Products You May Like
It’s just the cyclical nature of the ski manufacturing. Product engineers spend multiple years putting their blood, sweat, and tears into designing the best skis possible, only to retire them three seasons later and replace them with something (hopefully) even better and more exciting.
Sometimes, that better and more exciting ski can’t come soon enough for us skiers. Other times, brands discontinue skis that are still among the best performers out there, never mind that they’re three-seasons-old.
So it goes this season. For 2022-’23, skiers will be forced to bid adieu to a number of skis that have become mainstays over the past couple of years, including these five skis that have won awards and developed a cult-like following. But don’t worry—the product designers promise us they have something even better in the works.
Pro tip: If you’re in love with the current version of the skis listed below and not hankering for whatever’s coming down the pike to replace them, now’s the time to buy. Dealers will be looking to clear out this inventory in order to make room for the shiny new versions next season.
5 Skis Being Discontinued for Winter ’22-’23
Fischer Ranger 102 FR
This unisex ski hasn’t even been around for that long, but in its short lifespan it managed to convince men and women alike that Fischer skis could, in fact, be fun and playful. The secret sauce in this ski: a twintip profile and reduced amount of metal in the construction, which made this ski exceptionally good at tackling crud and powder. Read the full review here.
Alas, for 2022-’23, Fischer is taking this ski out of its Ranger lineup and replacing it with an all-new Ranger 102. According to Fischer, the new version is designed to be just as fun but even more versatile and forgiving than the OG Ranger 102 FR. Read more here.
Rossignol Black Ops Stargazer
This ski was launched as part of Rossignol’s totally reimagined 2021 Black Ops freeride line, which proved to skiers everywhere that, after a temporary slump that followed the enormous success of the Rossignol Soul 7, Rossignol had rediscovered how to make awesome all-mountain skis.
The Stargazer, a dedicated women’s ski with a 92mm-waist, is the little sister of the Rallybird 102 Ti, and was heralded by our female testers as one of the most approachable and dependable all-mountain options for women in 2021 and 2022. Read the full review here.
But out with the old and in with the new: Next season, Rossi replaces the Stargazer with the Rallybird 92, a hybrid between the Black Ops Rallybird 102 and the old Stargazer.
Faction Dictator 2.0
When it comes to Faction skis, you either get it, or you don’t. Those who get it know that Faction makes some of the most playful, approachable, and fun skis on the market (does the name Candide Thovex or Eileen Gu ring a bell?).
The Dictator has been Faction’s long-standing, narrower line of skis, with the Dictator 2.0 being one of the most popular and versatile in the lineup. With 96mm underfoot and an energetic poplar wood and Titanal construction, the Dictator 2.0 scored high marks in Quickness and Forgiveness in our annual gear test, making it a top choice for intermediate and advanced skiers looking for a ski to make bashing moguls and cruising off the groomers more approachable and fun. Read the full review here.
Next season, Faction replaces the Dictator line with the new Dancer series. Look for the all-new Dancer 2 to fill the shoes of the Dictator 2.0.
Fischer Ranger 99Ti
Like the Ranger 102 FR, the Ranger 99Ti is going the way of the dodo next season. The new Ranger lineup for next season does away with the separate FR and Ti construction models with the goal of creating one more cohesive, versatile, and approachable Ranger line.
This will be hard news for hardchargers to swallow, since the Ranger 99Ti was an ideal ski for aggressive advanced and expert skiers who needed an all-mountain stick that could rail on hardpack and also tackle the off-piste with smooth conviction. See the full review here.
But Fischer felt that the Ranger 99Ti had run its course and is replacing it with a new Ranger 96, a hybrid between the Ranger 99Ti and old Ranger 94FR.
Scott Slight 93
Fans of playful and agile skis will be sad to read that the Scott Slight line is disappearing next season, and with it the popular Slight 93. This ski really impressed testers with its pop and pizazz at our annual gear test, especially since it’s been quite a few years since we’ve seen Scott produce anything worth writing home about in the all-mountain category. Read our full take here.
As much as we liked the Slight line, and especially the Slight 93, we’re hopeful about what’s coming down the pike to replace it next season: the brand new Scott Pure family. If the brand took all the wins from the Slight line and built on them for the Pure line, good things are coming our way in 2022-’23.