Arcade w 80 review

Overview

The Rossignol Arcade W 80 is the women's version of the entry ski in Rossignol's 2026/27 Arcade line. It keeps the 130/80/118 mm outline of the men's Rossignol Arcade 80 but changes the size run: 134 to 166 cm instead of 142 to 182 cm. Where the lengths overlap, Rossignol lists the same radius and the same weight for both versions. The women's ski carries Rossignol's Assist flex, the softest of its three flex profiles (Boost, Active, Assist). It is a system ski on Rossignol's Xpress plate, and Rossignol aims it at beginner and intermediate skiers who want stability, effortless handling and confidence on any snow.

On-snow performance

This is a ski built to make turning easy. The radius is short at every length, from 8 m at 134 cm to 12 m at 166 cm, so the ski wants to come round in small to medium turns at moderate speed. Tip and tail rocker lifts the ends off the snow, which should make turn entry forgiving and let the skier pivot without catching an edge. Rossignol's Extended Sidecut stretches the effective edge for more grip as speed rises, and V-A-S damping is there to smooth out chatter. Cap construction and a fiberglass laminate keep it light, 1.3 kg per ski at 150 cm. That lightness and the soft flex are what a newer skier wants; strong skiers will feel the limits of a cap ski on icy groomers or at high speed. With an 80 mm waist it handles a few centimetres of fresh snow beside the piste, not deep snow.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: PEFC poplar wood core.
• Reinforcement: fiberglass.
• Construction: Cap Sidewalls, a top layer that wraps the ski from edge to edge for low weight and chip resistance.
• Topsheet: Premium Hardtop.
• Profile: Tip & Tail Rocker with camber underfoot.
• Sidecut: Extended Sidecut with LCT (Line Control Technology).
• Damping: V-A-S.
• Flex: Assist, Rossignol's softest flex profile.
• Base: sintered.
• Dimensions: 130/80/118 mm at every length.
• Radius: 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 m for 134 / 142 / 150 / 158 / 166 cm.
• Weight per ski: 1.1 / 1.2 / 1.3 / 1.4 / 1.5 kg. Rossignol labels these "kg/pair", but they are single-ski weights.
• System: Xpress plate; shop sets pair it with the Xpress 10 binding.

Who it's for & comparisons

The Arcade W 80 is for women in their first seasons up to confident intermediates, and for lighter or shorter skiers who need a 134 or 142 cm ski with a short radius. Compared with the Salomon Stance w 80, it is a much softer, easier ski: the Salomon uses a titanal layer, a narrower tail and longer radii, so it rewards a more active skier. The Elan Wildcat 80 c uses Elan's asymmetric Amphibio profile and a carbon reinforcement on the Shift plate, a sportier take for women who already carve. The Atomic Cloud q9 is narrower at 75 mm with full camber, more of a pure groomer ski. Inside Rossignol, the Rossignol Arcade w 82 adds a carbon beam and rectangular sidewalls for skiers who want more grip.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Assist flex and tip and tail rocker for very easy turn entry.
• Short radius at every length, from 8 to 12 m.
• Light: 1.1 to 1.5 kg per ski depending on length.
• Short sizes down to 134 cm for small and light skiers.

Cons

• The soft cap construction runs out of grip on ice and at speed.
• The Xpress system binding rules out touring and other binding choices.
• Longest length is 166 cm, short for tall women.
• Strong intermediates will outgrow it within a season or two.

Verdict: A light, soft and very forgiving women's all-mountain ski for the first seasons. Choose it if ease matters more than grip at speed; step up to the Arcade W 82 if you already carve with confidence.