2nd Look: 2012-2013 Rossignol Squad 7
Ski: 2012-2013 Rossignol Squad 7, 190cm
Dimensions (mm): 146-120-127
Turn Radius: 29.5 meters
Actual Tip-to-Tail Length (Straight Tape Pull): 186.5cm
Weight Per Ski: 2,400 grams / 5.3 lbs.
Boots / Binding: Lange RX 130 / Look PX 12 (DIN at 10)
Mount Locations: +1 of recommended
Test Locations: Taos, Niseko, Alta
Days Skied: 8
I just went back and reread Jason Hutchin’s excellent review of the Rossignol Squad 7, and I agree with pretty much everything he wrote. Jason and I also had nearly identical experiences with the Rossignol S7 and Super 7, which is why, when Jason found out that I was skiing them at Taos this past January, he was eager to hear the report.
The text exchange went like this:
Jason: How are those new Squads?
Me: :)
Me: No more S7 balance issue.
Jason: Nice. Stiff?
Me: Stiffer, but not demanding. The Super 7 is officially obsolete.
OK, well yeah, that last sentence is too strong.
For example, if you ski the S7 or Super 7 and have no idea what I mean about the “S7 balance issue,” then you can dismiss my claim that the Super 7 is obsolete. You can still find lots of people on mountains everywhere who swear by their S7s and Super 7s. So if you love those skis, there’s little reason to think that you’ll undoubtedly love the Squad 7 more. But if the S7 / Super 7 left you wanting, you are in luck.
Instead of simply repeating much of what Jason has already reported, I’ll try to say a little more about who will be drawn toward the S7 and Super 7, and who might want to look at the Squad 7. I’ll also compare the Squad 7 to a couple of skis in the same class: the 190cm Moment Bibby Pro and the 191cm ON3P Billy Goat.
Back in January at Taos, I skied the Squad 7s primarily off the ridge, both Highline and West Basin. The skis felt intuitive right from the start; as my text message stated, there was no issue of trying to find a balance point on the Squads. You can ski them centered, but you can drive the shovels hard, too.
As Jason noted in his review, the tail of the Squad 7 feels (to us, anyway) like a significant improvement, provides a more stable platform for landings, carves well, but still allows you to break free easily and (with any sort of speed) smear turns. The pintail of the S7 may be even easier to smear, but the tradeoff is a less stable ride.
Jonathan Ellsworth, Juarez, Taos Ski Valley.
Comments:
Questions? Comments? Tell us what you think.
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April 9, 2012 at 9:21 pm
You guys need to get your hands on the new Dynstar Cham 117 for a faceoff with the Squad. I think those skis will be really close to each other from what i’ve heard. As for the Super 7, its still the King of powder tree skiing as far as I’m concerned. Skiing at Mammoth in the blower March storm I literally could do no wrong on that ski. That alone makes it worth keeping in my quiver.
April 10, 2012 at 11:55 am
Hi, Joel – not sure whether that was a Freudian slip or a typo: The Cham doesn’t come in a 117, but a 107 and a 127. (Kind of surprising to me that Dynastar skipped the 117….) But if you’re proposing a 127 Cham to a Squad 7 faceoff, then yes, could be interesting, though the two skis don’t seem to me to be a clear apples / apples comparison. But I guess we’ll find out!
And thanks for your comments re: the Super 7. It’s a ski that didn’t click with Jason or me, so it’s interesting to hear from those who are digging them.
April 10, 2012 at 9:13 pm
I agree that 117 seems like the sweet spot for the Cham, but they obviously didn’t want to make 107, 117, and 127 due to extra cost.
I think liking the Super 7 may be predicated on liking a centered stance on skis. For example, on my old gold goats, bindings were oringally mounted at the recommended line, didn’t like them much. Moved the mount up +2, for a more centered stance, bam, whole new ski, loved it. Either way, the S7 has its limitations, but what it does well, it does really well.
April 9, 2012 at 9:58 pm
I really didnt love the S7 so I’m interested to see how different these skis feel.
Is the DPS 138 Lotus review far away?
April 10, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Hey, Alex – I assure you, the S7 and Squad 7 are very different beasts, and the Squad 7 might be a better fit for you.
As for the 138 review, it’s probably a couple weeks out. Since it’s late in the season, I figure it’ll be fun to write about some of the deepest days I’ve had on snow when it’s sunny and 70 degrees outside….
April 10, 2012 at 12:48 am
Jonathan, I don’t know if you have any time on it, but how would you compare the feel of the squad 7 to kastle’s BMX108? I’ve been using the 108 in the PNW(usually crystal or bachelor) for everything from deep pow to groomers and really like it, but will be moving to SLC for the next couple years and wanted something that will float in the lighter snow.
April 10, 2012 at 12:04 pm
C – I’m afraid that we haven’t had time on the BMX 108 (and we need to change that). So I can’t say. But given that the Squad 7 is 120mm underfoot, it’d better float better than a 108 ski. And I can certainly attest to how well the Squad handles Wasatch pow.
April 11, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Thanks for the comparison to the 190 Bibby. I just got a pair and figured they’d be along the lines of the new crop of big-mountain oriented rockered skis (Squad 7, Automatic, Helldorado, etc.). I’m glad to hear I’m not off and that the Bibby, which has been around for a couple of seasons, can still boogie with the best of the newer offerings. It sounds like my money was well-saved by finding a deal on this older model.
BTW, I agree that the Bibbys kill it.
April 12, 2012 at 2:27 pm
The truth is, the Squad 7 and the Bibby both kill it, and hopefully I did a decent job of highlighting relative strengths and weaknesses….But very glad to hear that the Bibbys are working out for you.
As for the Helldorado, see the comment below….
April 12, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Have you guys skied the Patron or Helldorado. If so how does it compare to the squad 7′s. Looking to replace my 195 S7′s with a ski that can handle higher speed GS turns in the crud and powder that is still somewhat playfull.
April 12, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Hi Bob – questions about the Patron and Helldorado are among the most asked around here, and I’ve got good news: while we’ve spent some time on both of those skis, starting tomorrow, we’re going to be A/B-ing the Patron and the Helldorado for at least four days, and conditions are perfect at Alta and the Wasatch to do so. Stay tuned….
April 13, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Can you guys speak to the weight of the squad 7 as opposed to a 188 S7 or Super 7? I have a pair of 188 S7′s for sidecountry and 195 Super 7′s as my powder day/big mountain charger, and I was thinking of selling them both for some Squad 7′s.
February 6, 2013 at 1:27 am
Hi, Kjetil – I think the best thing to do would be to check our “SKI INDEX” that is organized by ski width, and just start there. Nothing else immediately jumps to mind. One other thing: I believe that Rossignol is going to offer the Squad 7 in a 180cm length next season, for what that’s worth.
April 16, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Mike – I have 195 Super7′s and 188 S7′s and skied the Squad 7 a few weeks ago in some deep, but heavy PNW powder/crud. The Blister guys are spot on with their reviews. The Squad strikes a nice balance between stability and playfulness. It felt much lighter than the Super 7′s, or at least the swing weight felt lighter. The only place that the Super 7 performed better than the Squad was on the groomers, where the tighter turn radius of the Super lets it rail and the larger radius Squad felt good, but not so locked in. If you like to charge, the Squad is a much better option than either the S7 or Super 7, while not demanding much more from the pilot.
April 19, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Do you guys have a weight for these skis?
April 19, 2012 at 8:03 pm
I’m afraid that the best answer I can give is the same as Mike-PNW’s above your comment: they are lighter than the Super 7s. Our pair had a Rossignol demo binding and track on them, so we only would have been able to get a rough estimate. But I’ll see if I can track down a weight for you. Thanks.
April 26, 2012 at 12:20 am
Follow up: Here are Rossignol’s official weight-per-ski stats:
* 190cm Squad 7 – 2,400 grams / 5.3 lbs.
* 188cm Super 7 – 2,490 grams / 5.47 lbs.
* 195cm Super 7 – 2,640 grams / 5.81 lbs.
* 188cm S7 – 2,230 grams / 4.9 lbs.
April 23, 2012 at 8:39 am
I really enjoyed this review. My 191 bg’s are way too much work in really tight trees (though not impossible). It is really the only time I miss the s7′s. The squad 7 really does sound like a nice compromise between the two. Though, I am also playing with the idea of seeing how the 12/13 186 bg’s perform in this type of terrain. Bottom line, my wife is going to kill me when I attempt to explain to her why I need a tree specific pow ski… Thanks guys!
April 23, 2012 at 10:14 am
Dear Jeff’s wife: while I’m sure that Jeff can be impossible sometimes—maybe even a complete moron most of the time—I imagine that you don’t wish him any actual harm, right?
Trees can be dangerous, but it’s really not his fault that they are SO much fun to ski; they just are. So please, while he may be impossible, you do want to keep him around, don’t you?
Really, Jeff’s new Squad 7s (or 12/13 BGs) are an insurance policy. Jeff just wants to ensure that he is around for many years to come, helping to make your brief time on this big planet as wonderful as possible. These Squad 7s / 186s BGs are really about you and your well being, and we are moved by Jeff’s loving act of acquiring these new skis.
You are a lucky lady, clearly worth every penny of a new Squad / BG, and you have a great guy.
Sincerely,
The Idiots at BLISTER.
April 23, 2012 at 11:37 am
LOL ^^ That one is getting printed out and framed. Thanks!
June 1, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Wondering if anyone has any insight into Lib Tech’s NAS Magic Horsepower 188cm? Looking for a ski to replace my S7s…something that can handle greater speeds and wind blown crud at Mammoth.
June 3, 2012 at 10:36 pm
Hi, Paul – none of us have skied the Horsepower, so I can’t say. But for greater speeds and windblown crud at Mammoth, see the above review if you’re okay with 120mm underfoot…..
June 27, 2012 at 1:22 am
i posted this in the comments for the first review so i thought i’d repost it here too. hope it doesn’t bother anyone too much…
Hey Jason (and Jonathan), you should check out the 2011-2012 Surface Live Life 191′s. They have nearly an identical looking camber profile at the tip, tail, and underfoot as well as a very similar shape throughout the ski as the squad 7′s. They feel pretty damn stiff, are a little bit wider (156-120-135) and don’t have quite as much taper in the tip and tail as the Rossi’s however. I just got myself a pair for a great deal and I’d be interested in reading your comparisons of the two. BTW, Love your guys’ site! No one from around the PNW though?
http://www.surfaceskis.com/hardgoods/life-series/live-life/index.html
June 27, 2012 at 1:27 am
here’s a pic I found of the side profile
http://c3976.r76.cf2.rackcdn.com/connect/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_2203.jpg
June 30, 2012 at 8:44 pm
We haven’t spent time on it, but we can certainly add it to the list for next season. Glad to hear you’re digging it, too.
August 24, 2012 at 9:59 am
Hi Jonathan, I am holding the new powder magazine (thank you Logan Airport) in my hands and came again across the dimensions of the Squad 7. It may be a bit (actually extremely) geekly, but I have to do this: Waist to tail sidecut of the Squad 7 is 7mm. Now I quote from Ryan Caspar’s review of the DPS Lotus 120:
“(Editor’s Note: Typically, a ski is regarded as “pintailed” if there is less than a 10 millimeter difference between its waist and tail. In the not too distant future, we’re going to be running a piece on pintail design, so, you’ll probably want to start gettin’ psyched for that now….)”
I know the Squad 7 widens out the way you like it in the tail, but by definition, there is actually a “pintailed” ski you like!
October 30, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Perhaps, Hannes. Though to be honest, I’d like to put a pair of calipers on the Squad 7s, because I’m not fully prepared to believe that the narrowest point of the waist and the widest point of the tail is only 7mm…but that’s another story….
p.s. – On a related note, you’ll probably want to read my upcoming preview of the Moment Governor….
October 15, 2012 at 9:12 pm
Hey guys,
This winter I seem to have got myself into a pickle (though a fortunate one to be in). I’m in possession of a new pair of 12/13 ON3P Billy Goats (regular construction), and a used pair of team-issue Soul 7s (Squad 7s). I also have a pair of dukes and fks 180s. Realizing that these skis are very similar (but having never skied either pair), do you have any advice as to which should be used for resort skiing and which for touring/resort skiing?
Thanks,
Mike
October 15, 2012 at 9:17 pm
It should also be noted that I only tour on deep snow days, while the inbounds ski will encounter more variable conditions, along with deep snow.
October 30, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Hi, Mike – if it were me, (and without reiterating everything I’ve said above re: Squad 7 vs. BG) my decision would be based more on resort terrain vs. bc terrain. As I noted, the BGs can be a lot of work in really tight trees. But in relatively open terrain, they are a blast. The BG + Duke will be a pretty heavy setup, but I don’t get the sense that you really care about that, and it probably won’t be a huge weight savings if you put the Duke on the Squads.
So if you take tight trees out of the equation, I don’t think there is a clear rationale for going one way or the other. You’ve got 2 fun skis.
February 5, 2013 at 8:12 am
Hi,
Thanks for the great reviews on this site. Very helpful!
I might be in the market for a new pow-ski after a considerable amount of one the bases on my Liberty Double Helixes has been peeled off. The Squad7 looks really enticing, but it only comes in 190 which is too long. I tour about 90% of the time and being only 5’7 with short legs make kickturns really hard with a long ski. My DH (and my 4frnt Turbos) are 182 and I can concievably manage a couple of cm more. So my question to you is; any recommendations for a 5’7/210ibs (built like a treestub, i know…the 300ibs benchers you guys refered to in a Moment-review are weaklings…grin ;) ? I’m by no means an expert skier, but I like to ski fast GS-turns in the pow when the terrain is open. The birch forrests up here north in Norway is often somewhat tightly spaced, so I need something that turns. Any suggestions for a ski at 180-185 with a waist of 120ish, not a fullrocker and somewhat “light” since I mainly tour?
I like the way both my current skis ski, and I like their medium+ flex, but since I probably have to buy new skis it would be nice to try something new. Well, thanks for any response! :)
February 18, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Hi, Kjetil – given everything you say you’re looking for, I think you ought to hold on for a little bit for Will Brown’s review of the Armada Norwalk. That ski could fit the bill. If you’re not an expert skier, I would hesitate to recommend the Squad 7 as a ski for tight trees. As i note in my review, it can be a handful. The 13/14 Squad 7 might be great for you, but we haven’t skied it yet so can’t say. But see what you think of the Norwalk….
February 8, 2013 at 3:48 am
Hi Kjetil!
You might consider the Squad 7 since it´s a real nice pow- and crud-shredder and measures about 186 cm! I think if you mount your bindings a little bit forward they should be managable for you. I´m not really convinced tough about the Squad´s touring capabilities (even tough they´re lighter than both, the S 7 and Super 7).
cheers
February 14, 2013 at 6:31 pm
I just finished a fantastic week of skiing in the French alps (Paradiski, La Plagne), with about 2 foot of fresh powder, on my new Rossignol Squad 7′s, which I bought thanks to the fantastic reviews on this fantastic site ;)
These ski’s are absolutely amazing!!! They’re perfect for the French alps, they ski well in chopped up snow in the beginning of a route, then they absolutely charge the open fresh powder, and when you arrive at the tree line they still are super!
They also handle really good on the slopes, especially short turns. One thing though, I suddenly have the sides of my legs bruised up because of the effort it takes to put them on the edges on the slopes :) , good thing I work out up to 4 times a week!
After skiing powder on Rossi 9S (slalom) for a long time and then full camber twin tip Blizzard Titan Chronus for about the last 8 years, I noticed I had to change my technique completely! No more backseat skiing! I wiped out the back about 3 times this week :) mostly on harder snow, but I like it because on the slopes I’m used to pressure the front a lot, so now I just have to do that everywhere.
There is only one thing I really didn’t like about these skis, when on very icy slopes, when turning/slipping they would start flapping very violently!! Maybe it has to do with the edges I’ve set, at 0.75 base (which im going to change to 0.5, I think) and 2 side angle???
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but overall, I’m in love :)
Do you guys sometimes ski in Europe??? I’d love to join if possible :)
Oh yeah and one more thing, those squad 7′s turn on a dime in powder, which absolutely awesome for the technical routes!! :p
thanks for the awesome reviews
February 18, 2013 at 10:27 pm
Thanks for the comments, Kevin. Glad you’re liking one of our favorites. And you’re right: we need to get over to Europe soon….
April 2, 2013 at 4:17 am
Blister guys, many thanks for the great reviews. I am currently looking to change my old (2005) 189 K2 Maide’n AKs which have been great for a number of seasons but I am now looking to a more rockered pow ski. I am used to the stiffness of these skis but reading your reviews in the 186 atomic automatic or the squad 7 which do you think would be better as an all round tree / fall line pow ski if you could have one?
Many thanks for the reviews,
Nick
April 4, 2013 at 11:14 am
Thanks, Nick – in short, the Automatic is easier in trees (lighter, quicker) and the Squad 7 is the better fall line ski (more stable, stiffer).
If you’re putting a premium on tight tree skiing, then the Automatic. But if you still want to rage in variable conditions, then the Squad. The Squad is much better in variable, the Automatic is a really fun, quick POW ski. So it really does come down to what you want most…..