Rossignol ARCADE W 78 XP10

The Rossignol Arcade W 78 XP10 is a women's on-piste ski, 78 mm underfoot, sold complete with its Xpress W 10 GW binding for $549.95.

It is the cheaper twin of the Arcade W 80 - the same construction underneath, a hair narrower, and the W 78 saves you $100.

The build is simple: a poplar core and fiberglass in a cap chassis, and there is no metal in it and no carbon. Rocker at both the tip and the tail shortens the edge touching the snow, so the ski hooks up late and lets go early. That is what makes it hard to catch an edge. It is also why it goes vague when pushed hard and fast on firm snow. One decision, both consequences.

One thing you should hear from us up front. Rossignol's own copy credits the grip to sidewall construction, while the spec block lists the construction as CAP. We write the ski from the spec block.

The most useful number on it is the turn radius: 9 m at 140, 10 m at 148, 11 m at 156. That is short, and on a groomer it means the ski comes around with very little asked of you. Per ski it weighs 1.2 to 1.4 kg - light to swing all day.

Rossignol aims it plainly: intermediate and beginner women skiing groomers. The parts list agrees. It is the wrong ski for anyone already carrying speed, and wrong once you leave the groomer. One hard line, and it is a safety line: the included binding is officially not compatible with junior boot soles, and its boot-sole adjustment starts at 261 mm. On a ski this short, that check comes first.

We stock 140, 148 and 156. It is a system ski, so the binding is included and pre-mounted - bring your boots and we will check the sole against the binding before anyone talks about length.

Technical Specifications

Who It's For

The Arcade W 78 suits a beginner through solid intermediate skier who spends her day on groomed runs and wants a ski that does not fight back. The narrow waist and short radius make it quick edge-to-edge, and the rocker means a turn you start badly is still easy to finish.

It is not built for powder or for skiing off the side of the trail — 78 mm underfoot will sink in soft snow. A skier who is already carving hard and fast on a groomer will out-ski this one and should look at a stiffer, wider carver.

Sizing

We stock the Arcade W 78 in 140, 148 and 156 cm. The sidecut is the same at every length (129-78-117 mm); what changes is the turn radius, which runs from 9 m at 140 cm to 11 m at 156 cm. Shorter is quicker and more forgiving; longer is steadier at speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Rossignol Arcade W 78 come with bindings?
Yes. It ships as a system with the Xpress W 10 GW binding (83 mm brake) already mounted. The price shown includes the binding.

Do I need a shop to mount these?
No mounting is needed — the binding is integrated. Your DIN setting still has to be set and tested to your boot, height, weight and ability, which we do in-store.

Is the Arcade W 78 a good beginner ski?
Yes. The rocker, the narrow 78 mm waist and the short 9–11 m radius all make it easy to turn and easy to correct. The included binding runs to DIN 10, so it also stays useful as you get stronger.

Can I ski powder on the Arcade W 78?
Not really. A 78 mm waist is built for groomed snow and will sink in anything deep. It is a piste ski.