SnowHot
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Product:
2012 Blizzard Black Pearl
Length/size Tested:
166 cm
Sidecut
123-88-110
TR 19
Tip and Tail Rocker, Slight Camber underfoot, flip core technology
Environment of Conditions:
*Location of review: Multiple locations (Winter Park, Tahoe region...)
*Runs Taken: who's counting
*Snow Conditions: varied - chalky, refrozen skied out terrain,
*Demo or Purchase: Yes!
Summary (inc. Strengths & Weaknesses):
Designated in the freeski line, the Black Pearl lends itself to the daily driver category.
Other skis in class: Atomic Elysian, Rossi S90w, Salomon Geisha, (to name a few)
Tester Info:
Age: 44
Height/Weight: 5'6" 135 lbs
Average days on snow: 30+
Years Skiing: 15-30
Aggressiveness: The moderate side of aggressive, looking for an extra dose of RAWR!
I first skied the Blizzard Black Pearl at WinterPark, Colorado during SIA ski testing. The groomers were edgeable and chalky.
I started out with a little skepticism that a rockered ski 88 under foot could be a daily driver but the Black Pearl quickly squashed my skepticism.
Transitions from short/medium/long radius turns were a cinch, and the forgiveness in a roller section was......well......forgiving, but the thing that surprised me most was the easy edge transitions, and general (for lack of a better term) grippy nature. This ski can really carve!
Of all the women's skis I skied at Winter Park, the Black Pearl was my #1 Pick
Day two - Sugar Bowl, conditions were less forgiving, skied out and refrozen terrain, mixed with some interesting refrozen snow in the chutes that resembled avy debris, and trees that resembled crem brule that had set around a bit too long.
Spent the day testing some other skis and switched to the Black Pearls to ski out the afternoon. (about 3 hrs).
The snow didn't soften up like we thought it would, but the Black Pearl stood the test, and made the day fun, instead of just manageable.
As to Graphix: I was unsure of the Bull theme of this new freeride ski line until I heard the story. It seems that Arne Backstrom was involved in designing this new freeride line before he died in South America. When he won the freeskiing world tour in 2010, it was said that he "charged it like a bull" These graphix are a tribute to the man who was instrumental in Blizzard freeride line and the flip core technology and that makes these graphix special.
Flip Core Technology:
The core of the ski is flipped so that it forms the rocker naturally before pressing the ski into its shape. The flip core rocker is a smooth natural rocker that doesn't create a hinge point that you may feel in a rocker that is pressed traditionally.
I like to think of something that each of my skis inspires and this one inspires RAWR!
Blizzard's target group for this ski:
Eat Pray Send, and they mean it!
2012 Blizzard Black Pearl
Length/size Tested:
166 cm
Sidecut
123-88-110
TR 19
Tip and Tail Rocker, Slight Camber underfoot, flip core technology
Environment of Conditions:
*Location of review: Multiple locations (Winter Park, Tahoe region...)
*Runs Taken: who's counting
*Snow Conditions: varied - chalky, refrozen skied out terrain,
*Demo or Purchase: Yes!
Summary (inc. Strengths & Weaknesses):
Designated in the freeski line, the Black Pearl lends itself to the daily driver category.
Other skis in class: Atomic Elysian, Rossi S90w, Salomon Geisha, (to name a few)
Tester Info:
Age: 44
Height/Weight: 5'6" 135 lbs
Average days on snow: 30+
Years Skiing: 15-30
Aggressiveness: The moderate side of aggressive, looking for an extra dose of RAWR!
I first skied the Blizzard Black Pearl at WinterPark, Colorado during SIA ski testing. The groomers were edgeable and chalky.
I started out with a little skepticism that a rockered ski 88 under foot could be a daily driver but the Black Pearl quickly squashed my skepticism.
Transitions from short/medium/long radius turns were a cinch, and the forgiveness in a roller section was......well......forgiving, but the thing that surprised me most was the easy edge transitions, and general (for lack of a better term) grippy nature. This ski can really carve!
Of all the women's skis I skied at Winter Park, the Black Pearl was my #1 Pick
Day two - Sugar Bowl, conditions were less forgiving, skied out and refrozen terrain, mixed with some interesting refrozen snow in the chutes that resembled avy debris, and trees that resembled crem brule that had set around a bit too long.
Spent the day testing some other skis and switched to the Black Pearls to ski out the afternoon. (about 3 hrs).
The snow didn't soften up like we thought it would, but the Black Pearl stood the test, and made the day fun, instead of just manageable.
As to Graphix: I was unsure of the Bull theme of this new freeride ski line until I heard the story. It seems that Arne Backstrom was involved in designing this new freeride line before he died in South America. When he won the freeskiing world tour in 2010, it was said that he "charged it like a bull" These graphix are a tribute to the man who was instrumental in Blizzard freeride line and the flip core technology and that makes these graphix special.
Flip Core Technology:
The core of the ski is flipped so that it forms the rocker naturally before pressing the ski into its shape. The flip core rocker is a smooth natural rocker that doesn't create a hinge point that you may feel in a rocker that is pressed traditionally.
I like to think of something that each of my skis inspires and this one inspires RAWR!
Blizzard's target group for this ski:
Eat Pray Send, and they mean it!
