Pico Mountain, Vermont
The Mamas took to the slopes at Pico Mountain in January to test Rossignol’s latest ski and snowboard lineup at an industry demo day. With groomed runs, solid coverage, and classic Vermont variability — packed powder, sugar snow, and firm patches — it was the perfect proving ground.
Our testers ranged from beginner to advanced, giving us a well-rounded look at how each model performs across ability levels and terrain. Here’s what stood out.
The Arcade Line
Ski Type: Playful All-Mountain (Intermediate → Advanced)
The Rossignol Arcade line is built for skiers who want versatility, responsiveness, and confidence without stepping into a demanding race ski. Smooth, intuitive, and dependable, these skis are ideal for progressing skiers and strong resort riders alike.
Arcade 82
Overview:
A stable, approachable all-mountain ski with a wood core and carbon beam reinforcement, offering strong edge grip and smooth carving.
Leah started her day on the 82s and immediately felt at ease.
“They felt less bouncy than the skis I own and helped me feel like a more fluid skier.”
The vertical sidewall construction delivered noticeable stability on packed and icy snow. For Leah, a beginner/intermediate skier, the 82 felt “intermediate aspirational” — supportive while still encouraging progression.
Bottom Line: A smooth, confidence-building ski for advancing intermediates who want reliability and room to grow.
Arcade 80
Overview:
Slightly narrower and quicker edge-to-edge than the 82, the Arcade 80 offers crisp transitions and energetic turns — especially on firm groomers.
“It felt carefree and easy to whip these ski tips around on patches of hard pack.”
Leah described the 80 as the slightly wilder sibling — quicker to initiate turns and eager to gain speed. The narrower waist made tighter, faster turns feel intuitive and fun.
Bottom Line: A nimble, playful all-mountain ski for skiers who like crisp carving and quick transitions.
Arcade 88
Overview:
The wider member of the Arcade family, built for added versatility and edge hold in variable terrain.
Jen tested the 88 in firm Vermont conditions and dropped into a hard, icy black diamond to see what it could do.
“Edge grip was excellent, even in an icy chute where I would normally expect some slide.”
While not designed as a full-on charger, the Arcade 88 delivered reassuring stability and control when things got steep and firm.
Bottom Line: A dependable all-mountain ski for strong intermediates and advanced skiers who prioritize edge security and control over top-end aggression.
The Nova Line
Ski Type: Women’s Frontside / Groomer-Focused (Beginner → Advanced)
Rossignol’s Nova line is designed for women who love carving groomers with smooth precision and stability at speed — without the demanding feel of a race ski.
Nova (156 cm)
Mama Chi stepped up to a 156 cm — longer than her usual 149 cm — and was pleasantly surprised.
“These were surprisingly easy to maneuver… I felt stable and smooth throughout the run.”
Even in spring-like, variable conditions on Pico’s 49er run, the Nova felt composed and predictable. The added length provided stability without sacrificing ease of turning.
And, because aesthetics matter:
“I generally like neutral aesthetics — I have a white car and these would match it nicely ;)”
Bottom Line: A polished, confidence-building carving ski for women who love groomers and want smooth stability with refined style.
The Forza Line
Ski Type: Frontside Carving (Advanced → Expert)
The Forza series is Rossignol’s race-inspired carving collection. The model numbers (20°–70°) reflect the ski’s maximum designed edge angle — higher numbers mean more aggressive sidecut and torsional stiffness.
Forza 70
After asking for something stronger and more precise, Jen stepped into the Forza 70.
“It was like an extension of myself. Edge engagement was immediate and intuitive.”
From icy morning corduroy to mashed afternoon snow, the Forza 70 delivered grip, rebound, and powerful acceleration out of turns.
“It finally felt like a ski that met my joy for carving — and my strength and ambition — head-on.”
Bottom Line: A powerful, race-inspired carving ski for experts who love to lay down strong, confident arcs.
Freeride Skis
Rossignol Soul 102
Ski Type: Playful Freeride (Advanced)
Wider, heavier, and flatter than Sarah’s 11 year-old Soul 7’s, the Soul 102 is built for stability in steeps, sugar snow piles, and mixed terrain.
Sarah found it aggressive and confident underfoot.
“Aggressive. Stable. Nice in sugar snow piles and steep ice.”
It naturally prefers larger, powerful turns but remains nimble enough to tighten things up when needed.
Bottom Line: A stable freeride ski for aggressive skiers who value strength and composure in variable terrain.
Rossignol Sender 100
Ski Type: Freeride / Playful Big Mountain (Advanced → Expert)
Lighter and more surf-inspired than the Soul 102, the Sender 100 brings energy and playfulness to the mountain.
Sarah’s immediate reaction:
“I’ll take ’em!” (and she did)
She described them as “surfie” — eager to smear, bounce, and play through terrain.
“They want to turn and smear and bounce all around the mountain. They remind a lot of my original Soul 7s.”
While they require a slightly less aggressive stance than the Soul, they still handle carving and speed when asked.
Bottom Line: A lively, playful freeride ski for skiers who love to mix carving, smearing, and exploring across the mountain.
Snowboard Reviews
Rossignol Airis Women’s All-Mountain
Board Type: Progressive All-Mountain (Intermediate → Advanced)
A softer flex (5/10) directional board with AmpTek rocker camber and serrated 5S edges for added grip.
“It surprised me with its edge grip on variable terrain.”
Playful and forgiving, the Airis made popping off side hits easy and forgiving — ideal for progressive riders.
Bottom Line: Energetic, approachable, and fun for riders looking to build confidence while progressing.
Rossignol Super Revenant
Board Type: Aggressive All-Mountain Twin (Advanced)
Stiffer flex (8/10) with RadCut and 5S edges for powerful carving and edge hold.
“I was charging ice patches just because I could.,” said Alicia.
Confident, stable, and capable of handling firm East Coast conditions with ease.
Bottom Line: A strong, versatile board for riders who want to charge harder without sacrificing maneuverability.
Honorable Mention: Rossignol Wuji
Board Type: Unisex Freeride
AmpTek Zero Rocker and reverse directional flex make this board playful and powder-ready — and its smaller size range is a win for women looking outside the traditional women’s line.
“Just plain fun.”
Final Takeaways
Across the lineup, Rossignol clearly defines each ski’s personality:
- Arcade → Smooth, versatile, confidence-building all-mountain
- Nova → Polished, groomer-focused carving for women
- Forza → Powerful, race-inspired frontside performance
- Soul → Stable, aggressive freeride
- Sender → Playful, surf-inspired big mountain
- Airis & Super Revenant → Progressive to aggressive all-mountain boards
From firm packed snow to sugary afternoon snow, the Pico demo delivered a true East Coast test — and Rossignol’s lineup rose to the occasion. What Rossignol skis or snowboards do you want to try?
Sarah Wojcik founded All Mountains Mamas in 2012. Becoming a mother in 2017, she grasped the opportunity to share her passion of skiing and snowboarding with families across the U.S. Formerly the Director or Marketing and Communications for Ski Vermont and associate editor, art director and marketing for Ski Area Management magazine, she writes with great knowledge of the ski industry and from the point of view of a mother working to get out on the slopes with two kids in tow. Sarah is currently the proud owner of Vermont’s #1 family fun resource, FindandGoSeek.net.