Rossi S7 skis ?

geo · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:06 pm Post subject:

Half the fun of new skis is interacting with their dimensions.

These 2011(?) lime green Super 7 with metal top sheet skis have:

Edge running surface (RS) anywhere between 110 and 130 cm depending on how you call it.

~33 cm of shovel rocker (with max width 145 mm occurring tipward of running surface).

~26 cm of tail rocker (with max tail width occurring at 127 mm, but just ahead of tail rocker, near to start of true edge RS (thus creating the "pintail").

These "195s" measure 190.8 cm tape pulled tip to tip.

CC (Chord Center) and Balance Point respectively occur 6 and 8 cm forward of the "0" Boot Center mark).

The 117 mm waist of the ski is shy of 30 cms long and occurs "generally more aft," between the boot center marks to well behind where your heel would be.

Curious stuff. Interesting one to mount. If I mount boot center it looks like BoF (Ball of Foot) will land/smush between CC and Balance Point.

Apparently I may want to mount a couple forward of "0" Boot Center if I want more tail for landings. Hummm. Thoughts?

geo · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:04 pm Post subject:

I may end up mounting this ski with an NTN or an AT binding, so I can get the duckless boot finally, and easily switch skis and ski styles (although I have been a 100% free heel skier for 25 years).

[ OK, so my mind finally opened... Wink

]

Still - I am tooling up on the bench right now to put on a hardly used older blue HH with stiffy springs onto the S7. I seriously don't think I'm going to like this ski much, mainly because of the weight.

The AT binding on my shelf here is Euro "Atomic MX412" given to me by a bro who is skiing Mantras with HH, but who might like to try these skis that I'm working on.

I will check all screw options for when I will need to plug and redrill.

WishfulThinking · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:08 pm Post subject:

I looooove my S7's. Most of my skiing is in soft chop or powpow - perfect for that stuff. But even on a groomer day they really rip and carve. I sold my other skis since I just always pick up the S7's on the way out the door.

I have Axl's on them for backcountry. Heavy, yes. But I only need to be as fast as the slowest person in the group.... but then again, it often seems I'm the slowest person in the group. Laughing

But the ride down makes it all worth it!

I recommend to go long on these. I'm usually on a 170cm ski, but I upgraded my 178's to the 188's since the shorter length felt way too short and soft for me (5'7", 130lbs).

Here's a video with a good amount of S7 action... watch for the chump in the orange jacket Smile

http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=82659

Vermont Refugee · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:43 am Post subject:

On of my skiing partners paid the full bill for a new pair of Super S7's (whatever their name is) for alpine skiing at the end of last year, and he's loved them on the limited number of days he's willing to commit them to (many days of rock skis at Breck this year). Jim skis flat out (skidding half the time, but happy) and thinks they're the best he's ever been on....

I see patrol and serious skiers on weird boards that look like 'U's (I think DPS sells a board with a foot of rocker at either end that never sees snow) and I don't understand it. I know I'm old, but this is difficult to understand...

I will wait til the severely rockered skis show up on Teleturnaround or resale shops before I get to try them out. In the meantime, anybody got a pair of unrockered Mantras that just don't look cool enough?? I'll send you enough $ for a couple of Starbucks or designer Vodkas to make you look cool again.
_________________
"Enjoy every sandwich" advice from Warren Zevon

geo · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 3:30 pm Post subject:

with you Wishful T. ... always enjoy WH vids from the north. I 'd enjoy skiing with you all up there one day. Not really that far away from here.

All kinds of turns thrown in - fun - good skiing. Off to the races in the tight trees; like the drop shots. I am stoked you are stoked about the skis and that Aprill provided for you guys as it did here. I will test my S7s tomorrow. Got center lines drawn down them, and have an old pair of HH ready.

Pretty undecided still about boot center placement.

Vt Ref - well said. I skied Breck twice this year, and the East coast; glad I was not on S7s!![/i]

knackered · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 59

I got S7s this year. Had a couple of early season days on other skis, but once I'd mounted the S7s, I haven't skied anothing else.

As was already said, stoopid fun.

I've never been much good on powder, these skis made a huge difference, I'm really enjoying the big powder days. They're very turny, which suits me. These skis make me look better than I really am.

For the chunkier spring days, the Super 7 might feel a bit more stable, but I've been getting by OK with the S7s. They are heavy, though. If I'm on a lift by myself, I put the bar down so I can rest my legs a little bit from the drag.

I'm skiing NTN, and mounted them with inserts so the forward NTN mount position was exactly on the ski centre line. I've only played a little with the position, but the ski centre line seems to work pretty well.

I'm probably going to Frankentele them for next year, I've got some G3 Onyx bindings to play with.

I did hear a rumour that next year's S7 would be redesigned a bit, with changes in the tail.

geo · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:35 pm Post subject:

I've been feeling a bit knackered myself... good name, harking back to UK days. I have always been interested in Frankentele, and as mentioned above, am showing more interest in skiing these bad boys purely alpine. (Which I'm doing anyway these days, no matter what the free heel rig below me, so I probably won't limit myself).

I am finding great joy mixing much more alpine into my tele, letting the snow, curve radius, speed and obstacles dictate which style of turn. Smooth natural transitions - aesthetics chosen by the environment instead of by me. I am also skiing more backward, but all that "jibbin" is coming a bit too late now for me. It's going to be interesting riding these S7 water skis...

nstelemark · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 1922 Location: Nova Scotia

Well I skied locked down on some Rossi E88s a few weekends back for the first time in oh 10 years. I hated it.

And I skied alpine only for many years on big stiff skis and boots. So YMMV.
_________________
Larry
----------------------------------------------------
NTN is all about Dynamic Performance™
Came for the stoke, stayed for the popcorn.
Tele boot fitting - http://www.nstelemark.com/NSTelemark/Telemark_Boot_Fitting.html

geo · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:49 pm Post subject:

yea I know. I skied a run locked down in 2003 (it was actually in the Bellingham Ski-to-Sea race) - that was enough of a reminder; and previous to that was sometime in the mid80s. That's why I doubt any fixed heel equipment is in the offing for me. My last AT rig I gave away to an ex Telemark racer who wanted something no hassle and step-in to teach skiing to kids....

but now we have the NTN...

which is why I'm screwing an HH on...

God, this is complicated Wink

(as usual)

geo · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:54 am Post subject:

FOR THE RECORD...

Copying this very insightful discussion of S7 vs Armada JJ by a member who PMed me, but would like to remain Anon.

Much appreciated; presently I am committed to the "cheater ski" (S7), due to my own faults and lack of research - but to quote our famous culture - "its all good."

geo · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:34 am Post subject:

ALSO: RE MOUNTING. Found the following:
[url]
http://image.dynastar.com/Rossi/Rossignol%20flat%20ski%20mounting%20lines%2009-10.PDF[/url]

and the aforementioned TGR post (thanks)
[url]
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/144515-S7-Mounting-Point[/url]

INTERESTING is that all suggestions are really geared towards ALPINE mounting....

After studying this 195 ski, I've decided that boot center for me (30cm boot) placed -2cm back from 0 puts the ball of foot right at CRS (BoF@CRS). That position puts the pin line 8cm fwd of CC, and 6 cm fwd of Balance point.

-2cms back from "Zero" puts about 55cms of edge in front of you (or 88 cm of ski), and 45cms of edge behind you (or 71cm), when your toes, ball and heel are working the ski.

However, hanging in the air from your pin line, you'd have ~88cms of ski front, and ~102cm of ski hanging behind you. Carving your trailing ski from a point somewhere between your pin line and what little there is across from your ball of foot, you'd have 60 cm of edge in front, 72 cm behind, or a total of 93 cm in front and 99 cms behind.

Of course as mentioned above becasue the ski is asymmetrical, the main waist of the ski (117mm) all occurs under or well behind you (117 mm starts at CRS, at about 4cm forward of "Zero").

You may find all this stupid, but that's why this is called telemarktips.

James · Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 7012 Location: Castle Rock, CO

Based on what was posted I have pretty good idea who the poster is and he has always bashed on pin tail skis. As always I will agree to disagree. If the S7 or Lotus 120 are faulty designs there are several thousand skiers that are very happy with their faulty designed skis.

I have no idea what ski is better since I have not skied either but I have a nickle that you could not go wrong with either and you will be more then happy with your choice.

I will be at a clinic with the Nordic National Demonstration Team next week. They are sponcered by Rotte and most if not all of them tele on the S7. I can ask where they think they should be mounted if you still need help.

I also find the thought that the JJ would be stiffer anywhere or more stable at speed then the Super 7 amusing.

geo · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:10 pm Post subject:

Fair enough James! Thank you for the counter point, and argument from preferred choice by a group of presumable experts. Any chance you can give this Nordic Demo Team a call ahead of time? I really need to get this done pronto, and do really appreciate your chiming in with support.

To recap: The OP (who is not an intermediate skier) main concerns are:

1) Dimensions and design of the S7, mounting position and applicability to freeride telemark and alpine-on-telemark style.

(I realize that any mount position can work or be adapted to and I apologize for over-working the problem in this public thread, but I thought a record of S7-specific observations might be of interest/ utility. I have previously been forthrightly scolded for being a blow hard on such minor issues).

Meanwhile, a vague sense of buyer's remorse/guilt - Do I want a ski that makes skiing easier? Or do I want a thoroughbred ski that demands and rewards excellence? I look forward to putting the Super 7 through its paces and will report back; I'm kind of committed now!

Sitting in the lift laughing about this with teledance yesterday reminded us of VT's excellent 'retrogrouch' comment:

James · Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 7012 Location: Castle Rock, CO

Sorry GEO I don't have their phone numbers. I am meeting some of them for dinner tomorrow night and can report back late. One of them Tom from Montana talked at length about the S7 and Super 7 this fall so I hope he is there tomorrow and can give me better feedback.

FWIW I think softer full rocker skis like the JJ are as you describe "makes skiing easier". While I think skis like the Super 7 are more "thoroughbred" I don't think they are all that hard to ski for an advanced skier. The one exception being I don't think you are going to care so much for skiing these 195s in the bumps.

To me the bottom line is turn shape. Skis like the JJ are just to turny and don't seem to want to go straight.

Also the other person you are talking about is a very strong skier and does have way more knowledge of ski design then I do but I am fairly confident I have 10 times the experience skiing these things.

Either way I will post back what I can find out.

geo · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 6:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks James, that will work! My friend in McCall said - "forget mounting them until you put an NTN on 'em with a jig!"

But I reckon I need 'em for a week in AK coming up, and I'm not bringing 2 types of boots and two types of bindings - dig?

As with many things we have a vast elephant and we are blind, touching different parts of it, when it comes to describing ski designs and choices at different points in life. Right now I am contemplating gear failure, and the virtues of the ancient, unsexy three pin / cable, two-bindings-in-one of Voile CRBs....

Can you say - indecisive?! Wink