Ski Race Stock Demystified
“You want the best…then you got the best” introducing Race stock skis from Rossignol Race Centers
What is Race Stock and why do all the racers talk about it. Just as major car companies have their own “skunk works” race development teams dedicated to develop and build only racecars to perform at the maximum limit, Rossignol has a dedicated team of experts developing and building high-end race skis for the elite racers.
Housed in it’s own building in Vioron France, Rossignol Race Department with its approximately 65 employees, design, develop, build and test pure race products built solely for the best athletes in the World, such as Lindsey Kildow, Ted Ligety, Martina Ertl, Sarah Schelper and many more including sponsored local junior heroes.
It is a limited production of skis. More testing and development go into each new Race Stock model than any of the other models Rossignol brings to the general market. Skis are developed to meet the FIS regulations, built and tested first by the top World Cup athletes, who provide feed back as the skis are constantly evolved until they are deemed ready. Work is constantly changing in the race department, when one model is in production the work has already began on the next winning World Cup model.
What does Race Stock really mean? To begin with higher quality materials are used. Bases are of particularly importance. Different bases are used for different applications. DH and SG skis use a base which is has a high top end speed, while GS and SL bases accelerate extremely fast, yet high top end speed is not a concern. More, thinner layers of material (fiberglass, metal, etc.) are used in the lay up to better manipulate longitudinal and torsional flex and complement the sidecut, desired by the racers. The building process is all done by hand and quality checked numerous times in between each step of construction. Finally a high tech stone-grinding machine, with world-class race grinds, finishes the skis. All speed skis are then waxed and hot boxed (a continuous heated cycle for 4 hours, for the best wax penetration), this is done 4 times per pair.
Ask any racer, they’ll tell you, they have to have the “Plug Boot”. So what is the “Plug Boot”? It is the Rossignol Race Stock boot and it is call the Plug Boot because it is molded with a extremely narrow internally shape with extra thick plastic walls. It is not designed to fit “out of the box”. Well, why would you want a boot that doesn’t fit? Sounds kind of dumb. Here is the explanation: Racers are all about precision and reaction. A boot that can be individually grinded and molded to an exact fit with a thin liner is an important link to being fast. In addition to the ability to custom fit a shell to your foot the Race boots are molded with a much higher quality plastic, which is more reactive and less effected by temperature. They take some time and expertise to fit, but then watch out.
So the question is; do you want to race on the regular show room car or the super charged “skunk works” car? Well it is difficult to find, but Rossignol, has made a new commitment to Racers in the US. Now if “You want the best…” you really can get the best. Rossignol Race Centers now carry a limited stock of the same Race Stock skis the World Cup and local sponsored athletes are currently using. These Rossignol Race Centers have it, have it in stock, have all the essential high DIN fixings and most importantly have the training to get you fitted and tuned to hopefully be winning races. This is a big deal…
Article by: Thor Verdonk, Rossignol Alpine Product Technical Advisor/U.S. Ski Team Manager
