2024 ROSSIGNOL BLACKOPS 98 W REVIEW | THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST

2024 Rossignol Blackops 98 W Video Review

Tech Details

Rossignol Blackops 98 W (Dusk)
Category:
Freestyle (Women’s)
Length Tested: 170
Lengths: 160, 170
Dimensions: 131/98/121
Radius: 17m @ 170
MSRP: $799.95
More Info: rossignol.com

Test Notes

The first day I skied the Rossignol Blackops 98 W, despite the conditions being fairly wanting, I was impressed with how comfortable it made me feel in challenging snow. For more of a playful, freestyle-oriented ski, with ample tip and tail rocker, it still retained a sturdiness that allowed me to navigate icy chutes and chunder. But the real surprise came when Red Mountain Resort got a sneaky, unexpected pow day, and I found myself on this ski in 25-to-30 centimetres of fresh. Initially, I was gutted that I wasn’t on something wider than a 98-millimetre underfoot ski, but after my first lap, I was blown away by how much fun I was having. This ski was such a good time in powder, as while it didn’t necessarily float on top, it cut right through the middle, resulting in face shot after face shot. It would occasionally submarine, but it was more than worth it for the overall experience. The Blackops, like its name, expertly handled any tricky situation I threw at it, which made it an excellent all-mountain, all-condition ripper. —Kate Verhagen

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Pros

  • Lively, playful and nimble.
  • Stable at all types of speed.
  • Skied powder surprisingly well for a slightly narrower ski.

Cons

  • Deflected a bit in skied-out chunder snow.
  • A tad narrow for super deep powder days.

What type of terrain is the Rossignol Blackops 98 W best suited for?

Trees, the bumps, groomers and playing around in the terrain park.

What type of snow conditions is the Rossignol Blackops 98 W best suited for?

This ski was the most fun in anything from five to 20 centimetres of fresh snow.

What type of skier is the Rossignol Blackops 98 W best suited for?

Anyone from a confident beginner to intermediate skier all the way up to an expert.

Kate Verhagen

Age: 33
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 157 lbs
Occupation: Geologist
Years Skiing: 32
Preferred Ski Length: 180cm
Preferred Ski Width: 105mm+ Underfoot
Preferred Terrain: Well-Spaced Trees
Preferred Conditions: Powder

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Disclaimer

This review was independently done and the views are that of the author.

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