2023 Fischer Ranger 102 W

It was an interesting choice for Fischer to change the beloved Ranger 102 FR, but we think they’re pretty successful with the new 2023 Ranger 102 W. From a shaping perspective, with the exception of a bit more of a squared-off tip and tail, these skis are very similar. Construction is where it gets a little more interesting and different. Built with a full poplar wood core, we get one sheet of shaped titanal that gives the ski its strength, power, and dampness. In the 169 cm length, the Ranger 102 W generates a 17-meter turn radius and weighs just under 1900 grams per ski. This is a great middle-ground for a ski to be in, especially if it’s looking to do a little bit of everything but with more of a soft-snow emphasis. It’s certainly floaty, as the tips and tails are a lot more playful and flexible than the outgoing 102 FR, while leaving the mid-section strong and predictable. For a modern freeride/all-mountain ski, it doesn’t get a whole lot better than this.

Ann MacDonald skied the 176, noting that it was an “awesome length.” She gave it top marks of 5 out of 5 for all categories except for torsional stiffness and edge hold, so it’s safe to say that her experience on the Ranger 102 W was way positive. “Loved this ski overall. Rips groomers and powers through crud so probably good in the powder too. Really easy to turn, bend and very playful. Super fun easy to ski so probably good for a lot of the population. Definitely one of my favs!” The blend of attributes with the Ranger 102 W sticks out for sure, as Ann notes that it’s easy to ski, but very much a ripping ski at the same time. The ability of a ski to hold multiple, and sometimes opposing, attributes in the same run is super-important, and when a ski is capable of this, it gives it a deeper meaning for sure.

On the 169, Catherine Ferguson found that the Ranger 102 W skied true to size, and that 169 was a great length for her. She scored it a lot of 5’s, just like Ann, for flotation, stability, overall impression, versatility, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and forgiveness. Quickness, maneuverability, and playfulness all got 4’s, so we’re seeing a very high baseline of scores from Catherine here. She states: “I loved this ski! It was super grippy but could also hold up in the variable conditions. It was very versatile in all conditions. It does take a bit to get an edge so I would recommend this to an intermediate to expert skier. It was a ton of fun though!”

There are going to be some skiers that are sad that the 102 FR is no more, and with good reason—those were great skis. The new Ranger 102 W is no slouch either, though, allowing skiers to get the best of all things freeride and fun. Since the waist, weight, and build all fall right in the middle of the spectrum, it’s plain to see that the performance and capabilities will be found there as well. Skiers looking for one pair of skis in the wider format should take a square look at the 2023 Fischer Ranger 102 W.