The key technology is called Air Tip. A honeycomb grid of air pockets lightens the tip and noticeably reduces swing-weight. Rossi calls attention to it on the rack by dramatically backlighting the ski. (So no, they don’t actually glow on the hill.) But reduced swing weight, something we’ve seen before, is just part of the story. Sure, it makes the ski quicker, “flickier”, easier to throw sideways—all good traits in a big, wide ski. But here’s the thing: reducing swing weight and concentrating mass under the foot is all the more important in the age of rocker, where tip flap becomes an issue at speed, especially on groomers. The lighter tips of the Air Tip models are demonstrably quieter on the snow. This was especially apparent when we compared them to the two 7 Series models that do not feature Air Tip, the Sin for men and Saffron for women, which have traditional tip constructions to keep the price down.

None of the 7 Series models have metal; basalt fibers and elastomeric VAS material dampen vibrations without deadening the skis. As with the original S7 and related models, tip-and-tail rocker and taper combine for heroic ease of use in powder, while traditional camber and sidecut underfoot (along with that dampness) gives them virtually uncompromised hard-snow performance. The cores are made of lightweight Paulownia wood—the new darling of backcountry/AT ski designers. Pre-cut skins will be available for the Soul, as well as trim-to-fits for all other models.