Some skiers may take one look at the bold, bright, brash, retro and really yellow livery of the new Rossignol Super Hi-Speed and wonder, can I pull that off? They might hesitate a moment before grabbing it off its boot wall shelf, thinking, am I a good enough skier to wear a yellow tribute model? Our test team says yes and yes--and they say the second yes is something of a self-fulfilling prophecy with the Super Hi-Speed. They say it makes a skier better--and better enough in no time to merit the hue.
Testers said that the new Super Hi-Speed took a very good Hi-Speed Elite 130 and turned it up to 11 with a new liner that's slightly firmer in its hold on the foot and slightly thicker in its exterior lay-up, which means tighter. And yes, this particular yellow pigment is widely known to amplify the edge-driving power of polyurethane. Tester say that it had a knack for putting the skis precisely where they wanted, and for holding them there in solid defiance of whatever deflecting, crispified crud they'd sent them through.
Yes, we understand that it's the skier that sends the message to the skis, but we also know that the boot is the conduit through which all messaging flows. Some boots offer low fidelity, like two tin cans and a string, while others provide fiber optic level transmission of movement between body and ski. Some of this is born of fit--which testers say is perfect for the all-day, all-mountain narrow fit (just a bit more breathing room in forefoot and toebox). Some of this is a product of shell construction and how the shape and plastic work together to create a magic called progressive flex (testers say it's a strong 130 that feels great on the shin). And some of it is derivative of a harmonious blend of stance angles, closure system and features. Testers said the Super Hi-Speed put it all together well.
The whole kit just worked for our test team, many of whom forgot all about the fact that they were testing a boot and commented that they were just ripping around, finding good lines and untracked snow. They also forgot that it was yellow. But then they remembered and simultaneously decided that they were skiing well enough to deserve it.
Kudos
Caveats