2023 Rossignol Hero Elite MT Ti

There are wider carving skis, and narrower carving skis. There are carving skis with longer turn radii, and there're carving skis with shorter turn radii. And then there's the 2023 Rossignol Hero Elite MT, that lies somewhere right in the middle. It's in this middle ground that a lot of skiers find themselves. They might not be on the local race team or anything like that, and they're likely a carving enthusiast who looks forward to the fresh groomers at the beginning of each day. This is where the MT really shines. In the 175 cm length, the skis have a 15-meter turn radius, which is shorter than that produced by the LT version and longer than that of the ST. As a result, the skis have that good middle ground, and it's fed by the 74 mm waist width. Narrower than the Plus and wider than the ST, the MT again finds itself smack in the goldilocks zone for carving widths. The mid-fat waist is perfect for a majority of skiers as it doesn't require as precise of a balance point but it's also narrow enough to provide some excellent torsional stiffness. Unchanged for 2023, the wood core, two sheets of metal and dual LCT all combine for a race-like feel but with a wider footprint and a softer flex than the upper-end race skis and this is a good thing for most of us mere mortal skiers.

Brad Schauerman, on the appropriately sized 175, notes the more one-dimensional nature of the MT, stating that “These skis are a blast in hard snow but terrible in soft snow and slop. Awesome edge grip very easy to lay these over and get them way on edge. Very fun ski.” Not surprisingly, Brad gave the ski 1’s out of 5 for both flotation and versatility, but 5’s out of 5 for torsional stiffness, edge grip, and stability. Benny Wax was on the 165, and while that’s on the short side for him, the stability of the ski made it feel just fine. He calls it a “Lively bouncy de-tuned high-performance ski. Great on groomers, fun, quick and stable!” Benny had all 3’s and 4’s on his card, showing a bit more well-rounded spread than Brad.

Greg Petrics was on the 175, and notes that he’d choose that length for himself. He scored top marks of 5’s out of 5 for overall impression and playfulness, with lower scores of 3 for flotation and flotation. “This ski is a toned-down version of the Hero Master ST, and I really liked it, but found the speed limit pretty quickly. The personality is that it wants to be on firm snow that's been recently groomed, but it has a soft enough tip to cut through some chopped up pisted snow. The ski is best for advanced intermediates looking to make the step towards a race room inspired ski. This ski won't be suitable for someone looking for an off-piste "all-around" ski.” It’s great to get an accomplished carver like Greg’s feedback on these skis as this is the skier that they’re really catering to.

There's a lot to like about the Rossignol Hero Elite MT, as the multi-turning ability of the skis is second to none in its class. The Line Control Technology combined with the dampness of the ski creates a lovely mix of power and precision. They're quick as well, so be sure to come prepared to keep up with the high levels of intensity that they're going to give off.