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The Scores (out of 10)
- Overall Score: 7.91/10
- Rank: #1
- Versatility: 7.57
- Crud Performance: 8.43
- Flotation: 8.14
- Playfulness: 7.57
- Responsiveness: 7.57
- Quickness: 7.29
- Hard-Snow Integrity: 7.43
- Stability at Speed: 7.71
- Forgiveness: 7.43
The Specs
- Price: $850
- Lengths: 163, 171, 178
- Dimensions: 137-102-127
- Radius: 16 (171cm)
- 奥别颈驳丑迟:听1,800 g (171cm)
- Level: Strong Intermediate to Expert
In a Nutshell
- Pros: Crud Performance (#1), Stability at Speed (#2)
- Cons: Quickness (#7), Hard-Snow Integrity (#3)
Ladies loved last season鈥檚 Rallybird Ti, which remains unchanged this season except for new graphics, so it鈥檚 no surprise to see this ski rise to the top of the All-Mountain Wide category. For a wide ski, it performs surprisingly well on hard snow, though its girth does force you to put a little more effort into setting an edge. Testers didn鈥檛 mind, since the added surface area makes for stellar crud performance.
During the gear test in Sun Valley, testers had to contend with a heavy melt and refreeze cycle that culminated in coral-reef conditions, and this was the ski on which testers felt most comfortable. That鈥檚 partly due to the Titanal and extended core in this ski鈥檚 construction. Both increase the ski鈥檚 stiffness and dampness, thus adding to its stability in variable conditions. It also makes the Rallybird 104 Ti one of the heavier skis we tested in the women鈥檚 All-Mountain Wide category. 鈥淚 really like this ski, but actually prefer it in the shorter lengths,鈥 said SKI Test director Jenny Wiegand. 鈥淎t 178cm, the ski feels significantly heavier and beefier. Still, it鈥檚 a great ski for late in the season when you鈥檙e crushing crud or slush bumps.鈥
The Rallybird 104 Ti features 60 percent camber, with 25 percent rocker at the tip and 15 percent rocker in the tail. This freeride oriented rocker profile makes the ski fun and maneuverable in the bumps, but only for the testers who have a lot of strength and energy to make the ski turn quickly. It takes an expert skier to whip this ski around in tight spots. 鈥淭his ski can do it all, but only strong and skilled skiers will be able to make it turn quick enough to navigate tight terrain,鈥 added Wiegand.
Read more: Learn How the Rossignol Rallybird 104 Ti Stacked Up Against the Competition
But if you keep to wide open terrain鈥攕ay, the back bowls and headwalls at the resort鈥攁nd ratchet up the speed, the Rallybird 104 Ti impresses with its knack for bombing through even the worst mank. A couple testers reported that the ski gets a little chattery when you鈥檙e flying down hardpack, and an ex-racer said they had hoped for more edge control on the firm groomers. That isn鈥檛 to say that this ski doesn鈥檛 like going fast鈥攊t does in softer snow. But if you鈥檙e skiing in super firm conditions like we were on Sun Valley mornings during this year鈥檚 test, this ski prefers restrained speeds.
A tester who prefers less aggressive, cruisey turns said this is 鈥渙verall a fun, solid ride that likes to cruise and blasts through the chop. It鈥檚 definitely more of a freeride feel than an ex-racer type of feel, though.鈥
At the end of the day, balanced, arcing GS turns in softer snow or blasting through the crud is where the Rallybird 104 Ti truly soars. If you鈥檙e not afraid to put in the work, like to wander off-piste, and the conditions where you ski are often less-than-stellar, this may be the ski for you. And when the snow gets soft, be prepared for the ride of your life.
Kelly Klein is an associate gear editor specializing in skis and bikes. She lives in Bozeman, Montana.