Rossignol Essential Open Skis 2024

The Rossignol Essential Open is a ski that's set to revolutionize your piste performance and the way that the ski industry operates. This is a serious tool for serious skiers, crafted with a high-performance design that mirrors the feel of a race ski, they provide unmatched speed and control on the slopes. But that's not all. Rossignol's commitment to sustainability shines through with 34% recycled materials and 39% bio-sourced materials. And when it's time to retire these skis, rest easy knowing that, unlike regular skis that can’t be recycled, 77% of its components can be easily recycled. Experience the thrill of top-notch performance while treading lightly on the planet.

Terrain Type & Ability Level

Terrain Type
A proper piste ski that's all about tearing up those freshly groomed trails. It's designed for speed and boasts some serious edge grip for all you speed-loving carvers out there. With its slender waist, it zips gracefully from one edge to the other, making those transitions from turn to turn on hard snow feel like a breeze.

Skier Type
It's a powerful ski with exceptional edge grip, making it ideal for people who enjoy skiing at high speeds and relish the opportunity to carve precise turns on groomed trails. This high-performance ski features an eco-friendly twist and is best suited for those with strong skiing technique and plenty of power in their skiing style.

Overview

Shape
With its narrow waist and hourglass shape extending deep into to the tip and tail, the Oversized sidecut makes it evident that this ski is designed for the thrill of the carve. With a 13m radius in the 167cm length, it excels at carving and can turn on a sixpence. Add in the powerfull full camber construction, and you've got a ski that's incredibly precise, providing the same shaping and handling sensation you'd expect from a race ski.

Rocker
Designed for on-trail precision, Rossignol's On trail Rocker profile features traditional camber through 95% of the ski length for explosive power, snap and edge grip, with subtle tip rocker (5%) for easier turn initiation and control.

Core
Beech wood's density and stiffness, combined with the full titanal layer, make it the perfect core for powerful piste skis. This combination offers quick response, stability, and durability, while the full Titanal layer provides a solid mechanism to restore maximum energy and power in heavy turns, extreme conditions, or high-speed skiing.

Construction
Rectangular Full Sidewall - a 90 degree full sidewall construction features a horizontal layering of core materials. This design delivers optimized edge grip, precision, balance, and power.

Key Features

Sustainability
The sustainability of this ski is remarkable, with a strong commitment to environmentally friendly materials and recycling. A significant 77% of the ski is recyclable, which is seven times more than traditional skis. A substantial 34% of its composition is made from recycled materials, with an additional 39% sourced from bio-based materials. Notably, 32.7% of the ski's core is made from beech wood harvested from PEFC™ labeled forests, demonstrating a commitment to responsible forestry practices. Furthermore, 35% of the ski incorporates recycled aluminum, which is infinitely recyclable. Rossignol actively seeks ways to reuse wood chips and collaborates with the recycling sector to repurpose plastics, fine wood, and steel, ensuring that only a minimal 6% of ski materials contribute to waste throughout production.

EB tester’s comments: Jon (Tamworth) This is one exciting ski. Unassuming in looks but bags full of character and a great story to back up its eco credentials. Fantastic edge to edge performance, will suit advanced and expert skiers looking for an agile slalom inspired piste ski with plenty of power but ease of use.

General Information

• Skier Ability: Advanced|Expert
• Terrain Type: Piste
• Rocker: Tip Rocker
• Radius: Short
• Bindings: Ski sold flat
• DIN: n/a
• Construction: Full Sidewall
• Core: Wood, Titanal Laminate
• Demo: No
• Sizing Description: Chin to nose height is ideal for quick responses and easy handling. Go longer for extra stability and wider, bigger turns.