Dynastar Menace 98 vs Rossi Black ops 98

BO 98 would be the stiffer of the two but the Menace 98 isn’t soft at all, just slightly more forgiving than the BO. Both are pretty solid underfoot with softer tip/tails. The Menace 98 is a bit heavier which makes it feel more damp and solid through crud etc. Menace 98 has less tip/tail taper so a bit better grip on harder snow too.

Both great skis but I prefer the Menace 98 as it’s more playful, feels nicer over rough terrain and less $ especially if you buy the previous Slicer Factory top sheets/name the Menace 98 had until this year.

I absolutely love the bo 98, probably has the best edge hold of any 90-100 freestyle-ish ski I've been on but haven't tried the menace yet. That being said I would not choose the black ops for getting into freestyle. Way too game on, etc.

brogoldenhairI absolutely love the bo 98, probably has the best edge hold of any 90-100 freestyle-ish ski I've been on but haven't tried the menace yet. That being said I would not choose the black ops for getting into freestyle. Way too game on, etc.

Agreed. The BO you have to be more “on it” more than most freestyle skis. The Menace 98 is more mellow and forgiving of mistakes but it’s weight gives it the ability to haul still. Menace has even better edge grip so very good for a freestyle ski.

Greg_KAgreed. The BO you have to be more “on it” more than most freestyle skis. The Menace 98 is more mellow and forgiving of mistakes but it’s weight gives it the ability to haul still. Menace has even better edge grip so very good for a freestyle ski.

Thanks for the input! I'm mainly conflicted because those stiff skis you have to ski aggressively are what I'm used to so I figured it may make my transition to some park a little easier but ever since I've heard about the menace I've been persuaded more and more

Greg_KBO 98 would be the stiffer of the two but the Menace 98 isn’t soft at all, just slightly more forgiving than the BO. Both are pretty solid underfoot with softer tip/tails. The Menace 98 is a bit heavier which makes it feel more damp and solid through crud etc. Menace 98 has less tip/tail taper so a bit better grip on harder snow too.

Both great skis but I prefer the Menace 98 as it’s more playful, feels nicer over rough terrain and less $ especially if you buy the previous Slicer Factory top sheets/name the Menace 98 had until this year.

i think i saw you mention the menaces before while talking about arv 96 TIs. have you skied both? if so, care to comment on how they compare/contrast? it might come down to which one i find cheaper and i have a ton of good experience on ARVs and on dynastar freeride skis


to OP, aren't the black ops symmetrical? while the menace definitely isnt. in my mind that should be a big decision maker for you, right?

What “stiff skis” are you used too for comparison? Menace isn’t a soft ski by any means and is on the more stiffer side of all mountain freestyle type skis. The BO is just a bit stiffer still overall. Both have sheets of metal underfoot to keep things damp and solid when you’re ripping but the tips/tails are more forgiving than a traditional ski.

Great review of the Menace 98 if you haven’t seen it yet.


https://blisterreview.com/gear-reviews/2019-2020-dynastar-menace-98

Greg_KWhat “stiff skis” are you used too for comparison? Menace isn’t a soft ski by any means and is on the more stiffer side of all mountain freestyle type skis. The BO is just a bit stiffer still overall. Both have sheets of metal underfoot to keep things damp and solid when you’re ripping but the tips/tails are more forgiving than a traditional ski.

Great review of the Menace 98 if you haven’t seen it yet.

Thanks for the review link! My current quiver is k2 pinnacle 118s and fatypus d'senders but previous to those I was skiing some rustlers...maybe not necessarily stiff all the way throughout but all of them are big planks

SofaKingSicki think i saw you mention the menaces before while talking about arv 96 TIs. have you skied both? if so, care to comment on how they compare/contrast? it might come down to which one i find cheaper and i have a ton of good experience on ARVs and on dynastar freeride skis


to OP, aren't the black ops symmetrical? while the menace definitely isnt. in my mind that should be a big decision maker for you, right?

tyler1719Thanks for the review link! My current quiver is k2 pinnacle 118s and fatypus d'senders but previous to those I was skiing some rustlers...maybe not necessarily stiff all the way throughout but all of them are big planks

The Black Ops 98 are directional and are almost the exact same dimensions as the Menace 98 with the Menace maybe a mm or two wider on the tip. The Menace 98 has almost no taper though with the BO having more(although still not much compared to most wider skis).

Haven’t been on the Ti ARV 96 but have been on the regular version and briefly owned the ARV 86. Again more taper in the ARV Ti so easier to skid turns but not as locked in on harder snow as the Menace would be. The ARV 96 Ti is supposed to be a touch stiffer than the Menace and similar to the BO but not quite as demanding as the BO. The Menace will be more playful than either but with it’s shape and construction, still more solid feeling through crud and better on hard snow.
The other thing I don’t see mentioned much is the Armada S7 bases that are beefier for rail abuse, aren’t as fast on groomers as race bases like you’d find in the Menace.

Know the Menace 98 is $500 retail US and actually $500 retail in Canada too, so already you’re at $375 US if you buy from Canadian retailers. The other thing I’ve mentioned before is that the Menace 98 has been out for years under the Slicer name and recently the Slicer Factory name. Same ski, just different graphics. If you can find last years stock like I did a couple of months ago, I got mine for $290 CAN/$220 US. Not beating that deal!

All these skis would be similar to a Rustler ski in flex as the Rustlers you can even see the sheet of metal underfoot to stiffen and dampen them but no metal tip/tail to allow them to be more flexible and playful. Had a pair of Rustler 9s myself but found they were a little too light for afternoon crud.

**This post was edited on Oct 28th 2019 at 4:32:32pm

Greg_KThe Black Ops 98 are directional and are almost the exact same dimensions as the Menace 98 with the Menace maybe a mm or two wider on the tip. The Menace 98 has almost no taper though with the BO having more(although still not much compared to most wider skis).

Haven’t been on the Ti ARV 96 but have been on the regular version and briefly owned the ARV 86. Again more taper in the ARV Ti so easier to skid turns but not as locked in on harder snow as the Menace would be. The ARV 96 Ti is supposed to be a touch stiffer than the Menace and similar to the BO but not quite as demanding as the BO. The Menace will be more playful than either but with it’s shape and construction, still more solid feeling through crud and better on hard snow.
The other thing I don’t see mentioned much is the Armada S7 bases that are beefier for rail abuse, aren’t as fast on groomers as race bases like you’d find in the Menace.

Know the Menace 98 is $500 retail US and actually $500 retail in Canada too, so already you’re at $375 US if you buy from Canadian retailers. The other thing I’ve mentioned before is that the Menace 98 has been out for years under the Slicer name and recently the Slicer Factory name. Same ski, just different graphics. If you can find last years stock like I did a couple of months ago, I got mine for $290 CAN/$220 US. Not beating that deal!

All these skis would be similar to a Rustler ski in flex as the Rustlers you can even see the sheet of metal underfoot to stiffen and dampen them but no metal tip/tail to allow them to be more flexible and playful. Had a pair of Rustler 9s myself but found they were a little too light for afternoon crud.

**This post was edited on Oct 28th 2019 at 4:32:32pm

You’re the man, thanks for the great reply


also MY B to everyone for thinking the black ops were symmetrical! Idk what I got them confused with, maybe candide 2.0...?