It looks like just another unforgiving beer-league racer, but the new Hero Elite LT is loaded with features that make it nearly impossible not to lay down a perfect arc. Just a hint of Power Turn Rocker lets the ski dive into railed turns with barely any shin pressure. Here, too, Rossi stripped weight from the tip to make it easier to dump speed. And Rossignol’s “Prop Tech” torsional tuning (it stiffens up the harder you push on it) lets the ski adapt to both speed and snowpack.
Swami gripe: It’s only 69mm underfoot so you can’t fall asleep at the wheel.
Swami like: Said a tester: “The name says it all—total hero ski.”
Overall: 4.9 Stability: 4.8 Carving Pleasure: 4.9 Dimensions: 115/69/96
From the Early Winter 2016 issue.