In the world of skiing, the Rossignol Blackops 98 Open Skis and the Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis are two top contenders. Both skis are designed for advanced riders and offer a blend of performance, versatility, and fun. The Rossignol Blackops 98 is a more directional, freeride-oriented ski that excels in spring-like conditions and off-mountain terrains. It's snappy, responsive, and great at dumping speed. On the other hand, the Blizzard Rustler 10 is a stable all-mountain ski with a twin tip design. It's a high-radius turn machine that holds well on ice and performs exceptionally at high speeds. Both skis have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between the two ultimately depends on your skiing style and preferences.

Rossignol Blackops 98 Open Skis · 2024 summary

The Rossignol Blackops 98 Open Skis are designed for the adventurous skier who loves to explore off-mountain terrains. These skis are not park skis, but they are more freeride-oriented. They are snappy edge to edge and perform well in spring-like conditions. The skis are responsive and turn right with you, regardless of when you're ready to turn. They are great at dumping speed and are happy to go straight and fast for the most part.

The skis are fairly stiff and damp underfoot compared to the tips and tails, which are quite soft. This unique flex pattern allows the skis to perform well in softer conditions like slush or end-of-season warm weather. However, they may feel unstable and give a fair amount of chatter on ice and hardpack.

The Rossignol Blackops 98 Open Skis are not freestyle skis, but they are very maneuverable. They can swing around pretty easily and are not super heavy. They are also not super light. These skis are not specifically designed for powder, but they can handle up to six to eight inches of powder just fine.

These skis are recommended for skiers who are looking for an all-around ski for the East Coast, the Midwest, or a low snowfall ski for out West. They are not recommended for East Coast skiers who spend a lot of time on ice.

Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis · 2023 summary

The Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis are a great option for skiers who like a stable all-mountain ski with a twin tip design. These skis have a loose tip, but the flex in terms of being soft and poppy ends after that. Through that zone, it's really a stable charger of a ski. It's sort of neither here nor there in terms of its flex profile.

The Rustler 10 is a high-radius turn machine. It doesn't swing and spring into a tight radius easily, but it makes short turns very easily. At high speeds, you're locked into pretty wide, loose carves. The ski holds far better on ice, and the radius and precision of the turns that you can change are more precise.

The Rustler 10 is a good ski for high speeds. Its tip and tail will rattle around because they are a bit softer, but underfoot, you're not going to experience any chatter. The ski is not designed for jumps and rails, but you could hit jumps on it and be totally fine doing so with its stable wider platform at 98 underfoot.

These skis are recommended for skiers who ski a ton of variable snow. They are heavy and hold up in chop. If you're skiing a lot of tracked-out, post-storm runs, then the Rustler 10 would be a good option.

Similarities

Both the Rossignol Blackops 98 Open Skis and the Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis are designed for advanced skiers who are looking for a versatile, all-mountain ski. They both have a twin tip design, which allows for a more playful and freeride-oriented skiing experience. Both skis are also designed to perform well in a variety of conditions, from groomed runs to off-piste terrains. They both have a stiff underfoot for stability and control, but softer tips and tails for maneuverability and playfulness. Both skis are also not specifically designed for park skiing, but they can handle jumps and other freestyle maneuvers to some extent.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are designed for advanced skiers, they cater to slightly different personas. The Rossignol Blackops 98 Open Skis are more directional and are great for skiers who love to explore off-mountain terrains. They are snappy edge to edge and perform well in spring-like conditions. These skis are recommended for skiers who are looking for an all-around ski for the East Coast, the Midwest, or a low snowfall ski for out West.

On the other hand, the Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis are a high-radius turn machine that holds well on ice and performs exceptionally at high speeds. These skis are recommended for skiers who ski a ton of variable snow and are looking for a stable all-mountain ski that can handle a wide variety of terrain.

In terms of differences, the Rossignol Blackops 98 Open Skis have a more pronounced flex pattern, with a stiff underfoot and softer tips and tails. The Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis, on the other hand, have a more consistent flex profile, with a medium flex throughout the ski.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to versatility, both skis perform well in a variety of conditions, but the Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis might have a slight edge due to their high-radius turn capability and better performance on ice.

In terms of playfulness, the Rossignol Blackops 98 Open Skis take the cake with their snappy edge-to-edge performance and more pronounced flex pattern.

For stability, both skis offer a stiff underfoot for control and stability, but the Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis might be a bit more stable due to their consistent flex profile and better performance at high speeds.

Finally, for maneuverability, both skis are quite maneuverable thanks to their twin tip design and softer tips and tails. However, the Rossignol Blackops 98 Open Skis might be a bit more maneuverable due to their more pronounced flex pattern.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Rossignol Blackops 98 Open Skis and the Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis are excellent choices for advanced skiers looking for a versatile, all-mountain ski. The choice between the two ultimately depends on your skiing style and preferences. If you love exploring off-mountain terrains and prefer a more directional, freeride-oriented ski, the Rossignol Blackops 98 Open Skis would be a great choice. If you ski a ton of variable snow and are looking for a stable all-mountain ski that can handle a wide variety of terrain, the Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis would be a good option. Either way, you're in for a thrilling ride on the slopes!