Every year, we get to demo skis. It’s a fun time. Some skis, we already know. Some skis have been tweaked. And some are new. Every year, one ski stands out. One year, an Atomic Bent 100 did. Another year, the DPS RP 90 was fantastic. Last winter the new Rossignol Forza 70 degree ski was exceptional. The snow was firm and icy. The Rossignol team set me up on the brand new Forza 70. Big wide shovel at 135 mm and 78 underfoot and 111 in the tail.The ice disappeared. It is not playful. It is a stiff ski that handles firm snow on piste. I went in search of soft snow and found some and it could handle soft snow thanks to the wide shovel. I like a stiff ski with a firm tail. The Forza has both. I don’t think that it has the all mountain versatility of what are popular these days like the Atomic Maverick, Volkl Mantra or Nordica Enforcer. It excels on firm snow with a little soft snow on the trail edges and when things soften up during the afternoon.
The 70 degree thing had me puzzled. Rossignol makes an intermediate 50 degree model, a more advanced 60 and the advanced 70 degree ski. They perform best at that edge angle. I’m not sure that I can roll every turn over at 70 degrees.... Maybe some. Ski the Forza aggressively and it performs well and holds on firm snow. The turn radius of the 180 length is a 15 meters. The Forza 70 comes equipped with a Look Konect 14 binding and retails for $999 at Proctor Ski and Board.
Pros
Excellent edge grip
15 meter radius turn at 180 length Solid 14 din binding
Attractive red and black graphics
Cons
Bit pricey
Not an all mountain ski
Compare to Volkl Deacon 84 and Atomic Redster 7.8
Forza 70 in 172 and 180 length Forza 60 also available
By: Bob Dick