This ski, my friends, is a great ski. And I don't like anything. Ask around. When picking a ski, I tend to prefer fat, soft, and versatile options--which is weird, because I'm thin, rigid, and completely one-dimensional. Despite the metal reinforcement underfoot, the Rustler 11 has the perfect medium-stiff flex for a playful big mountain board, and feels surprisingly light for all its girth. And that girth is nice, too. A 112mm waist width handles all but the deepest days in the Western mountains, without sacrificing stability or mobility when conditions get sporty. I'm usually on skis that are 110-115mm wide, and the Rustler 11 is probably the one I ended up reaching for most often this winter. That's quite an endorsement from me, since I'm either a living, breathing ski expert or a very well-constructed bot.
A Blizzard of Color
The 2020 Blizzard skis lineup doesn't feature any massive changes, outside of a redesign to the Zero G backcountry ski series. There are a couple minor tweaks, like thicker wood in the Rustler 10, and a couple subtle additions, like the Brahma 82 and Black Pearl 82. But the flashiest update is the collection-wide color-pop (even the blacked-out Spur has pink sidewalls!), which includes a redesign of the crazy-popular Black Pearl's graphics.
As for that Zero G redesign, Blizzard pulled off a couple cool things. One, they dropped the weight by 20% of an already very light collection of skis. And two, they added more playfulness and more stability by employing 3D carbon, cutting some rocker, and updating the tip shape to make the skis less grabby. The ... Continue Reading
If we had a dollar for every time customers say they're looking for "good all mountain skis," we would...well...we would own more pairs of good all mountain skis.
In today's skiing landscape, defining categories of gear can be tough. All mountain skis differ for different people. The powder-hungry freeride skier at Jackson skis the whole mountain on playful sticks with waist widths around 110 millimeters. The rad dad drops his kids at a lesson in the morning and has four hours to charge every trail off the summit quad on the widest skis he's ever used—metal-loaded chargers that measure 93 millimeters underfoot. The Bostonian escapes to Killington to rip bumps, groomers, and tree stashes on 85-millimeter-wide Swiss Army knives that are the best "all mountain" skis he read about ... Continue Reading
You love him. He loves skiing.
Whether or not you also ski, finding a gear gift for him can quickly prove intimidating. There’s just so much stuff. He’s just so particular. Or maybe he just never coherently communicates what he needs or wants.
Whether he errs on the wild side or religiously sticks with that jacket you got him 20 years ago or blows you off to chase powder, we’ve got you covered.
And because you’re reading this gift guide, we know he loves you too.
For: The Trendsetter
He’s the personable one, the one cracking jokes and grabbing you a beer and laughing at himself. Those bright colors and that distinctive style mean you never lose him on the mountain. Get him a gift that keeps his party rolling.
Patagonia Synchilla Snap T Pullover Jacket
The ... Continue Reading
Check out our preview of 2020 Blizzard skis.
Highlights from the 2019 Blizzard skis lineup:
The Old Standbys
Blizzard's classic lineup of men's skis—the Bodacious, Cochise, Bonafide, and Brahma—come back for another year of intra-mountain domination. Last year's Brahma CA has a fresh look (far right) and a new name for 2019. Say hello to the Bushwacker.
Rustling Up Winners
One of the most impressive new lines of skis a year ago was Blizzard's Rustler, known as the Sheeva on the women's side. This year, the freeride series gets even better with the addition of the Rustler 9 and the Sheeva 9 at 94mm and 92mm underfoot respectively.
The Sheeva 9 and the Rustler 9 for the most part mirror the construction of their wider associates. The ... Continue Reading
Check out the women's edition of our Holiday Gift Guide for 2017 here.
If you don't already, you should know a few things about the male skier(s) in your life. First, when it seems like they have enough gear, they don't. Second, the holidays are the one time of year when they're deluded enough to actually believe their "wants" carry as much weight as their "needs." And third: They will love you just for caring enough to research the skiing world's hottest gift items with them in mind—but they'll love you even more if they find one in a box in December.
So here's your guide to the holiday season, with insight from three of our lovably stereotypical ski-ployees.
Matt M's Picks
The Bargain: Dakine Heli Pro 24L Backpack. "Who wants to stop at the lodge or car on a pow ... Continue Reading
2020 Blizzard Rustler 11 Description:
When big mountains get big snow, the Rustler 11 is one of the skis of choice for Powder7 staffers. Just ask Justin, our data guy, who took it to Jackson Hole last season during their record February. He loves the ski for its big-mountain and powder performance, which is wrapped in a surprisingly light package. So when you "or Justin" find yourself at the top of something steep ‘n sketchy, the Rustler gives you the maneuverability to make turns rather than straightline and the backbone to keep you on the snow rather than send you plummeting. Oh, and the Rustler 11 loves your powder days too. The 112mm waist width surfs and floats all but the most epic storm snow, thanks to Carbon FlipCore D.R.T., which reduces torsional rigidity in the tips and tails to allow for playful skiing. Back for 2020 with a color overhaul but no other changes, the Rustler 11 is primed for another year of freeride “sending”. Similar skis: Moment Deathwish, Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, Kastle FX106 HP.
