Hero st ti review

Overview

The Hero ST Ti is Rossignol's short-turn titanal carver for 26/27. ST means short turn: four lengths from 157 to 172 cm, each with a slalom-style radius of 11 to 14 m. The name on shop shelves and in the feed is now Hero ST Ti. Rossignol's own description uses that name too, while the product title on rossignol.com still says Hero Elite ST Ti. The 25/26 ski under the Elite name has its own page: the Rossignol Hero elite st ti. For 26/27, Rossignol builds Power Tip and Predictive Sidecut into the ski, two technologies the brand introduces as new across the Hero collection. The ski comes on a Konect plate and Rossignol rates it advanced to expert, 100% piste.

On-snow performance

Rossignol describes the ST Ti as agile, reactive and playful, built to throw you into tight turns and also to carve fast. The geometry backs the first part. A 123 mm tip over a 68 mm waist is a deep sidecut, and 13 m at 167 cm is a typical slalom-inspired radius. On paper the ski should roll from edge to edge quickly and pull itself into the next turn as soon as you tip it. The full titanal layer and LCT give it the backbone for hard, icy pistes, so it should feel more composed than a fibreglass carver when the snow scrapes. Camber runs along most of the base, with only a short tip rocker, so the edge contact is long and the ski rewards precise pressure. Expect it to feel busy if you let it run in long arcs at high speed; that is the job of the Hero LT Ti. At 1.9 to 2.0 kg per ski it is lighter than the LT Ti, which helps in rhythm turns.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: PEFC-certified beech wood core.
• Metal: Full Titanal Layer.
• Sidewall: Rectangular Full Sidewall.
• Stability and flex: LCT (Line Control Technology) and V-Profile.
• Tip and shape: Power Tip and Predictive Sidecut, which Rossignol says blends several radii through the turn.
• Profile: Tip Rocker, a pronounced traditional camber with a short tip rocker.
• Base and top: Sintered HD base, Premium Hardtop.
• Dimensions: 123-68-103 mm in all four lengths.
• Radius: 11 m (157), 12 m (162), 13 m (167), 14 m (172).
• Weight per ski from Rossignol's table: 1.9 kg (157 and 162), 2.0 kg (167 and 172).
• System: Konect, sold with the NX 12 Konect GW binding or the SPX 14 Konect GW at extra cost.

Who it's for & comparisons

The ST Ti is for advanced and expert skiers who spend their days on groomers and like quick, rhythmic carved turns, including ex-racers who do not want a race plate. Inside the Hero range, the Rossignol Hero carve is the more forgiving short-turn option, the Rossignol Hero master st is the race-room slalom ski on an R22 plate, and the Rossignol Hero lt ti is the long-turn version of this ski. From other brands, the Blizzard Firebird src (68 mm, 11-13.5 m, three titanal layers on an FDT race plate) is a close match in shape, the Elan Ace sl11 (68 mm, one Mono Ti layer) is the less metal-heavy alternative, and the Head Worldcup rebels e sl (68 mm, 10.5-13.7 m) is Head's race-shaped option.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Slalom-style 11-14 m radii for quick, tight carving.
• Full titanal and LCT for grip on hard, icy pistes.
• Power Tip and Predictive Sidecut are new for 26/27.
• Lighter than the LT Ti at 1.9-2.0 kg per ski.

Cons

• A narrow 68 mm piste ski, with no use off the groomers.
• Can feel nervous when you let it run in long, fast turns.
• Lengths stop at 172 cm, which may be short for tall, heavy skiers.
• The Konect plate limits your binding choice.
• 920 euros with the NX 12 binding at Rossignol is a high price tier.

Verdict: The Hero ST Ti is Rossignol's 26/27 short-turn titanal carver, a precise tool for rhythm turns on hard snow. Pick the LT Ti instead if you mostly ski long, fast arcs on open slopes.