2027 Rossignol Arcade 88

If you’re looking for precision and power in the same place, this is a strong option. The 2027 Rossignol Arcade 88 returns unchanged as a carryover model featuring the same shape, build, and graphics. They’re stiff, too, using a thick wood core and a metal layup to create pin-point precision and tons of power. Advanced and expert skiers will have the best time here as the skis are on the stiff and demanding side of the spectrum. It’s a wild ride, and tough to tame, so be prepared to put in the work on the Arcade 88. They have a short radius for how stiff they are, so getting a variety of turns is a bit of a challenge.

Rossignol’s use of materials is sophisticated but simple. By using a poplar wood core with an LCT strip in the middle, Rossignol keeps it pretty plain. The thickness of the wood core is what stands out here, though, as the Arcade 88 is a stiff ski with a lot to lean on. We also get a full titanal layer and VAS damping in the tips. The full sidewalls work in unison with the build to make endless edge grip a priority. The 178 weighs 1800 grams per ski, which is in the middle range of weights for skis in this category. It ends up feeling quite a bit sturdier and damper than that weight lets on, delivering amazing energy and rebound on any type of snow surface. That blend of on and off-trail performance is exactly what Rossignol’s going for here. We’ve found that the carving power and ability is off the charts in this width class. Tester Luke Miller, fastest skier in Vermont, calls it a “Great frontside ski that has a bit of versatility. Frontside for sure but excels especially when its a bit choppier. It plows through crud and imperfections. Advanced experts. It's a lot ski to move around and does best with a bit of speed. Might be strongest all mountain frontside ski currently.”

With a short radius and a traditional look, it’s got an interesting mix of build and shape. At 88 mm underfoot, this ski falls strictly into the all-mountain category, but it feels like more of a dedicated carver. This doesn’t mean it can’t go off-piste, but it excels in a front side realm for sure. The tips and tails are wide and not really rockered. The lack of taper and rocker contributes to the carving performance and leads to direct edge contact throughout the duration of the turn. We do see shorter turn radii even though the effective edge is long—that speaks to the dramatic sidecut of the ski. The 178 registers a 15-meter arc. We normally see that number on a shorter more front-side oriented ski, so it’s an interesting mix of shape and turn here on the Arcade 88. Tester Hans de Boer notes that “The ski is meant to make nice ski instructor turns. Start the turn at the top, and it really wants you to finish your turn with the ski going fully across the fall line before the tails will unhook. If I'm looking to try and make pretty medium sized turns with consistency, these skis are great for that. I really liked the middle/lower part of nosedive. I didn't quite have the rhythm for the icy nosedive turns, but I bet I could get them to edge very nicely into those. Very stable when on edge.”

This is a crisp and strong ski with performance written all over it. We learned that advanced and expert skiers will harness more of the potential while intermediates and progressing skiers may be set back by the stiffness. It works amazingly well on groomers, specifically in mid-radius arcs, but also can open it up for higher speeds and more aggressive skiing. It’s incredible how core thickness, a lack of taper, and full camber affect the overall character of a ski.