Rossignol Black Ops W Rallybird Ti Review

Rossignol seems very enthusiastic about their new Black Ops line of skis, but we are left wondering why they would discontinue the Soul series when they were obviously onto such a good thing. The old Rossignol Soul 7 HD hit the very top of our charts in powder and playfulness and handled incredibly well in every other metric. This new Black Ops Rallybird Ti is only just above mediocre in the powder and frustrated us elsewhere. It can be relied upon in soft, fresh snow but doesn't provide the versatility to compete in other terrains.

Performance Comparison

Stability at Speed

We could feel right away that the Black Ops Rallybird Ti has quality construction. In particular, we felt that designers built the tips of the skis solidly; we could move to the front of the ski and feel supported, and we didn't experience much of the dreaded tip-flap. It holds an edge well in a short turn, but it began to chatter when we brought it up to higher speeds and larger turns. It feels stable in a tight turn in the steeps and less stable in a bigger, faster turn.

Carving Ability

The Black Ops Rallybird Ti feels true to its publicized 16-meter turn radius; it prefers to make a tight turn. In this type of turn, it feels reliable to tip it on edge and hold it. Unfortunately, when we turned up the tempo and tried to carve a larger turn, it didn't hold the edge as well. However, we appreciated the feeling of solid tip construction in a short turn, allowing us to get the turn started with confidence. While it rolls from edge to edge with relative ease, there is not much rebound to help ping you into the next turn.

Powder Performance

When we took the Black Ops Rallybird Ti in boot-top lightweight powder, it stayed afloat well and easily buttered across the surface. However, when one of our testers took this ski to Alaska for some properly deep pow, it struggled. She told us she didn't believe the ski had a progressive enough flex pattern to handle any inconsistencies in the snow texture; she felt it was a bit of a dead plank, bucking her into the backseat. For the rest of us mere mortals skiing resorts in the continental country, though, the Black Ops Rallybird Ti was more than adequate. It stays on top for the most part in 6 to 10 inches of fresh snow. We just missed the ever-present honeycomb tips of the old Soul 7, rising to the surface every turn without question and guiding us through the powder field.

Crud Performance

Rossignol has used an “extended core” in the Black Ops Rallybird Ti, which might account for the ski's stability extending to the tip, unlike many of its competitors. The more reinforced tip doesn't get deflected and pushed around in unpredictable snow. Overall, the ski's performance as a whole in choppy conditions was good but not mind-blowing.

Terrain Playfulness

Our testers agreed that this is not the Black Ops Rallybird Ti's strong suit, especially compared to the old Soul 7 which shined in this metric. It doesn't have much zip or energy, and the rebound exists but isn't outstanding. It did feel light enough to get in the air and provided a stable landing afterward. The pick-up-and-go feel just wasn't present.

Bumps

While the Black Ops Rallybird Ti makes a respectable carved short turn, it doesn't seem to love a softer edge, making skidding and pivoting through the bumps a little harder than we expected on a 16-meter turn radius. That said, it isn't as heavy as some others, so there is still enjoyment to be had in moguls.

Should You Buy the Black Ops Rallybird Ti?

At this point, can you tell that we miss the old Rossignol Soul 7? The Black Ops Rallybird Ti simply does not hit the mark as a replacement for that legendary ski. Not only is this ski expensive, but it isn't versatile as an all-mountain ski, nor does it even excel as a powder ski. We believe it is better to spend your money elsewhere.

What Other Women's All-Mountain Skis Should You Consider?

Even though the Black Ops Rallybird Ti is one of the widest skis we tested, the more narrow Elan Ripstick 94 W is our go-to choice for powder skiing – not only is the Ripstick 94 W more playful in the light and fluffy, but it is much more versatile as an all-mountain ski.