Ski Reviews
2022-2023 Rossignol Black Ops Holyshred, 182 cm
Reviewer Username: James Meadlock
Reviewer Height: 5’8″
Reviewer Weight: 170 lbs
Reviewer Experience Level: Advanced
DAYS USED: 35 days
TEST LOCATIONS: Telluride, Crested Butte
TEST TERRAIN: Firm groomers | Softer groomers | Firm moguls | Softer moguls | Low-angle, off-piste terrain | Fairly steep off-piste terrain | Very steep off-piste terrain | Trees | Terrain Park
TEST CONDITIONS: Extremely firm hardpack or ice | Pretty firm snow | Softer, but not deep snow | Untracked powder (shallow) | Untracked powder (deep) | Soft chop / pretty forgiving cut-up snow | Firm, off-piste chop or crud
PERFORMANCE RATINGS
(0 = Terrible, 5 = Okay, 10 = Outstanding)
OVERALL IMPRESSION: 9/10
FORGIVENESS: 3/10
MANEUVERABILITY (How Loose / Easy to Pivot & Smear?): 5/10
MANEUVERABILITY (How Quick / Low is the Swing Weight?): 3/10
STABILITY: 7/10
SUSPENSION: 7/10
EDGE HOLD: 8/10
PLAYFULNESS: 4/10
PLAYFULNESS (Open Ended):
Not quick in the air (heavy swing weight) but it can be very quick on the ground with short turns, and is great switch and balanced in the air. It feels playful at high speed :)
SKI LENGTH: It felt just right (182 cm length tested)
THIS SKI’S IDEAL TERRAIN: Firm groomers | Softer groomers | Softer moguls | Fairly steep off-piste terrain | Very steep off-piste terrain
THIS SKI’S IDEAL SNOW CONDITIONS: Softer, but not deep snow | Untracked powder (deep)
WHAT TYPE(S) OF SKIER DO YOU IMAGINE WILL GET ALONG BEST WITH THIS SKI?
I am really not sure. My favorite the prior season favorite ski was the ’21 Line Bacon 176cm; super soft, very forgiving. I tried the Black Ops 98 @ the Blister Summit in 2021 and decided to buy a pair… they scare me in the park (not forgiving, easy to catch an edge) but I’m gonna try that some more this season and see how it goes. They make me feel like a bad bump skier in bumps. They make me only do a spin if I’m sure I’m gonna land it right because I am gonna eat it if I catch an edge… but they’re the most fun daily driver all mountain ski I’ve ever had; I love them so much! They seem to work better the faster you go.
ARE THERE SIMILAR PRODUCTS YOU’VE SKIED THAT YOU CLEARLY PREFER? IF SO, WHY?
PLEASE ELABORATE ON ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SKI. FEEL FREE TO GO INTO DETAIL!
It’s a snappy and predictable carver in really soft snow; It’s like you think about a turn and it’s already done it: https://youtu.be/XFHFTJ2dXmI?si=kFTe8uQIFtwGAfUM&t=12
It’s very capable on steep terrain even if I’m not. It’s a reassuring strong platform to stand on: https://youtu.be/ZYX0PE43j7A?si=HqvluCev4cOVGAKH&t=233
It’s fun on groomer steeps (this isn’t that steep but it’s enough to make most of my softer skis complain when trying to edge on it; black ops is great here): https://youtu.be/RRwQOAG03aQ?si=gRM8cRk1VzBilJEQ&t=34
It’s surprisingly good in very deep snow. I ended up picking this over my other powder skis {Black Ops 118, Deathwish 114} every powder day last season; I was wishing for more float at times but I love how it turns in powder so much: https://youtu.be/a2h6QhlMx6o?si=ohKauv80mQLBpvpj&t=313