Review: 2024 Rossignol Nova 14 Ti

• Weight (per ski in grams): 1,700 (160)

A race ski pedigree with a voluptuous body, the Rossignol Nova 14 Ti has the grit of a frontside charger with an oversized sidecut. “While this ski prefers to be shredding on-piste, it’s comfortable in the bumps and short tree runs,” said Jordan Berde, hardgoods buyer for Evo. “As a bonus, the wide tip has enough rocker to allow the ski to bust through chopped up crud.”

Scoring high marks for Carving and Responsiveness, the Nova 14 Ti favors medium-radius turns at moderate to fast speeds, according to testers. The race-inspired build has elements that add accessibility to a range of ability levels, from intermediates to expert skiers. The wide tip is designed to help the ski roll on edge quickly, while the construction creates an even, smooth flex and responsiveness edge-to-edge. Testers noted that the quick turn initiation and stability can help intermediate skiers move to the next level—if their skill set allows them to roll their ankles. “Skiers who already know how to tip their skis on edge and carve are most suited to this ski,” said Jenny Wiegand, Outside’s associate gear director. “You can skid around on these skis, but it’s not intuitive.”

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The Nova 14 Ti received its lowest marks for Forgiveness. Testers noted that just as the ski enters the turn quickly, it wants to exit the turn quickly as well, which can create nervous energy. Experts can channel the rebound energy from turn to turn, but to those less experienced, it can feel frenetic or spazzy. It was also a surprise to some testers that the Nova preferred a medium-to-large turn radius, because, with the oversized sidecut and 74mm waist, some expected snappier, slalom-ski behavior. The tradeoff, however, is a benefit to skiers who encounter different snow conditions. “This ski is great for east or western skiers, and I would trust this on hard snow as well as soft snow,” said Wiegand. “It’s a confidence-inspiring sturdy ride no matter the conditions.” Unlike a traditional race ski, testers noted that the Nova 14 Ti loses edge grip and stability in icier conditions and at higher speeds, but overall, it has dependable edge hold on hard snow and in conditions many skiers encounter on a daily basis.

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The Nova 14 Ti has Rossignol’s Piste Rocker, which means 5 percent of the tip is rockered, with traditional camber in the rest of the ski. Designed to work in concert with the Konect binding system, Boost Flex technology tunes the ski to flex evenly, and enhances rebound energy. Its construction includes a poplar core, a Titanal insert for torsional rigidity and a vibration-absorbing carbon alloy matrix weave. “This ski gives great feedback turn to turn and is extremely nimble, yet also comfortable with a longer turn shape,” said Emilia Lopez-Ona. “To sum it up, it’s energetic and easy to ski.”

See how the Rossignol Nova 14 Ti compares to our other favorite carving skis of the year.