Review: Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt Skis + Xpress 11 GW Bindings · Women's · 2024

Published on 12/13/2023 · 3 min readCurated Expert, Lucia L, has tested this product to give you their unbiased, definitive take.
Lucia L, Ski Expert
By Ski Expert Lucia L
9 photos
Photo by Lucia L

The Curated Take

4.1/5

The Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt Skis with Xpress 11 GW Bindings are an excellent choice for beginners and intermediate riders looking to develop their skills on the slopes. These skis offer ease of use and effortless edge-to-edge transitions, making them great for those learning to ride and improve their turning abilities. The basalt stringers in their construction provide a level of playfulness and durability not often found in beginner and intermediate skis. While they may not excel in deep powder or high-speed situations, they offer stability on groomers and versatility for exploring various mountain terrains.

Ideal for
  • Great for beginners learning to ride
  • Shifts easily from edge to edge
  • Pivots and makes quick turns
Not ideal for
  • Does not offer a lot of float
  • Has a speed limit at high speeds
Turn Ease
Lucia L, Curated Expert
The Rossignol Experience 82s were very easy to shift underfoot. While they don't lay as hard and aggressive carves as other skis in the Experience family, the 82 underfoot is...Read more
Playfulness
Lucia L, Curated Expert
Personally, I find a lot of beginner and intermediate-level skis to have a limited amount of pop and play to them. However, the Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt had a...Read more
Durability
Lucia L, Curated Expert
While they are not the most top-of-the-line fancy skis, the Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt is made well and built to last. I have seen most of the Rossignol Experience...Read more
High Speed Stability
Lucia L, Curated Expert
I was skeptical about how balanced and stable the Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt would perform at high speeds because of the wood core of the skis. However, with the...Read more
Carving
Lucia L, Curated Expert
The Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt was easy to get on edge and carve with. Because of their narrow waist, shifting edge to edge was easy, and the sidecut provided...Read more
Versatility
Lucia L, Curated Expert
While the Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt is generally considered more of a powder ski, I think most intermediate-level riders could take them all around the mountain. I rode these...Read more
Flotation
Lucia L, Curated Expert
While skiers probably would not sink right away when taking these skis in powder, they have a limit to how much powder they can handle. The 82mm waist will provide...Read more

Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
About the ski gear
  • Model: Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt Skis + Xpress 11 GW Bindings · Women's · 2024
Test conditions
  • When I tested these: Early in the 2024 season
  • Where I’ve used them: Crystal Mountain, WA
  • How many times I've used it: 2

Expert Reviews of the Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt Skis + Xpress 11 GW Bindings

 I tested the Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt Skis out of curiosity as I see them often going in and out of our shop. Many beginner and intermediate-level riders take these skis out and completely agree that this ski is a great option for them. The Experience 82s are easy to ride and shift easily underfoot. Turns come easily, and the edge hold is not too aggressive. While they are a bit limiting for advanced riders in terms of speed and edge hold, these skis would be ideal for someone looking to grow as a skier and develop their skills around the slopes.

Product Specs

Age GroupAdult
GenderWomen's
Includes bindingsYes
Model year2024
Ski typeAll Mountain
Skill levelAdvanced

Review Ratings

Turn Ease

5/5
 gave 5 of 5 stars. The Rossignol Experience 82s were very easy to shift underfoot. While they don't lay as hard and aggressive carves as other skis in the Experience family, the 82 underfoot is easy to manage and quickly shifts edge to edge down the mountain. If someone is looking to develop their turns and move into parallel skiing, these skis will be an easy option to start with.

Playfulness

4/5
 gave 4 of 5 stars. Personally, I find a lot of beginner and intermediate-level skis to have a limited amount of pop and play to them. However, the Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt had a little more play than I expected. I think the basalt stringers give the skis that extra boost and responsiveness compared to other skis. While they are still pretty narrow, the skis can easily pop and flex to move over and around bumps, moguls, and trees.

Durability

5/5
 gave 5 of 5 stars. While they are not the most top-of-the-line fancy skis, the Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt is made well and built to last. I have seen most of the Rossignol Experience series move in and out of our rental fleet over the years, and these skis always seem to hold up to the highest amount of use. The topsheets and bases are resistant and only have a few scratches, even after many uses.

High Speed Stability

4/5
 gave 4 of 5 stars. I was skeptical about how balanced and stable the Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt would perform at high speeds because of the wood core of the skis. However, with the addition of basalt stringers, the skis rode smoothly and were pretty stable when getting on edge at higher speeds. I noticed they had a speed limit as I got more aggressive and rode into steeper terrain. They got a little sketchy, and the edges had less hold. However, these would be great for intermediate riders looking for a ski to cruise with.

Carving

4/5
 gave 4 of 5 stars. The Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt was easy to get on edge and carve with. Because of their narrow waist, shifting edge to edge was easy, and the sidecut provided a lot of grip. However, the skis seemed to respond less when I took them to steeper terrain and started riding more aggressively. The hold was much less, and it was sketchy to carve with them in steeper or icier conditions. I had to put a lot into the ski and did not get as much out.

Versatility

4/5
 gave 4 of 5 stars. While the Rossignol Experience W 82 Basalt is generally considered more of a powder ski, I think most intermediate-level riders could take them all around the mountain. I rode these on a pretty icy day and rode mostly lower mountain groomers and moguls. With an 82 waist, one could probably take them into some fresh snow, but nothing extreme. They would probably do pretty well in soft or slushy conditions and snap easily in and out of trees.

Flotation

3/5
 gave 3 of 5 stars. While skiers probably would not sink right away when taking these skis in powder, they have a limit to how much powder they can handle. The 82mm waist will provide some float to smaller and lighter riders, but if someone is larger, they might find themselves stuck in fresh snow. These skis could be a lot of fun in a little fresh snow, especially because of their core. But anything more than 8 inches might be too much.

FAQs

What do you love about this product?

My favorite feature about these skis has to be the basalt stringers. There are a ton of options in the Rossignol Experience family, and the addition of basalt really adds dampness and stability to the ski.

Why did you choose this product?

I chose to test the Experience W 82 Basalt as I am familiar with most of Rossignol's Experience line and wanted to understand how the basalt stringers would impact performance.

What is the value for the money versus other options?

The value for money of the skis is pretty good. Most of Rossignol's products are well-priced and accessible to most riders, which I think is great. A big bonus is that these skis come with Xpress 11 bindings so skiers will save money on the cost of bindings and mount.

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