Rossignol Forza V70 Review: A 78 mm Frontside Carver With Unexpected Range

Introduction

The Rossignol Forza V70 is a carryover model that returns with the same construction and the same graphics as the season before, and it remains one of the more distinctive shapes in the 78 to 80 mm frontside class. At 78 mm underfoot it sits just under the width where most all-mountain skis begin, yet its wide shovel, narrow tail and dramatic sidecut give it a footprint that looks far more specialised than it actually rides.

It is a carving ski first, but it copes with a wider range of snow and terrain than its angular profile suggests.

Who This Ski Is For

This is an expert-oriented ski that stays approachable for an advanced skier. Strong skiers with a little more experience will find the most in it, especially those who ski in regions where snowfall is variable and conditions lean toward firm. The 78 mm waist provides a more supportive platform when the surface softens or gets cut up, and the construction is stable enough that there is no need to size up to access its performance. Skiers who spend most of their days on groomed terrain but want one ski that still works when the surface is not perfect will find the brief here convincing.

It rewards input and precision rather than a relaxed, surfy style, so it suits skiers who like to drive a ski rather than drift it. Riders looking for a soft, forgiving feel or a loose, playful ride should look at a different category.

Main Strengths

The Forza V70 stands out for combining a genuinely strong carve with more versatility than a 78 mm frontside ski normally offers.

Carving Performance and Turn Shape

At 163 cm the ski carries a 12-meter turn radius, and that radius increases as you move up the length options. On firm groomed snow it makes clean, concise, linked carves. The tail is sharp and angular with minimal rocker and zero taper, so the exit from one turn feeds straight into the next with a real sense of being propelled forward.

The V-shaped profile built into the laminates puts more emphasis on the strength and stiffness of the metal, carbon and fiberglass layers, and the result is a ski that feels stiff and highly responsive without asking for race-ski commitment. A torsional stiffness layer in the shovel helps you reach a higher edge angle when you want one, and the difference between the wide shovel and the relatively narrow tail makes the ski easy to steer, so you can vary turn shape instead of being locked into a single arc across the fall line.

Versatility in Softer Conditions

The width is the quiet advantage here. On a warmer, softer day the ski sits up on the softer upper surface while still letting you feel the firm layer underneath, and that combination of soft snow over a hard base is exactly where a ski of this width and build feels strongest.

The wide shovel and the minimal, low-profile rocker at the tip let the front of the ski glide up and over softer snow, which is where much of the unexpected versatility comes from. A wide shovel paired with a narrower tail also keeps the ski manoeuvrable, so you are not forced into one turn shape all day.

Build and Materials

Under the topsheet the ski uses a full poplar wood core with two sheets of titanal, one above and one below the core, plus a carbon alloy matrix made up of cross-hatched carbon stringers running through the ski. All of these layers sit in a V-shaped profile, which places more emphasis on the stiffness and strength of each material. A low-profile SPX 14 system binding is fitted as standard.

A VM variant is also offered with an ash wood core and a binding plate for skiers who want that configuration.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is not a playful ski. In the trees it stays sharp and precise, with very little drift, and it responds to your input for better or worse. In moguls the longer lengths can feel like a handful, and the ski is noticeably more manageable in shorter sizes.

Because the construction is stable, there is little reason to size up for stability alone, which means the length decision is mostly about the turn shape you want and how mobile you want the ski to feel in bumps and trees.

Length Choice Matters

The 181 cm length wants to run straighter and make longer turns, which works against what the ski does best: clean, linked, concise carving. A 173 cm was the preferred length even for a taller skier, and shorter options are simply easier to move around in moguls and tight terrain. If you want the carving character front and centre, a shorter length is the more natural match.

Buying Advice

Think about the days you actually ski. In regions where snowfall is inconsistent and the surface is more often a mix of firm and soft, a ski like the Forza V70 makes a strong case for itself, because the conditions it handles well come around more often than not. It is best understood as a wider frontside ski rather than a dedicated all-mountain tool.

Choose your length by the turn shape you prefer rather than by your height alone. The ski holds up in shorter sizes, and a shorter option will feel lighter and more mobile when the terrain gets tight. If you prefer an ash core and a binding plate, the VM variant is worth considering alongside the standard build.

Conclusion

The Rossignol Forza V70 does the traditional frontside job very well: stiff, responsive, and rewarding on firm groomed snow, with a tail that launches you into the next turn. What sets it apart is how much more it offers beyond that brief. The 78 mm waist, wide shovel and minimal tip rocker give it a genuine second gear in softer, variable snow, which makes it a sensible single-ski choice for advanced and expert skiers who want carving performance without being limited to perfect groomers.