In the world of women's skiing, the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings and the Atomic Maven 86 R Skis + M10 GW Bindings are two standout products for the 2024 season. Both skis are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers and come with bindings, offering great value for money. The Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro is a versatile all-mountain ski that excels in carving, freestyle, and freeride categories. It's a great option for advancing intermediate skiers or those transitioning from kids' skis to adult skis. The Atomic Maven 86 R, on the other hand, is a carving-oriented all-mountain ski that's a bit stiffer and perfect for those who want to cruise at an easier pace but still tackle faster runouts and chattery conditions. Both skis are praised for their versatility, playfulness, and maneuverability. However, they differ in their performance in certain conditions and their suitability for different skier personas. In the end, the choice between the two will depend on your personal skiing style, preferences, and the conditions you typically ski in.

Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings · Women's · 2024 summary

The Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings are an all-mountain, intermediate to advanced ski with tip and tail rocker. They are marketed towards the advancing intermediate skier and are a great option for those transitioning from kids' skis to adult skis. Despite being marketed towards the beginner to intermediate level, these skis hold their own when cruising down the mountain. They perform well in trees and bumps and are intuitive to use. The 90 waist width allows for easy edge-to-edge transitions.

The Rallybirds have a good amount of rocker in their tips, which allows for quick turn initiation. They also have rocker in their tails, making them suitable for freestyle skiing. Underfoot, they pack a good amount of camber which adds to the springiness of the already light wood core. These skis are pretty soft, making them easy to rail into. They can hold up for someone who's powering into their ski, but they are softer than a ski that has metal or carbon in it.

In terms of carving, this ski turns on a dime. It excels at short radius turns and quick edge-to-edge turns. It can handle medium or longer radius turns, but it might struggle with straight lining at high speeds. The edge hold on these Rallybirds is pretty good for a softer snow type of skiing day. However, they might not be the best choice for hard pack icy days due to their cap sidewall construction.

In terms of freestyle skiing, these skis are super playful, poppy, energetic, and lively. They are great for hitting little jumps off the sides of the trails and are suitable for park skiing. In terms of freeride, these skis are not the ideal powder ski, but they are light and a little wider, pushing their way into the all-mountain category of skis.

Atomic Maven 86 R Skis + M10 GW Bindings · Women's · 2024 summary

The Atomic Maven 86 R Skis + M10 GW Bindings are a versatile and reliable choice for intermediate skiers looking to conquer any terrain. With a perfect blend of stiffness and flex, these skis can handle both firm snow and variable conditions. The 86mm underfoot width makes them suitable for both East and West coast skiing. Plus, the bindings are compatible with all boots on the market.

This model is a bit stiffer than the 83, but still has a less aggressive flex than the 93c, so it's perfectly happy cruising at an easier pace, but has enough backbone to tackle faster runouts and chattery conditions. System bindings are included for an even better deal.

This is the most versatile ski of my suggestions, it's narrow enough to inspire confidence on firm snow and groomed trails, but the freeride-inspired tip shape and a bit of rocker help it pivot around quickly in tight terrain as well as adding forgiveness in tricky/variable snow. A tad stiffer than the Salomon, this ski will keep up with you as you venture out onto more aggressive terrain, but won't hold you back when you want to cruise.

Similarities

Both the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings and the Atomic Maven 86 R Skis + M10 GW Bindings are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers and come with bindings, offering great value for money. They are both all-mountain skis that are versatile and can handle a variety of conditions. Both skis are praised for their playfulness, maneuverability, and ability to handle both groomers and off-piste terrain. They both have a good amount of rocker in their tips and tails, which allows for quick turn initiation and makes them suitable for freestyle skiing. Both skis are also lightweight and energetic, making them easy to maneuver and fun to ski on.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are versatile and suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers, they differ in their performance in certain conditions and their suitability for different skier personas. The Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro is a great option for advancing intermediate skiers or those transitioning from kids' skis to adult skis. It excels in carving, freestyle, and freeride categories and is a great option for someone who's looking to grow on their skis and work on moving a little faster downhill or being a little more agile on their feet.

On the other hand, the Atomic Maven 86 R is a bit stiffer and perfect for those who want to cruise at an easier pace but still tackle faster runouts and chattery conditions. It's a great choice for those looking for a reliable and versatile option that can handle both firm snow and variable conditions. It's also a great choice for those who ski on the East Coast due to its 86mm underfoot width.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

1. Versatility: Both skis are versatile and can handle a variety of conditions. However, the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro has a slight edge due to its wider underfoot width, making it more suitable for off-piste terrain.
2. Playfulness: Both skis are playful and fun to ski on. However, the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro is described as super playful, poppy, energetic, and lively, giving it the edge in this category.
3. Carving: While both skis can handle carving, the Atomic Maven 86 R is a bit stiffer and therefore might be a better choice for those looking to cruise at an easier pace but still tackle faster runouts and chattery conditions.
4. Value for Money: Both skis come with bindings, offering great value for money. However, the Atomic Maven 86 R is praised for being one of the best deals around in terms of carving-oriented all-mountain packages, giving it the edge in this category.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings and the Atomic Maven 86 R Skis + M10 GW Bindings are excellent choices for intermediate to advanced skiers. They both offer great value for money and are versatile, playful, and fun to ski on. The choice between the two will ultimately depend on your personal skiing style, preferences, and the conditions you typically ski in. If you're an advancing intermediate skier looking for a versatile all-mountain ski that excels in carving, freestyle, and freeride categories, the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro might be the better choice for you. However, if you're looking for a carving-oriented all-mountain ski that's a bit stiffer and perfect for cruising at an easier pace but still tackling faster runouts and chattery conditions, the Atomic Maven 86 R might be the better choice. Either way, you can't go wrong with either of these skis. Happy skiing!