Freeride ski review(s)
Rossignol Super 7 HD 2018

Advanced freeride skier
Craig's rating of this ski:

Considering his skiers profile:

Familiar feel to the original Rossi air tip design

The HD in this ski's title indicates that Rossi's alloy matrix has been added to the Super 7. The new, black graphics are very attractive, with a new hi-tech looking honeycomb tip, compared to the see-through honeycomb airtip of yesteryear. I immediately recognized the feel, of the original airtip design, with it's light weight paulownia wood core. If you liked the feel of the original Rossignol Soul 7, or Rossignol Super 7, then this new iteration should satisfy your needs, with only slightly better damping.

Groomers

The new Rossi has below average edge grip for this width, even with high edge angles, and its carving ability at all radius is only fair. Turn initiation is very good. Probably best to limit use of this ski to soft, smooth, and consistent conditions. These characteristics do reduce potential chatter, offer smooth edge engagement, and decrease the possibility of catching a edge. Rossignol recommends 1 degree side edge, and 1 degree bottom edge for most of their current skis. Many ski manufacturers now use 1 and 2, which does offer a more aggressive  edge angle, and hold. I have used various, more aggressive edge angles successfully, to enhance edge hold on Rossi skis (I should  note that I did experiment with multiple edge angles on the Soul 7, and found the recommended 1 and 1 worked best). Two of these alternate edge examples are discussed in my reviews on the Rossignol Super 7 2013, and the current Rossignol Experience 88 HD, and Rossignol Experience 100 HD Ti. 

Bumps

The Rossignol Super 7 HD 2018 has higher, and stiffer camber underfoot, compared to most other skis in this width category. It also (even with HD construction) is a lightly damped ski, coupled with a paulownia wood core, results in the springy poppy rebound that I found in the previous Soul and Super 7. These characteristics detract from this ski's bump capabilities, and its performance falls behind most of its competitors, in this wider underfoot category. If you like to ski soft, or powder bumps, look elsewhere.

Powder

With the characteristics listed in the bumps section, the Super 7 HD 2018 will perform best in untracked powder, or smooth surfaces. It lacks stability in cut up, and firmer conditions. It's stiffer flex reduces some of its potential float for this width, but its wider front, 5 point sidecut, adds to it's float.

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