Is the 4FRNT Devastator the new and improved Rossignol Sickle?

[poleplant]

I’m also curious if anyone has gotten time on the new devs. The new specs came out today, on paper they look close to a metal-less msp 107. The devs mount point is .5cm back from msp and the effective edge is 4cm less for the 186 vs 187 msp.
I’m wondering if the new devs ski like just another rocker camber rocker, tapered ski or if they maintained some unique qualities.
Im loving the new graphics of the devs for sure though.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[poleplant]

Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[PlayItLeo]

Devs are one of my favorite skis, but imo the reverse camber is what makes them so good. Will reserve judgment for a bit, but giving them camber seems meh to me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[waxloaf]

I chatted w someone on their site and was told they are in fact still fully rockered. So either the side profile pic is wrong or this person doesn’t know what they are talking about.

I would be disappointed if they gave it camber. Nice to have fully rockered options out there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Self Jupiter]

Curious if anyone can a/b the old 194 with the new, lighter 194. Wondering if skis like a ~188-190 cm old Dev a bunch of us wished for

[undertow2]

Curious if anyone can a/b the old 194 with the new, lighter 194. Wondering if skis like a ~188-190 cm old Dev a bunch of us wished for

I rocked/rock the 194 Devs and just checked the site and the longest Dev I saw was 186... I know 194 is big boy size but would have at least expected 189... So many great skis out there...


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[waxloaf]

Yup, they have completely tossed the 194. I wonder if they just didn’t sell enough of the big boy size to make it worth it.

The 186 seems to be a comparable weight to the older 184 from a few yrs ago (2250ish), which I like. I think last year’s 184 was down to 2000, which was far too light for that ski.

Assuming it is still fully rockered (big assumption) - what do you guys think about adding more taper? Seems to me that adding taper to a fully rockered ski seems unnecessary for turn initiation, but I guess it lowers swing weight? I think I’d rather have the longer effective edge than a lower swing weight though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LC]

what do you guys think about adding more taper? Seems to me that adding taper to a fully rockered ski seems unnecessary for turn initiation, but I guess it lowers swing weight? I think I’d rather have the longer effective edge than a lower swing weight though.

No, no, no. No taper is part of the reason I love the old Devastator. That and its weight let it cut through chop like few others out there.

Bummer on no long lengths any more, and the lighter weight.

[mr_pretzel]

I read on insta that they only sold like 5 pairs of the 194 at full price so thats probably why it got cut.
Sucks because that was a really special ski.

New ski is flat camber with rocker tip and tail

[Self Jupiter]

Wow, 5 pairs sold, and that was after they went on the diet.

The ~2600g 194 Dev is such a fun DD for spacious resorts with a maritime snowpack. It can break in and out of carves/slarves better than any other ski I’ve used.

[waxloaf]

Fyi - they seem to have updated the picture on the site now and it no longer looks cambered, so that is good news


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DGamms]

Wanted to send an update on this thread.

I ultimately ended up keeping the Sickles and selling the OG Devastators. The Devs main weakness was their very small flat spot underfoot, making them more twitchy and less stable feeling than the Sickles in most situations outside of 6”+ of new snow.

I love the Sickle, but I’m still looking for its modern replacement. My pair is 11 years old and has hundreds of days on it. Plus the base material on the Sickles and Scimitars is slow as shit (their most glaring weakness).

I was hopeful that the new Devs had a bigger flat spot underfoot, like 4FRNT had advertised. The Devs also now come in a 186cm length. That makes the straight pull length around 183 cm, just like the old 186 Sickle. Lastly, the new 186 Dev is supposed to come in at around 2200gm with a turn radius of 21m, identical to the 186 Sickle.

So I ordered a pair of the new Devs. But the rocker profile is almost identical to the old Devs, and they weigh 2000-2050gm. Not the all mountain playful inbounds charger I was looking for as a Sickle replacement. I returned the Devs still in plastic.

[skisurfmirth]

Thanks for the update. Maybe one day Rossi will smarten up and rerelease it.

[poleplant]

I sold my sickles because my pair of 2016 sir Francis bacons did almost everything better.
Probably an unpopular opinion but for me the sickle didn’t do anything that a modern freestyle ski doesn’t do. Plus the sickle did not float well in powder for its width.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[madriverfreeride]

I agree with above that the dev had too small a flat spot combined with too much splay which made for a very small sweet spot compared to the sickle.

A ski worth checking out is the moment meridian, I have a pair of 181s that I haven’t spent time on yet that measure 180cm straight pull and weigh around 2000 grams. But I demoed the 187 for like 3 days of soft snow skiing and it reminded me a lot of the sickle, but it is slightly lighter and less damp and also has a little more splay, but less than the devestator, I’d say it shifts the bias slightly towards softer conditions compared to the sickle, gives up a little bit of stability in chop but gains float despite being narrower.

I do have a pair of 186 sickles that I found at a thrift store so hopefully I’ll be able to A/B with the meridian at some point this year.

[Self Jupiter]

The 194 fixed the flat spot feeling for me when compared to the 184 but that ski is a massive, heavy beast. Not all that hard to ski IMO but very tiring.

[JaytaeMoney]

I sold my sickles because my pair of 2016 sir Francis bacons did almost everything better.
Probably an unpopular opinion but for me the sickle didn’t do anything that a modern freestyle ski doesn’t do. Plus the sickle did not float well in powder for its width.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

I have never disagreed with a post more than this one

[poleplant]

I have never disagreed with a post more than this one

Haha I knew this would happen, but I stand by what I said. I was surprised when I would a/b the two thought the wide tip and weight of the sickle would make them very different skis, but they performed similarly. I would give the nod to sickles in medium to firm chop, soft chop they are very close, groomers and powder sfb was better. The 2016 sfb was a solid ski, I also mounted 2.5 cm further back which helped, the newer versions are way lighter and softer and don’t ski much like the older version.
Anyways just one opinion but I think a modern stiff rocker/camber/rocker in the 105-110 width can come pretty close to replacing the sickle. Personally I would rather see Rossi make their blackops 118 in a 108 width than have them bring back the sickle.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Shorty_J]

A ski worth checking out is the moment meridian, I have a pair of 181s that I haven’t spent time on yet that measure 180cm straight pull and weigh around 2000 grams. But I demoed the 187 for like 3 days of soft snow skiing and it reminded me a lot of the sickle...

Hmmm... that does look a lot like the sickle profile but with a less abrupt rise in the twin tips.

And given that you're saying it's a little easier to ski than the sickle and I'm getting old and out of shape... this is appealing to me.

Sent from my SM-A505W using Tapatalk

[skisurfmirth]

Haha I knew this would happen, but I stand by what I said. I was surprised when I would a/b the two thought the wide tip and weight of the sickle would make them very different skis, but they performed similarly. I would give the nod to sickles in medium to firm chop, soft chop they are very close, groomers and powder sfb was better. The 2016 sfb was a solid ski, I also mounted 2.5 cm further back which helped, the newer versions are way lighter and softer and don’t ski much like the older version.
Anyways just one opinion but I think a modern stiff rocker/camber/rocker in the 105-110 width can come pretty close to replacing the sickle. Personally I would rather see Rossi make their blackops 118 in a 108 width than have them bring back the sickle.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Interesting. I never skied that 2016sfb. I still think the sickle is a pretty amazing 0-20cm ski for my local hill, KH. Super versatile. Have Blackops or Sally rocker1.0 if there is more snow than that.

I think a black ops 108 would be a great ski but if they haven't made it yet I'm starting to doubt they will.

[kc_7777]

I’ve owned Sickles, Devs and Meridians. All were really good skis.

I don’t like new 2020 Devastator top sheet.

Looks like a kids ski top sheet....made for a 10 yr old?

[4FRNT_Skis]

I’ve owned Sickles, Devs and Meridians. All were really good skis.

I don’t like new 2020 Devastator top sheet.

Looks like a kids ski top sheet....made for a 10 yr old?

Just out of curiosity what Dev topsheets have you liked? Always hard to nail graphics for everyone, but always curious about what 4FRNT fans like and don't like!

[kc_7777]

Just out of curiosity what Dev topsheets have you liked? Always hard to nail graphics for everyone, but always curious about what 4FRNT fans like and don't like!

I guess if I'm gonna complain I should provide some alternatives. This was not a slam on 4FRNT....I'ved owned 2013 and 2015 Renegades, 2013 and 2014 Hojis, 2016 Kye 110s, 2015 and 2016 Devs, 2019 Inthaynes, 2018 and 2019 MSP 99s....for whatever reason I've sold all my 4FRNTs (Inthaynes and Rens went to my sons). My 10 year old daughter is still on pink 4FRNT Blondies and 4FRNT Coyotes. And my wife has some 2019 179cm 4FRNT Hoji Ws.

Favs that I owned re graphics were probably the 2016 Kye 110s and 2013 Pilsner Hojis (see below).

I don't mind the new MSP graphics. Or the Rens, Hojis and Ravens of the last 2 years.

My thoughts for the Dev for next year...

Thinking is that the Dev is a sort of bad ass ski....so make it understated?...eg like a Cochise or Faction CT 5.0.
Plain graphics would work better than this year's graphics, which are just too kid-like....eg the Devastator Jr?

Or just bring back the 2013 Pilsner graphic we all want....

2016 Kye 110:


2013 Hoji:

[eskido]

Just out of curiosity what Dev topsheets have you liked? Always hard to nail graphics for everyone, but always curious about what 4FRNT fans like and don't like!

New Hoji graphic is fucking ILL!! Followed closely by the by the new Ren. I can honestly say that IMO those 2 graphics are some of 4frnt’s best EVAR (honestly the whole Hoji line this year has very cool artwork)!! I also really dig the og Inthayne with the snakes (green obviously) as well as the 2011 CRJ. Your welcome.

...carry on

[tang]

as well as the 2011 CRJ. Your welcome.

...carry on

Is that CRJ the lion? If so, agree. And they did a reissue on that, after his unfortunate passing