Rossignol has made some pretty epic skis over the years — the Black Ops, Sin Seven and Sender series’ come to mind. So when I had a chance to demo the new women’s-specific Rossignol Rallybird 92 for a week last spring, I was mentally preparing myself for a ski that was similar to those: something solid, stable and hard-charging.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. The Rossignol Rallybird 92 was a smooth, gentle, and unexpectedly fun surprise.
Here’s how the Rallybird was described to me: “All in. First chair to last. [The Rallybird is] always ready to rally. The all-new Rallybird range packs the progressive power, precision, and freeride versatility to rally across any terrain and conditions.”
Sounds great, right? So we put it to the test.
In short: We tested the Rossignol Rallybird 92 ($650) to see how it fared in a variety of conditions, from groomers to steep terrain. It’s a great freeride ski for beginner to intermediate skiers who want to access the whole mountain and enjoy the occasional light powder days but aren’t experts yet. It performs well across a variety of conditions and won’t break the bank.
The Rallybirds also come in a 102 and 104 Ti model, but we’d reserve those for more advanced skiers or those who frequently find themselves in bigger snow.
- Lengths: 154, 162, 170 cm
- Sidecut: 127-92-117mm at 162cm length
- Turn radius: 14m
- Ski type: Partial twin tip
- Other details: Rectangular sidewall, Paulownia wood core
- Claimed weight: 2 kg per ski
- Verified weight: 5 lbs. 10oz. per ski, mounted with LOOK NZ12 bindings
Pros
- Light
- Playful
- Great for intermediate, all-mountain skiers
- Excels on groomers and in trees
- Versatile for most conditions
Cons
- Not great in icy conditions
- Stronger skiers will enjoy the Rallybird 102 or 104 model
Rossignol Rallybird 92 Review
Rossignol Rallybird 92 Construction
The new Rossignol Rallybird range includes 90, 92, 102, and 104 Ti underfoot models. All have a rocker-camber-rocker profile, making turning feel easy and playful. Transferring from one edge to the other is almost effortless.
All four Rallybird models also utilize a Paulownia wood core and Rossignol’s signature “Air Tip” technology. That makes them light and easily maneuverable.
Rossignol’s Damp Tech utilizes rubber laminates coating the Rallybird’s tips, mitigating chatter and keeping the skis in contact with the snow. That, combined with the wood core and Air Tip construction, balances stability and control nicely in the Rallybird 92. It’s a soft ski that still rips.
They also feature a shorter turning radius (skis in the 13-14m range). That gives them a responsive feel that’s great for skiing in trees.
The Rallybird 92 in Testing
Somewhere in between sunny bluebird days and light snow days is where I found the Rallybird 92 really shines. It’s wide enough underfoot to handle a couple of inches of fresh snow. But this ski impressed me most with its responsiveness and ability to handle speed and fast turns on groomed runs. So if you tend to frequent the blues, this ski is ideal. It’s not too stiff and generally just a smooth ride.
I found my weight was centered and focused directly underneath me on these skis, per the Air Tip technology. That helped improve maneuverability (though that’s part up to the ski and part up to the skier). For me, these skis didn’t require a ton of drive — they are light and feel pretty effortless to move around, which makes them a gem of a ski when all you want is to meander through the glades.
But of course, for the sake of testing, we didn’t just ski these skis in primo snow/perfect conditions. While they handled corn, crud, most hardpack, and fresh pow with ease, they didn’t feel super great in icier conditions. Generally, these skis hold an edge well, but on ice, I found myself sliding around. I chalk this up to their lightweight, rocker profile, and nimble feel — for ice, a Rallybird that’s heavier and ideally more rigid would do a better job.
If you’re an intermediate skier (types I or II) who likes different types of terrain — groomed, bumps or un-groomed hard-pack — and plan on chasing the occasional powder day, the Rallybirds are a great option.
For skiers looking for a more aggressive ski, the Rallybird 92 is probably on the soft side. The Rallybird 104 Tis, however, contain titanium and sit squarely on the fence between a freeride ski and an all-mountain ski. These would be more akin to the Nordica Enforcers or Santa Anas, Atomic Mavericks, or Rossignol Black Ops — i.e., be a better option for type III skiers or for those looking for more stability at higher speeds.
Conclusion
The Rossignol Rallybird series is a really quality design and build. The 92s are no exception. While the wider models are great for powder, the 92 model is our first choice when it comes to versatility. It is responsive, playful, and just plain smooth.
These skis were a blast to ski and test and did well enough in a variety of spring conditions and a variety of groomed and ungroomed runs to warrant a review. They even handled some late-season, 40-degree Fahrenheit weather slush remarkably well. The Rallybird 92 skis are definitely some I’ll come back to again and again, hands-down, if I’m looking to get in some easy laps at my local resort.
