The new Forza range from Rossignol essentially replaces the React on-piste series, but in reality it offers a very different skiing experience, especially in the upper end of the collection where the 60 V-Ti sits.
Powerful and dynamic, with a titanal layer to reinforce torsional stiffness, they would suit competent carvers upwards, including instructors that want a high-performance ski that doesn’t feel overly demanding at slower speeds.
There’s clearly similarities to the Hero Masters once the Forza range hits the 60 V-Ti version and above (the 20 suits beginners, the 40 for progressive intermediates, the 70 is more like a race ski), but while the Hero series is built along racing lines, the Forza is very much a piste performance ski that has race build technology, but is way more accessible – meaning easier – to handle.
For such a powerful ski, the turn initiation is incredibly smooth and easy – they feel almost too easy to steer. But whilst some skis just wash out when that happens, the Forza seems to kick in and offer fantastic grip, rebound and energy into the next turn. They don’t oversteer in any way. Fun and playful, they make on-piste carving almost as fun as skiing powder (Okay, maybe not, but almost).
This is the difference between the Forza and the Hero Master. Yes the Hero Master is a majestic tool that can carve and rip with the best of them, but you need to be pushing them at all times, on top of the turns and willing to put in the effort to get all the good stuff back and whilst they will deliver under those conditions, the Forza lets you get away with way more and is much less demanding. Yet, if you push them and demand power and precision in the turns, then you’ll get that too.
Forza feels like a classic piste performance ski suited to solid technical skiers that want to have fun on the groomers all day long. We think instructors will also like them.
