Fischer reimagined the Ranger series for the 2022/23 season, but they did more than simply redesign their well-loved line of freeride skis. Fischer embarked on an intensely collaborative 30-month process involving team athletes, shop employees, ski engineers, and ski addicts—all with the goal of crafting a line of skis that’ll help skiers get the most out of every day spent on snow. The result is a full suite of high-performance freeride skis crafted to make the most of every day spent on snow.
What’s New
Where the previous Ranger series was divided between a freeride (or FR) line and a more directional (or regular) line, the 2022/23 lineup combines attributes from each into a single all-mountain series with enhanced torsional stability, longer effective edge, and less rocker—especially in the tails. In the wider widths, the amount of Titanal is reduced, allowing the more powder-oriented offerings in the line to maintain a softer flex in the tips and tails for a more “schmeary” and playful feel. But since there’s still metal through the midsection of the ski, even the wider widths offer better edge hold and stability over its predecessors from the FR line when rolled over on edge at higher speeds. The new Ranger series also touts Fischer’s Flexcut technology to optimize the energy characteristics from each ski.
Another major departure from previous Rangers is in the actual construction process. This change can be seen both in the sandwich-sidewall construction and materials used. The previous FR line utilized more of a hybrid sidewall design with more of a cap construction in the tips and tails. The new Ranger series extends the sidewalls, directing more power to the edges to deliver enhanced stability at speed. In terms of actual materials used, each new Ranger ski utilizes 20-25% recycled steel edges and top sheets with 50% vegetable-based oil and 10% recycled materials. The bases are now made using a minimum of 50% recycled material, and the cores utilize zero-waste wood. The Titanal used in each ski even contains a minimum of 80% recycled content. This marks a new emphasis on sustainability from Fischer without sacrificing an ounce of performance in the process.
What’s the Same
While we’ve only had a few preliminary tests on the 2022/23 Ranger series here at Jans, it’s clear they remain incredibly fun, versatile freeride skis that are more than capable of carving aggressively on piste and hardpack. We anticipate this lineup will be well-received by those who have come to know and love the previous Ranger lines and will certainly win over those who have yet to get on a pair of Fischer Rangers. We also expect this new offering from Fischer will appeal to a broad swathe of advanced and intermediate skiers—especially those who like to ski aggressively and pick out creative lines in a wide range of terrain and snow conditions. Be sure to check them out online or at one of our stores in Park City!
By Jeff Sorenson, Former Editor, jans.com
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