Rossignol Hero Elite ST TI R22 review 2020

PROSKILAB™ reviewers' comments

The Proskilab testers came back with enormous smiles on their faces after they tested the Rossignol Hero Elite ST Ti! This year, the model came with the R22 race plate (like its twin brother at Dynastar). We have to point out that this ski offers an amazing compromise between performance and accessibility.

It only took a few seconds to realize that we were dealing with a ski with a very strong slalom character. The Hero Elite ST TI R22 has all the qualities you would expect in this category: fast turn initiation, quick edge-to-edge transfer, great edge grip, precision in the turn, rebound at the end of the turn. We were not disappointed, in fact, we were actually surprised how incredibly well this ski performed. Testers called it “very good and very solid underfoot” and full of energy.

The Hero Elite ST TI R22 is a high-performance ski but is still very accessible, "easy," "reliable,” and forgiving for this category. It is very enjoyable to use as an everyday ski. It is also quite versatile for this category, allowing you to transition smoothly from very dynamic turns to more cruisy skidded turns, in both short and long turns.

However, the testers found that you have pressure the front of the ski to ensure that you “finish the turn.”

The Rossignol Hero Elite ST TI R22 and the Dynastar Speed Master SL R22 (which offer very similar performance, although not identical) are not the best-performing skis on the market. They are more than speed machines. They are very lively skis that strike an excellent balance between accessibility and performance.

The mix of performance, accessibility, and versatility make it a super fun ski. The ski seems to do whatever you ask, is comfortable in all conditions, never gets you into trouble, and is a blast to ski on. The testers’ comments were eloquent: “an excellent ski,” “favorite ski in the test this year,” and “such a high level of performance and still so accessible, it is amazing!” In short, the testers were very excited by this ski.

The Hero Elite ST TI is a very progressive ski. It is the ultimate “recreational” slalom ski and will satisfy a large number of skiers, from the advanced skier who wants to improve short turns or try racing, to expert skiers who are more focused on fun than performance.

The sidecut and the performance of the Rossignol are so close to the Dynastar’s that we wanted to consider them to be the same ski. The Rossignol seemed a little more accessible and the Dynastar a bit more solid and performed better, but the differences are really minor and could be due to the tuning of the skis.

Review: Pros

• Overall performance
• Excellent balance between performance and accessibility
• Holds the line in the turn
• Edge grip
• Excellent versatility for a race-inspired ski
• Easily transitions between carved and skidded turns
• Enjoyable and fun to ride

Review: Cons

• None

The ski review scores

Who's it for?

Manufacturer's remarks

The all-new HERO ELITE ST Ti is inspired from a slalom race ski and will appeal to technical skiers and passionate racing fans. The revolutionary Line Control Technology, combined with a 68-mm waist and a short radius sidecut, guarantee precision, power, and quick edge-to-edge transfer. The LCT technology brings the ski maximum stability and an optimized trajectory throughout the turn for total line control.

Features of the Hero Elite ST TI R22

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Reviewed by PROSKILAB™