Rossignol Black Ops 98W Review: A Versatile All-Mountain Twin Tip

Introduction

The Rossignol Black Ops 98W is the women’s version of the Black Ops 98, sharing the same construction as the men’s ski with a different graphic. It is a 98mm twin tip with an all-mountain and freeride profile, and for the coming season it returns unchanged, including the same topsheet design.

That lack of churn is part of the appeal. This is a ski that has earned a following over several seasons by doing the everyday work of a quiver-of-one: soft snow days, hardpack days, tree lines, bumps, and groomers all fall within its range.

Who this product is for

This ski suits riders who want a single pair that covers a wide spread of mountain conditions rather than a specialist tool for one narrow use. The 98mm waist is a sensible middle ground for regions with a genuine mix of snowy and less snowy days, where a narrower carving ski would feel limiting and a much wider freeride ski would feel like overkill on groomed runs.

It is also a natural fit for anyone who spends time in tighter terrain. The twin tip shape adds maneuverability in trees and makes it easier to mix up turn shapes and stance, while the same attributes keep it composed on open, groomed runs.

Main strengths

The headline strength here is the balance between energy and stability. Rossignol builds the Black Ops 98W around a full poplar wood core, which brings a blend of light weight, lively energy, and a measure of stability. Fiberglass is added to the layup to stiffen the ski and sharpen its response, and a full sidewall runs underfoot to keep the platform solid.

Rubber inserts in the tip and tail handle vibration. They are a meaningful part of why this ski feels as damp and settled as it does, keeping chatter to a minimum when the snow gets firm or chopped up. Rossignol is not the only brand using rubber as a damping agent, but this is a clean example of the approach applied well.

Construction and damping

The core profile is thick and the ski is genuinely solid underfoot, which is what gives it its planted character. The trade-off is weight: adding fiberglass means adding epoxy, and that adds mass. The 170cm length comes in at 1,885 grams, so this is not a featherweight ski.

In practice, the shape and profile help offset that number. The ski carries its weight well and does not feel as heavy as the scale suggests, largely because the geometry keeps it agile when you ask it to move.

On-snow feel and versatility

Underfoot, the ski has positive camber that builds energy as you load it into a turn, then pushes back on the way out. The rocker profile is restrained, with dramatic splay at the tips confined to roughly the last third of the length and not extending far into the ski. That produces a longer effective edge, and a longer edge on the snow translates into a smoother overall feel.

Taper is similarly modest, with no radical shaping at either end. The tail is a true twin tip with a rounded profile, and the combined result is a longer turn shape: 17 meters at the 170cm length, which is on the long side for a ski in this class. The flex makes all of that sidecut accessible, so you can drive the ski hard onto edge, create high edge angles, and carve clean arcs across the fall line when the mood takes you.

That same build makes it a strong tree ski. The twin tip helps in tight lines, and the ski stays smooth and solid both on and off trail. It handles aggressive input on firm groomers as readily as it does soft snow in the woods.

Things to consider before buying

Weight is the first thing to weigh up. At 1,885 grams in the 170cm length, the Black Ops 98W is not built for uphill travel or for riders who count every gram. If light weight is a priority, this is not the ski that leads on that metric.

The turn radius is the second consideration. At 17 meters in the 170cm length, this is a ski that prefers a longer, more flowing turn shape. Riders who want a tight, snappy short-radius feel will find it here only by working the flex, and those who mostly ski small, quick turns on hardpack may prefer a different profile.

Finally, because the ski returns unchanged, there is no new-generation promise to weigh. What you are buying is a known quantity, which cuts both ways depending on whether you value consistency or novelty.

Buying advice

Buy this ski if you want one pair that covers the majority of your days: groomers, trees, bumps, and whatever snow the season delivers. It rewards a rider who likes to load a ski into a turn and feel it push back, and who wants a damp, stable platform underfoot rather than a nervous, ultralight feel.

Length selection matters more than usual here, because the 17-meter radius and long effective edge define the ski’s personality. Riders who want the most maneuverability in tight trees should look toward the shorter end of the available range, while those who want the full benefit of the longer turn shape and the stability it brings should size up. Either way, this is a ski that asks for a committed, forward stance and gives back a smooth, energetic ride.

If your quiver is one pair deep and your local mountain serves up a genuine mix of conditions, the Black Ops 98W is an easy ski to build a season around. It is not the lightest option and it does not chase a short turn shape, but it does the broad middle of all-mountain skiing very well, season after season.

Conclusion

The Rossignol Black Ops 98W is a 98mm twin tip that earns its place through consistency rather than novelty. A poplar core, fiberglass layup, full sidewall underfoot, and rubber tip and tail inserts combine into a ski that is damp, stable, and energetic, with a longer turn shape that rewards riders who like to commit to a turn. It is not the lightest ski in its class and it favors flowing arcs over rapid short-radius work, but for riders who want one dependable all-mountain companion, it remains a strong and straightforward choice.