The Ranger series from Fischer has never failed to impress us here at Snow Magazine, being some of the most versatile and fun freeride skis on the market. So when we heard about the new 102 model with a lightweight twin tip, we were excited to give them a spin on the slopes.
Fortunately, we weren't disappointed. Immediately, they feel like the Ranger's we know and love - smooth, responsive and easy to turn yet powerful and stable. This sentence applies both on and off-piste with an almost seamless transition from one type of snow condition to another making the Rangers an unusually versatile beast.
At 102mm under foot they are wide enough for most powder snow adventures, yet on groomed slopes they carve a smooth line at high speeds and are light and snappy in the shorter radius turns. The new lightweight twin tip doesn't seem to hinder the performance on-piste like it can on some skis and perhaps even adds to the ease of use overall. Experienced freeride skiers will get the most out of them but they aren't particularly demanding of raw talent compared to some high-end, expert level freeride skis and this opens them up to a larger sector of the market in search of a freeride ski that will nurture them through thick and thin.
Although the Ranger 102 could be considered expensive they are not overpriced so we can heartily recommend them to anyone looking for a fun, playful freeride ski that you can genuinely take all over the mountain.
