Are You Experienced? 2015 Rossignol Experience 88 Review

“Experience is the teacher of all things.” Julius Cesar

In 2007, Rossignol, the Pure Mountain Company turned 100 years old. That’s bunch of ski know-how and I’m guessing they used all of their century plus years of knowledge, just as Julius suggested, when they designed and introduced the world to their all mountain Experience ski line, for the 2011/12 winter. Since its birth the Experience series has undergone a couple of cosmetic facelifts with no real under the hood changes, until the 2014/15 model year. When they put together a full retrofit, adding to an already award winning design with their very own patented Air Tip Technology – more on this later – and a longer more progressive tip profile.

In the Experience series – the Temptation is the womens series of the same – Rossignol make it very easy to understand what your buying, tying the waist size into the name of the ski. For example the Rossignol Experience 88, is amazingly 88mm underfoot; pure genius! Waist widths in the range start at the very svelte 75mm up to the burly 100mm, depending on your preference and your ability, as the ski construction also varies for each waist size and plays a big part in the performance and feel of the ski.

Aimed at advanced to expert level skiers, the Experience 88 is a true one-ski quiver that offers full performance orientated front side carving ability with exceptional ‘hors-piste’ versatility. I know this because I own a pair!

You may (or may not) be wondering, why out of all the skis I could choose from, do I own a pair of 88’s?

Well here at Powder7 we are big believers in the motto “if you are having fun, then you are doing it right!” So the short answer is simply that this ski allowed me to have fun skiing how I like to ski! The longer answer is that I enjoy a more traditional feel to my skis and that I also enjoy attempting to generate and use the energy from the skis rebound, so a ski that assists this is favorable. I have been told I create some pretty good edge angles and I lean towards GS style turns whenever I can. Also when I brought the ski I was looking for a true one ski quiver – that would serve me well for the ‘day-job’ that probably took up 75% of the time I spent on snow – that job was instructing and emerging from the locker room ready to teach everything from first-timers to advanced all-mountain lessons and the Experience 88 is simply a superb option for this!

While the 88 isn’t loaded with metal like its big brother the 100, it still offers enough stiffness to dampen all but the most volatile vibrations, achieved I understand, through the use of basalt fibers in its construction. This makeup ensures a quieter ski and therefore a solid hold on everything from Colorado corduroy to East Coast hard pack. Rossignol gave the Experience line what it calls, Auto-Turn Rocker, a profile with high underfoot standard camber (70%) and a tip and tail rocker (30%). The rocker allows for effortless maneuverability, control and soft snow float, while the high camber assists with edge hold and delivers the rebound I mentioned earlier, that I strive to find in my skis.

For 2014/15 Rossignol also furnished the Experience with its exclusive Air Tip Technology. Originally brought-in for the highly successful 7 series skis, Rossignol decided to apply this technology to the Experience line. In layman’s terms, skis are becoming wider and longer, therefore weight is increased because it has been made using more material; with air tip, the tip is essentially cut-out and reframed with an air-filled honeycomb pattern that drastically reduces the weight around the skis tip and focuses it underfoot. The result is skis, that are easier to turn and control than ever. There could even be a suggestion that with less weight further away from the body the skis are potentially safer – but that is a discussion for another post!

I think the best way to summarize this review is to ask the same question the late great Jimi Hendrix once asked: “Have you ever been experienced?”

If you’re an advanced skier looking for an unbelievable front side ripper? Then I’ll tell you I have and that you should consider the Experience 88. If you favor a more traditional feel to your ski? Then I’ll tell you I have and you should seriously consider getting the Experience 88’s. If you want a versatile ski that slays the bumps and blows through the chop? Again my response will be, well I have and you should get the Experience 88. If you are a ski instructor looking for one ski to teach everything on and pass all your exams, then guess which ski I’ll tell you to definitely get! The Experience 88!

So let me ask you again,

“Have you ever been experienced? So-er, Are You Experienced? Ah! Have you ever been experienced?”

Well, I have! Check out and purchase the Rossignol Experience 88 in our store here!