’s probably not the ski for you. They’re capable but not exhilarating.
Well articulated, sir!
I’m very curious about this ski. I have a 187 black ops sender ti that I have loved for a couple seasons. It was mainly my soft day ski at Mad River Glen. Then, I moved and now Snowbird is my home mountain. Sender ti is great here, but an extra gear would be nice in my soft day ride. I’m wondering if this is the ski that will have the traits I love on the sender ti, but just that extra gear for really opening it up, and extra float to be the wide ski in my quiver.