Expert Review: Rossignol Sender 106 Ti Plus Skis · 2023
All photos courtesy of Austen Law
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I purchased with my own money in October of 2022.
My take
The new Rossignol Sender 106 Ti is ideal for an advanced to an expert skier who likes a stiffer ski to take long turns at speed. It is playful enough to be a fun, dynamic all-mountain ski.
About the skis I own
- Model: 2023 Rossignol Sender 106 Ti
- Size: 180cm
About me
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 185lbs
- Experience: 26 years of skiing, 16 years of ski racing
Test conditions
- When I bought these: October 2022
- Days tested: 15 days
- Mount position: Factory Mount
- Boots: 2022 Rossignol All track Elite 130
- Boot Size: 26.5
- Bindings: 2022 LOOK Pivot 14
- Where I’ve used it: Mt. Bachelor and Central Oregon backcountry
- Terrain: Powder, mixed conditions, and groomer
How they perform
What I was looking for
I wanted an all-mountain ski that had a stiff backbone that could handle high speed well and make some big carving turns. These skis allow me to have that “all-in-one” ski that can carve very well, float in powder, and have enough regenerative energy from the sheet of metal to make it bounce back.
Why I chose this gear
I decided to buy these skis because they provided more stability and stiffness than the other Rossignol model: the Rossignol Sender. It held an edge better, and as a former ski racer, it is important for a ski to have a good backbone—as I want to push a lot of energy into a ski.
What I love about them
- Speed: The Sender Ti is slow to move at first, considering it has that core of metal in it. I have to put a lot of energy into the ski to get it moving. It is no carving ski for sure, but it can carve well if I want to take it out for some nice, big turns. Being 100mm+ underfoot, it isn't built for carving but does a decent job if I don’t ski in other conditions.
- Edge hold: Overall, this ski holds an edge well. I had tuned my pair to have a sharper edge, so when on groomers, they do hold nicely. The skis do have metal in them, so at high speed and with energy into the ski, they do rebound nicely into the next turn.
- Groomers: The Sender Ti handles well on groomers, but it takes a lot of energy to get this ski moving.
- Powder: These skis crush it in powder conditions, providing great float for 5-7 inches of powder and a good backbone in the tails for putting all that pressure on the back of the ski.
- Trees: These skis were really fun in the powder in the trees. The metal doesn't make them too stiff where I can't turn them in tight situations.
- Backcountry: This ski has great float and is good for long turns in pow and taking some big slashes in the soft snow. It is very lightweight and would make for a great touring ski. Whether it be a sidecountry adventure with a hybrid binding or a full backcountry setup, these ski great downhill and are a great option for touring uphill.
- Durability: The topsheet gets eaten up pretty quick from a plastic perspective. I’m kind of bummed that it chips so quickly. But the base holds up well. So, overall, the durability is solid aside from topsheet scratches.
- Weight: This is heavier than the average ski, considering the metal sheet in it. But that gives the rider a smoother feel as it cruises through crud and chunder conditions with ease.
- Switch riding: It has an easy rise off the tail of the ski, so it’s not a true twin-tip ski-to-ride switch, but I don’t have a problem doing so.
- Stability: This ski is very stable and very dynamic. But, again, one has to put a lot of energy into the ski.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Turns: These big, heavy, metal boards are certainly not a quick-footed ski, but they do make some really fun and stable long turns at speed. No means a slalom ski, but more of a GS turn-style ski that I feel safe on at high-speed, big, long turns.
- Park: This could be a decent choice for the park, as it possesses a soft wood core with some metal backbone, but it is a little wide underfoot for that area. Not saying one can’t ride it through the park, but these are made for more all-mountain skiing.
Favorite moment with this gear
My favorite moment I had with these skis was skiing them on a day when a particular area of the mountain hadn't been open for a few days, but the grooming crew kept it up. Overnight, it had snowed 8-10 inches with a little bit of wind as well. That side of the mountain opened in the morning and I knew it was going to be an epic day for the Rossignol Sender Ti. Why? As I skied over to that area, the groomers were in pristine condition with some powder on top, so I was able to carve the skis into the hardpack below, as I was still cruising through some new snow. Then when I was able to reach all the new powder, it floated so well and was so fun to ski some big, long turns. It was such a fun and great day for those skis.
Value for the money vs. other options
These skis are certainly worth it, but there are some other great skis in the family of all-mountain that are different and fun in other ways. Again, as I have said before in the review, this is a stiffer ski for an advanced skier. There are some other options in the 106mm family that could be easier to move, a little bit more dynamic, and more friendly in price. But, this ski rips and it's fun for big turns in powder and mixed snow. Some other options to look into could be the Armada Locator 104 or the Volkl Blaze 104. Both are fun skis, but the new Rossignol Sender 106 Ti is more fun as an advanced skier.
Final verdict
The Rossignol Sender 106 Ti is a lot of fun. It's stiff, hard to work, and takes some getting used to, but it sure rips. Super fast, has a big turn radius for laying down some really fun giant slalom turns, and floats like a boat in powder. Whether it's knee-deep powder or some mixed snow chop, tree skiing, or hard groomer, I feel right at home in any condition with these skis.