- Joined
- Mar 5, 2017
- Posts
- 1,202
Phil
Size tested: 178
Location tested: Snowbird UT
Conditions tested in: Chalky off piste
I was late to the party when this ski was named Blacks Ops Escaper 94 and I am not going to make that mistake again. Rossignol has renamed the ski and brought it out from under the Black Ops umbrella. Some metal was added and it was renamed the 94Ti, which is now part of the Sender Collection.
I was a big fan of the Escaper, but I felt it was overshadowed, which was a shame. Even without the metal, the Escaper was no wall flower; it was a substantial ski. Now with metal, it might have a slightly higher cost of admission in performance, but the top end now has few limits and can go up against any ski in the class.
What I like a lot about the Sender 94Ti is that is it not a “me too” ski. Most of the skis in this range have similar tip and tail rises, but the Sender 94Ti has a tail that is flatter and broader and really likes to finish a turn, bit still has enough rise to not get hung up off piste.
- Insider tip: Of course you want to put a Pivot 15 on this ski.
- One thing I would change: Rossignol has a huge hole between the Experience 86Ti and the Sender 94Ti. A Sender 90Ti would fit that hole nicely.
Size tested: 186
Location tested: Mammoth Mountain, CA
Conditions tested in: Chalky off piste, cut up mid-day groomers
This was a bad boy cutting through cut and piled groomers which were warming quickly and getting a bit heavier. No hesitation, no fear. Plenty of power for heavier, stronger skiers. The Sender just rails. Done railing? The 94Ti can accommodate you: with a release of edge you can slip and slide a bit. On the hard grippy off piste chalk I felt some tip/tail/tip/tail grab, but I believe that a quick run with a gummy stone could remedy that. After all, these are demo skis and they do get skied...a lot.
Long Term Update4/10/22) With spring skiing in full force I grabbed the Sender 94Ti from the SkiTalk test wall and spent a very fun day on it at Mt. Rose. It was one of the few recent days there wasn't a hard freeze the night before so things were unlocking a bit earlier in the bright April sun. Having been on the 186 length ski earlier in much firmer conditions I knew its capabilities there. This day I was on the 178 length. On to chopped soft and beyond snow.
Mt. Rose has a great run for testing carving capabilities of skis. On this morning I missed the cream cheese but got the almost too soft on firm transition. Piles and tracks from other skiers littered the area. The Senders ran through this snow with no problems no matter the edge angle. I was expecting some porpoising of the tips as they encountered the heavier piles but they just sliced through. The tails provided a strong follow through but the entire ski could be slipped and skidded at will.
Next up was a run of soft bumps interspersed with rocks and dirt. Quick direction change was name of the game and the Rossis did not disappoint. With the long tip rise and fairly light weight they pivoted, slipped, and, yes, stopped quickly. Into the trees.
The early afternoon softened the snow in the trees just right except for shadows where it was still a bit firm. The tip on the Senders works through the soft snow while the ample spine held firm in the shaded snow.
Overall, the Sender 94Ti is another ski from Rossignol that possesses a wider skill set than would appear on paper. It's a very comfortable ski which, while a more skilled skier could wring more from it, an advanced intermediate will find it a fine ride across a variety of conditions. Size up or down according to conditions or skier style. I liked the 186 for wide open skiing but the 178 was very comfortable in the bumps and trees.
The Sender has a bright feel to it, not totally damp, but enough feedback to let you know what's going on underfoot. The tip rise lets it ride nicely without getting hung up in variable snow and the little bit of tail flip keeps things from getting hung up behind you.
- Insider tip: Longer for stability and charging, shorter for quicker turns or tighter spots.
- One thing I would change: Maybe a hair more damp? But why?
Lauren
Size tested: 172
Location tested: Waterville Valley, NH
Conditions tested in: Soft, wet, thick conditions. Fresh heavy snow (the kind you don’t want to shovel), soft moguls, and chopped up groomers.
Being the narrowest of the Sender skis, I jumped on it with an open mind, but little expectation of liking the ski. I normally stray towards a wider platform for extra stability in heavy, wet snow conditions. It was late in the day, the snow was thoroughly tracked and chopped up, and my legs were toast. My expectations could not have been more wrong. This ski created a stable and solid platform, but at only 94mm underfoot, it had a friendly nature about it. It was easy to maneuver, pivoted on a dime, and remained stable carving through crud and chop. This is a ski that rewards good technique but doesn’t demand it 100% of the time.
The Sender packs a lot of personality into those 94 millimeters. It’s the flat rate shipping box of skis, filled to the brim with versatility. It’s a ski I could grab any day, in any condition and not second guess my decision. The paulownia wood core creates offers a poppy, nimble nature that is ideal for bumps and trees. Combine that with a Titanal “beam” and you get a sturdy and stable structure that is great for smoothing out chop and railing carves on smoother terrain.
- Who is it not for: Someone that wants an uber damp ride, this ski has personality.
- Insider tip: For extra stability or more float, look towards a wider Sender. For a softer friendlier ski, look towards the Rallybird 92.
- Awards
- Who is it for?
- You want to turn and burn, but would like to take it a bit easy on occasion. Better technical skiers will benefit from the Senders 94Ti’s shape. Someone looking for a daily driver that packs a lot of versatility into a single package.
- Who is it not for?
- The Sender 94Ti may be a bit too burly for smaller or lighter skiers. Tail gunners, the Sender can and will send .. err ... launch you. Someone that wants an uber damp ride, this ski has personality.
- Skier ability
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- Advanced
- Expert
- Ski category
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- All Mountain
- Ski attributes
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- Off Piste
- Trees
- Touring/Backcountry
- Segment
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- Men
- Women
Specifications
- Available sizes
- 156, 164, 172, 178, 186
- Dimensions
- 128-94-118
- Radius
- 19m@178cm
- Rocker profile
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- Camber with tip and tail rocker
- Size Scaling
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- Dimensions
- Construction design
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- New graphics
- Binding options
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- Flat
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