I would prefer a narrower ski for days where conditions are brutally firm, but if the groomers were soft at all, the Black Ops 118 held an edge, initiated turns easily, and I was pretty blown away by how hard I could carve it. So the main point here is just that the Black Ops 118 is not some featherweight jib ski thatll probably only perform well in perfect snow. The 186 Black Ops 186 skis in a way that is comparable to the 184 Moment Bibby Pro: it can be skied fast or slow, in a more playful style when wanted, especially for lighter weight and shorter skiers. So keep an eye out, if youre interested. Its very easy to slide around, and I got used to the weight pretty quickly. The ski is a good stable platform but also maneuverable. I am 6,2 tall and 185 pounds and like to ski hard with a neutral stance. I just bought the Back Ops 118 and was wondering about the best mount point for me.
I skied this board for four winters, averaging 60 days a season on it. Stomp and smear. After about a half a day on the ski, I got used to the weight and did not think the Black Ops 118 felt sluggish, especially given its weight. I like how this sounds but wondering if its really worth the upgrade.
I want to begin really learning more about skiing and try new things like powder and off-piste skiing. How would the Rossi blackops 118 compare to the blizzard bodacious 186. Sam called it sharp loose on our recent GEAR:30 podcast, and I agree. I got the 180ish length. So you can definitely slash it around, but it takes a good deal of physical input to do so. Then I have to get more upright. I like my skis long and stiff. I am an intermediate skier (I circle Type II when renting) that hits the slopes maybe 1-2 times per year for the past 3-4 years. This is an interesting flex pattern. I have skied the BlackOps 118 in the 186cm on many powder days here in Utah and beyond. So Im glad you found the Black Ops 118s and got it. The most well-rounded powder ski on the market., (a quote from the Silverton Mountain website. Of all the skis weve ever reviewed (including those not currently available), there arent many that are heavier than the Black Ops 118. The new 176 Black Ops 118 Gamer would fit in here, shorter still. It was only after I switched back to other skis like the Faction Prodigy 4.0 and K2 Mindbender 116C that I noticed the weight of the Black Ops 118. They are hefty but I felt like the could bust through nearly anything. Of all the skis Ive been on, I think the Black Ops 118 is the most stable in soft chop. Unfortunately, we havent had anyone whos skied both of those skis, but I dont think itd be some night-and-day difference. The S7 has a much more tapered shape than the Black Ops 118, and as a result, I imagine the Black Ops 118 would not feel nearly as quick and easy to pivot in tight spots. I got some advice from the Snowbird shop guys when I bought my first pair of adult skis that has stuck with me. I havent felt more confident skiing hard on any ski Ive ever been on. Funny, this ski has a very similar weight, shape, width, flex and rocker/camber profile to another ski, the Nordica Helldorado, that Blister somewhat panned in the from several years ago. But, interesting, Skied the Black Ops for a season when they first came out. https://blisterreview.com/gear-reviews/rossignol-squad-7, Michael, the Rossignol BlackOps 118s ski very different from the Squad 7s: believe it or not, for mid-size and lighter folk, much more stable, and much better on edge, including on groomers. Love my bodacious particularly in resort chop. IMPORTANT : Bindings are one of the key of your safety, it's important to check the information filled below. But the Black Ops 118 feels slightly shorter, fore/aft, than the 184 Bibbys, to me. I wont give my own report as you guys are more adept at reporting and better skiers than me. The ON3P Kartel 116 is also over 2400 grams, and it is a very, very good ski that weve still found to be quite playful. I really dont know very much about the technical aspect of skiing or skis, but picked up skiing pretty quickly and enjoy cruising through blues and the occasional black. Looking forward to the full review on the 98watch out for lightning storms!
Did you get this ski out in deep, heavy, wet snow? I mentioned earlier the Black Ops 118s sharp loose feel, and that combo proved to be a huge asset on days when the snow varied from soft to quite firm. I could have sworn the Dynastar Factory Proto is the heavier ski, having picked up both skis (Proto & Black Ops) at Snell Sports, Chamonix, where both of these skis were on display side by side. For the 189 Pettitors, maybe move it back some each time for bigger guy, but for comparison purposes: It kills it in all conditions. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Given Rossignols secretive stance with respect to the Black Ops line, we wanted to offer a closer look at the skis specs and to see how it compares to some of the other pow skis on the market. Prior CBCs on the way thanks to your awesome reviews I dont feel like I am rolling the dice at all. If you dont believe these skis would be a good fit for my level or desire to learn more and get better, what would you recommend? (Me 150 lbs/510. IMO opinion, this is the sweet spot for this ski. Any advice is appreciated! They are the perfect balance of aggressive and playful. And I liked both skis also, which had a lot in common in terms of skiing feel. This is not a general purposes tool for powder IMO. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Ive only skied on-piste primarily in the Mid-West, but went to Colorado (Keystone) for the first time in December and the ski bug hit me hard. I think directional skiers who ski with a very aggressive, forward stance will prefer skis with stiffer tips and more rearward mount points. How much stability does the black ops lose? Thanks for the feedback Luke. Dont buy a ski for what you want to ski, buy a ski for what you do ski.
I mount it on the recommended line and very happy with it. Good on groomers. ), Specifically, the 189 (pull length c.190) Pettitor 120 is the missing, longer ski heavier folks and more chargy folks like SEVERIN above, were wanting, it really is! Since my resort powder days often only consist of a handful of truly untracked turns and much more of my time is spent skiing chop, I absolutely love the Black Ops 118 as a resort pow ski. In Front of Toe Piece: 9-9.5 Now about the ski. (2) How well does the ski accomodate a more forward or a more set back mount point? Plus, you always need somewhere to mount and maintain your skis throughout their lifetime. Playful all the time. Based on the skis specs, that seems like a pretty believable description. The ski is the perfect tool for an expert skier looking to charge through deep snow in trees, off cliffs, and hit natural booters all over the mountain. Have you been on those and if so, how would you compare the 2? Anyone yet test both skis back to back (A/B), same runs, same day?? I have a problem that I thrash ski gear too hard. I like skis with a balanced feel, but I also like having the option to drive a ski hard particularly when the snow is variable, since driving the front of the ski often helps it track better at speed. This ski wants to be skiing aggressively in soft snow, and if you arent doing that, youre better off on another ski. ), Not sure you will believe me, but, if not, try, https://silvertonmountain.com/shop/rentals/k2-fat-skis/, K2 Pettitor 120 Underfoot -Sean Pettits pro model. But with the fore-runner and equal, to me of the Black Ops 118, you did.
As Jonathan noted in his First Look of the 16/17 Black Ops, this ski has almost no tip or tail taper. When I was reading about the good points (especially re crud busting, stability at speed and ability to carve) I thought that sounds just like the Moment Blister/Wildcat/Bibby Proan amazing big mountain, resort powder ski in my opinion. Things got better on steeps, where I could slarve the skis a bit more, but anything low angle was work. Right on recommended is probably perfect for the freestyle kids. That said, if you are accustomed to very directional pow skis with mount points of -10, 11, etc., you might feel differently, and should expect to need to adjust to the more forward mount, or just stick with more directional pow skis. But since I know plenty of people that ski 115mm+ skis as their daily drivers, I think its worth noting that the Black Ops 118 is far from some niche ski that is only fun in perfect, untracked, deep snow. Reforest Action. Apart from the very ends of the ski, the Black Ops 118 is quite stiff. It is a very versatile and fun tool for a ski in this class. I saw this on the Powder7 blog: Same mold as last years Black Ops 118, but with a new flex.. Would you say 4.4 is still good for me or would you recommend something different due to my height? Sweet ski. And bigger skiers should note that this skis max available length is 186 cm; Sam, Jonathan, and I never had any issues with tip dive and we range from 58, 155 lbs to 510, 175 lbs, but larger skiers should keep this in mind. And both do Sean Pettit turns.). I have also found the construction to be top notch.
Bought this ski last year before this review was published. (Unfortunately, the 189 Pettitors are, in my/our experience, a bit unstable and mostly mediocre at +5, the mount you reviewed back when the 189 Pettitor was first being made.). But then I took the skis heli-skiing, and that was my mistake. I got the 118 last year and agree with your entire review. But its also a very hefty ski, and that affects how playful it feels. I mounted at -5 from true center. There is an intriguing comparison. ON3Ps Kartel 116 is my current crud busting specialist. Love em. I have loved my S7s and wonder if there is an advantage to a new buy? Both rely on soft-stiff-soft, and turned up tips and tails. Not so fun. You guys at Blister might keep a look out, especially watching for folks who really love skiing at Silverton, for instance.
And when youre coming back to earth, the Black Ops 118 provides a really big, supportive landing platform. If you are an advanced or expert freerider looking to turn the entire mountain into your playground, buy a blackops and see what happens. At my size and skier profile, and at the farther back mount points, I can ski all these skis either upright or more forward again, at the right mount points. If anything, the Black Ops 118s camber is the main thing that stands out with around 5-6 mm of camber underfoot, its got more camber than we typically see on most skis this wide. But when it was mounted -4.4 cm from center, I could drive the front of the ski more and I never had the tips dive on me. These skis are sturdy. And skiers who prioritize quickness and a low swing weight over high-speed stability should check out lighter skis (see the Powder Skis More Playful section in our Winter Buyers Guide). I felt like I could plow through just about anything crud, bushes, small animals, children, the lodge, etc. And I was exhausted every day by noon as a result. The popular style of soft skis is not my style. The 186 BlackOps 118 fit neatly in purpose and feel, and for different size skiers, between: Are there any major differences? You can ski them as a daily driver, but youll get worn out much faster, since theyll be much more sluggish on groomers, and a lot more work in bumps and trees. Jonathan has said that the Helldorado had a pretty small sweet spot that made it hard to stay balanced in variable conditions and terrain, but I would say the Black Ops 118 is the opposite it feels like it has a huge sweet spot, and I always felt pretty balanced on it. For reference Im 22, 62 and weigh around 160 lbs. I have a pair that are getting tired and these seem pretty similarheavy, crud busting, and like to be skied hard/with speed. I just need to decide where to mount. One of the things that stood out to Sam and me was how the Black Ops 118 felt solid on edge, but also very loose. The 186 (184.2) Black Ops fits in nicely in size between the 179 (180) Pettitors of Sean and the 189 (190/191, for mine) at times of Seth. Would you recommend these skis for an intermediate skier trying to advance their level? So I ended up spending most of my time on the Black Ops 118 with the bindings at -4.4 cm from center. The fine print. Your choice of ski, boot design and size will always be a very personal and subjective decision. the 189 (pull length 190 to 191) Petttor 120s (the sometimes Seth Morrison ski). I might also add that I am too old anymore to really launch off anything, but on these skis, on that day, I felt like I probably could have, and I would have been fine. There are some elements that each share like lack of serious or any taper.
Given your background, I think just having them mounted -6 cm from the true center of the ski would make sense (that equate to about 3.5 cm back from the recommended mount point, but going off the true center of the ski is always the safest bet). In those conditions, these skis felt super playful, damp, stable, held an edge when needed, and inspired a lot of confidence, especially as things got tracked out. Less aggressive skiers should choose a smaller size, while more aggressive and experienced skiers may want to choose a size up. Just impulse bought a pair on a summer sale and Im really looking forward to trying them out. I ended up finishing the last half of the season using nothing but this ski. Tip dive returned in spades. For the 186.5 Black Ops, my mount point is more limited, and for comparison again, is 0 to -1, depending, so far: You guys rarely miss the boat on an incredible ski (except for race skis and some near race skis). Would you go factory rec less 2 on these as well? (Hint: if you are a bigger or stronger guy, want to charge hard, or want a ski for both resort and for deep days at Silverthorne or heli skiiing, then the 189 Pettitor 120s might be the answer. I still had fun I guess, but every turn started with the tail, not the tip. This is what the Black Ops 118 was designed for, and its certainly a ton of fun in powder. My legs definitely feel pretty tired after skiing hard all day on the Black Ops 118. But with the bindings at -4.4 cm from center, I could drive the Black Ops 118 quite hard, and I never found its speed limit in chop. And for me, the Black Ops 118 is easy on my bad knee, whereas the 189 Pettitor 120 I have to build up to. I could pressure the front of the ski a bit, but it seemed like the ski wanted me to just stand in the middle and let it run. Yep I ended up skiing on the same day the Black Ops 118 and current 190 cm Blister Pro / Wildcat. Or does it somehow manage to feel like both? Race-developed construction and a lively wood core blend for the power to get creative. (It is comparable to the 190 Moment Bibby Pros, a playful charger; but the Pettitor 189 is easier to handle at the right mount point for each skier, while being more bombproof and heavy than the Bibby, like the Black Ops, for the right size skier.) Despite its hefty weight, I still really liked the Black Ops 118 in tight terrain. (3) Related to #2: how well will more directional skiers get along with the Black Ops 118? demo-ed the 19/20 and trying to figure out mounting advice.. Its all the same ski (see our note at the bottom of the specs for the ski). A lot of the other commenters, the reviewers, and myself have multiple pairs, so we only bring something this wide out when its the right day for them. And skiers who still want a balanced feel but who also want the option of driving the front of the ski will like the Black Ops 118 with the bindings moved back a bit (our founder, Jonathan Ellsworth, is a purely directional skier and he loves the Black Ops 118 mounted -3 cm behind its recommended line).
And I can say after all that time - I HIGHLY suggest this skis.
Its also worth noting that, apart from the Devastator, those are all very directional skis. For the modern freeride skier, there is not much else you could ask for. Ski the black Ops in the last 2 weeks at Whitefish, Revelstoke, Kicking Horse and catski Mustang Powder. The Blackops Gamer is the tool of choice for full gas freeride performance.
Im east coast, and when I heard the BO 98 was available, I ordered it. Rossignol told us no construction changes were made to the 118 and 98, but we have pairs of the 20/21 versions so we will be able to double-check. Here we have compiled some factors that should be taken into account when deciding on which ski size to choose. I love your reviews thank you so much! Im fairly sensitive to mounting points, and I hate remounting. You will not be disappointed. The ski started out simply being called the Black Ops, then they renamed it the Black Ops 118 after adding the Black Ops 98, and then for 20/21, they renamed it once again and its now called the BLACKOPS Gamer. But according to Rossignol, the construction of the ski has not changed throughout all of those name and top sheet changes. Mount them a bit back (although I think you need to be careful about how much, or risk screwing with the camber / flex), keep a neutral stance, and make sure the snowpack has some bottom to it, and I think you cant go wrong. You just need to keep in mind that its a very heavy ski, and is not nearly as quick as many other skis in its class. guys its confusing on which ski your testing. I think the two skis suit different skiing styles if you ski a lot of trees or tight terrain and prioritize quickness over stability, then the S7 probably makes more sense. If you ski a bit of everything and appreciate a ski that you can ski extremely fast on through chop and variable snow, then the Black Ops 118 is a better option. The Black Ops 118s rocker profile is more typical for a freestyle pow ski fairly deep tip and tail rocker lines, high, nearly symmetrical tip and tail splay, and a very even, symmetrical look overall. And after all that, Ive come to the conclusion that the Black Ops 118 is my all-time favorite resort powder ski, and one of my favorite skis Ive ever had the pleasure of riding. It sucks it only comes in a 186, we need a 192! Curious as to impressions, as for me at me weight (205 lbs) Ive also found no spped limit on the Bibbys (crud or groomers) while finding them remarkably nimble at slow speeds in steep, tight spots for a 190cm, 118mm ski. Learn More Men's Free Touring Ski Boots Alltrack Pro 110 LT, loc_en_US, sid_RAJME01_bv32__bv32_000, prod, sort_[SortEntry(order=SUBMISSION_TIME, direction=DESCENDING)]. Underfoot: 10 +4.5 if I want a more upright style and no tip drive feel; Have loved a lot of heavy hitter old schoolish skis (Dyna Proriders, Line Motherships, Solly Dictators, OG Rossi Squads, OG Katanas etc), but also enjoy newer designs (Hojis, GPOs) although I have not embraced the upright stance of newer boots and ski designs fully. Stomp it. The other main issue Jonathan had with the Helldorado was its flex pattern it had very soft tips and tails, and it sounds like they stayed softer longer than the Black Ops do (the Black Ops is really only soft in the last ~15 cm of the tips and tails, and is quite stiff everywhere else). Float it. Would really love to try the Black Ops based on your review though, sounds great. As always, note the length differences to keep things apples to apples. Upright skiing required. Solid when needed. +4.0 if I want most forward still feeling a bit of tip drive; Believe it or not, your entire description (past a few spec details) might as well be covering one of my other favorite skis, the 189 (for me pull length 190/191) K2 Pettitor 120, discontinued last year, when that ski is mounted at the right mount points, e.g., corresponding to the two points mentioned in your review for the Black Ops 118 (the rec. I spent a lot of time that week driving from the back seat. Thanks for sharing your experience on the similarities with the Black Ops, otherwise a Rossi ski wouldnt have been on my radar. +0.5 is too far forward, for me not stable enough fore/aft; also, have to lean back, some tip dive. mt. (All these mount points feel right for particular skier styles and purpose, and particular skier size.
Maritime snowpack has taught me to be leery of pow skis w/ this much camber. Float and bounce.
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