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  • Love Rossignol BlackOps 118. Found Mindbender 116 ok. What else should I try?

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abjectwoe
May, 2025

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Love Rossignol BlackOps 118. Found Mindbender 116 ok. What else should I try?

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sean1397
Posts: 3 - Karma: 13
I am an ex college racer. Tend to edge and carve turns. Dont tend to slash or dance in skis that much (can but not preference). Have skied on Rossis and Voikls for a long time. I generally ski on skis 110-120 mm on all days. If it's rock hard ice I work. I want to try more skis, including independent shops. I absolutely love the Rossignol 118 Blackops. From powder to crud to groomers they work great. I also like the Sender 110 though not quite as much. Actually think the old yellow Sender 7 turn better than the senders. I tried the Mindbenders yesterday. Boy do they like to go straight. I could sit back and do nothing and crusie through powder but when it got steep I didnt feel my control was as good or they were as quick to turn as the Rossis. It seems I like a stiff ski with Camber. I have an old pair of DPS spoons - have never liked the full rocker though I may try a less severe one I am going to try the Peak 110s and the Black Diamons 112 or 114s,. Going to several demo days,. What else should be on my trial plan? Seems Im looking for stiff skis that are wide with camber, lots of spring, etc. Thanks!
4 months ago
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Liamsasd
Posts: 193 - Karma: 1,036
Try the anima from black crows sounds up your alley
4 months ago
1 1
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snorman
Posts: 174 - Karma: 914
Check out the moment countach or deathwish.
Also maybe the new salomon qst blank
Or Atomic maverick 115cti.
Really im just suggesting skis i want to try because I also love my blackops 118 and skied those as a daily for 2 seasons.
4 months ago
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7455 - Karma: 79,917
Nordica Enforcer/enforcer free/unleashed sounds right up your alley
4 months ago
2 2
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SupremeChairlift
Posts: 312 - Karma: 4,016
probably just get some wets, sounds right up your alley
4 months ago
3 1
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abjectwoe
Posts: 555 - Karma: 4,960
M-Free 112
4 months ago
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 5098 - Karma: 18,685
LiamsasdTry the anima from black crows sounds up your alley

I was thinking the Corvus, more directional and less forgiving than the Anima.
4 months ago
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snorman
Posts: 174 - Karma: 914
Non_State_ActorI was thinking the Corvus, more directional and less forgiving than the Anima.


Not the new one. From buddies who have skied it the tips and tails are quite soft, can’t really push through them. Mount point is also -5ish so not really that directional.
not at all like the old Corvus
4 months ago
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joog
Posts: 141 - Karma: 1,167
I feel like you might find the revolt 114s interesting, moment might have some good options but doesnt sound like you would like the wildcat that much, countach you might find intriguing though. Optic 114, rustler 11, maybe unleashed 114? Let me know what you end up liking looking at all these skis too lol
4 months ago
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Liamsasd
Posts: 193 - Karma: 1,036
Non_State_ActorI was thinking the Corvus, more directional and less forgiving than the Anima.


Yeah could but they are changing the Corvus giving it more tail, softing it up still a “free ride ski” just more like the declivitys now I guess but the revolt 114 is also another good one to look at for sure
4 months ago
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iDontHitRails
Posts: 292 - Karma: 2,824
I've been riding the black crow anima a bunch lately and they're so sick. you should give em a try
4 months ago
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PartyBullshiit
Posts: 4763 - Karma: 20,248
Another vote for the moment Countach 110. Gonna give you firm grip but keep that playful side available and with the wide shovels they still float fairly well for a 110.
4 months ago
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 5098 - Karma: 18,685
snormanNot the new one. From buddies who have skied it the tips and tails are quite soft, can’t really push through them. Mount point is also -5ish so not really that directional.
not at all like the old Corvus


Sounds like a more interesting ski to me but I don't know about OP.
4 months ago
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BallClapper
Posts: 3717 - Karma: 16,867
while the unleashed carves absurdly well It’s no where close to the bop118 when it comes to motoring through chop. Enforcer free 115 or old helldorado closer.
BiffbarfNordica Enforcer/enforcer free/unleashed sounds right up your alley
4 months ago
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7971 - Karma: 23,260
If you love the black ops just stick to those, it’s best to use the tools you know.
4 months ago
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jimbobs
Posts: 459 - Karma: 4,653
Koala 118 sounds like it has similar priorities. Not sure how close it'll be to your blackops, but my Koala 103s are stiff twintips that can float well and rip turns on hardpack, I hear the 118s are even stiffer.
4 months ago
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drifts
Posts: 621 - Karma: 4,508
I don't think theres a ski out there that feels as good as the blackops 118 does when its in its element, so far the most promising is the the blackops 98s but haven't tried them, or the liberty helix has been recommended but I haven't riden one to comment and the construction is pretty different being bamboo with no rubber. I have been a blackops 118 daily guy for years now and have been wanting the same feel in a narrow ski but have been wondering if thats what I really would want on days I dont bring out 118s, right now have a season nexus ive found to be really fun for firm days but not the same feel at all
4 months ago
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sean1397
Posts: 3 - Karma: 13
Thank you everyone who replied. I am going to go through these and try a number of them. Ones I have on my interested list include: Peak 110, Billygoat 118, Zag Slap 112, Cardiff Powgoda, Atomic Maverick 115, All 4 Black Crow big mt skis (cant figure them out so going to the Eldora demo day), Blizzard Rustler 11, QST Blank, DPS (cant figure out), Fischer Ranger 108 and 116. Elan Rip STicks, Meier Leaper, Voikl Revolt 114, Most fatypus, Dynastar M Pro, RMU Apostle 114, WNDR 120 Reason, Armada and 4Frnt (need to figure out), Katle ZX 108 116 and Paragon 107, Liberty Scope 110. Moment Wildcat, Faction Dancer 4, Armada Declivity 115 Anyways lots of demoing to do.

For anyone who cares ahout demo days, I ve found some:

Loveland and Abssin in December. (has icelandic)
Winter Park Meier Feb 20 21 and March 22
Blister Crested Butte Feb 23-27
Snowmass April 6-12
Purgatory March 8
Snowbasin March 1
palisades March 22
Tamarack everu Sunday
Eldora Black Crows March 21
DPS demos from their SLC spot
Icelandic - Denver HQ
Season Evo Denver
RMU - Breckenridge
Folsom - Denver hq
Weston - Vail hq
Romp - Crested Butte hq
Miller Aspen - Aspen
harvest - Vail hq
Praxis Tahoe hq
Moment - Tahoe hq

You can buy and try Peak, 4Frnt, Renoun, WNDR

Thanks everyone -
4 months ago
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sean1397
Posts: 3 - Karma: 13
Anyone who wants a spread sheet by dimensions, camber, and flex for skis 108 and up hit me up
4 months ago
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7971 - Karma: 23,260
Wow you’re doing thorough research lol
4 months ago
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sean1397
Posts: 3 - Karma: 13
It had been like 10 years since Id ridden anything but Rossis. Went through like 5 years of S7s and each width and then the blackops and 110 senders and decided there must be some other great skis out there. But that takes research!
4 months ago
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7971 - Karma: 23,260
OP I think you’d like this tool if you haven’t seen it already. https://soothski.com
4 months ago
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joog
Posts: 141 - Karma: 1,167
sean1397Anyone who wants a spread sheet by dimensions, camber, and flex for skis 108 and up hit me up


Ay bro send ts to me!
4 months ago
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snowmosexual
Posts: 1941 - Karma: 10,085
Dynastar M-free 108 in 192 are very similar to the rossis, but more suspension and a little better pivot. They are still very stable when chop busting. Volkl revolt 114s are solid missiles with great pivot, but lack suspension. I demo'd the new revolt 101 and those were pretty cool, chargy-est 100mm wide ski I've found.
4 months ago
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