There’s a whole lot of skiers out there who will directly benefit from a lighter, narrower ski for mostly front side skiing. The 2024 Rossignol Experience 82 Basalt is a wonderful option in this realm—well-rounded, easy to use, and yet still retains a high-performance quality to it that allows for more aggressive skiing. For years, the Experience line has been all about having fun in an all-mountain format, and that certainly continues with the 82 Basalt. With a fantastic blend of energy, stability, and a fun-loving nature, this ski is poised and ready to bring intermediate skiers into the advanced realm with confidence, poise, and precision. This ski returns unchanged for this year except for graphics, so skiers will get another crack at this ski, which we think is fantastic news.

It all starts with a paulownia wood core, and this adds incredibly pop to the ski while keeping it light and energetic. By harnessing the energy of the wood, skiers are able to get from edge to edge with ease and quickness. At the tail end of the turn, the 82 Basalt propels you into the next one, keeping that confidence high and the fun levels right up top where they belong. We’re also seeing basalt fibers running through this ski, and these add more to the energy without adding much weight. They not only add to the pop, but they also dampen vibrations to keep the ski on its intended path and course. In the front of the ski, Rossignol’s Drive Tip Solution also takes unwanted vibrations out of the mix. This technology consists of an interlocking of fibers, going from stiff to soft, working as a kind of a radiator to filter out the bad vibes. This results in a smooth entry to the turn, and it works quite well. For weight in the 176 cm length, this ski hits about 1750 grams, making it lighter and quicker for progression.

In the low 80’s, this ski thrives on firmer, smoother, and groomed snow. For the most part, most of us spend most of our time in these scenarios, so it makes sense that our skis follow suit. It’s a crisp carver with great edge grip as a result, linking and completing beautifully round turns with each arc across the fall line. We’re getting a 16-meter turn radius in the 176, giving the skier a good amount of control when it comes to how much of an arc we’re looking to make. Available in a wide range of sizes, running from 144 to 184, this ski is open and available to a whole lot of skiers. While there’s some rocker to talk about, it’s not that dramatic—the most interesting part is that the tail is widest past the rocker, allowing skiers easier access to the high-performance at the end of the turn at high speeds, while keeping it easy and not as grabby at lower speeds. The rocker is mainly there to help with initiation and completion of the carves rather than floating through fresh snow.

This ski is not only a great value, but it also has the performance to back it up. It’s quick, light, agile, and a whole lot of fun. Best on the feet of intermediate skiers looking to progress, there’s also room for advancing beginners and lighter advanced skiers who just want something easy and fun for general groomer skiing. Since there’s a whole lot of skiers in these categories, it’s easy to see why the Rossignol Experience 82 Basalt is such a popular and successful ski.