Blizzard Anomaly: The new Brahma and Bonafide
After firmly embracing the adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” for winter after winter after winter, Blizzard finally replaces it’s longstanding collection of directional all-mountain skis for 2024-2025. That means no more Brahma, Bonafide, or Cochise. In their place, we get a whole new collection: Anomaly.
2024-2025 Blizzard Anomaly 94 Review: Field Notes
The Anomaly collection features skis measuring 84mm, 88mm, 94mm, and 102mm underfoot. That generally mirrors the offerings from the previous collection, with the widest two skis slimming down a bit and the narrowest model getting slightly wider.
Sizing: 164cm, 170cm, 176cm, 182cm, 188cm.
Our review zeroes in on the 94, the collection’s flagship. The tech holds consistent through the models, though, with the only major differences being dimensions.
Overall, the Anomaly fills the same role in Blizzard’s lineup as its predecessors: high-performance all-mountain skis that land on the more aggressive and direction side of the spectrum. Where the Bonafide and Brahma demanded more effort and power than most other skis in their categories, though, the Anomalies are designed to cater to a wider variety of skiers. Blizzard says they are quicker, more maneuverable, and easier to throw sideways. All that while still retaining top-end power reminiscent of the Brahma and Bonafide.
How? I asked the same thing. First, metal. A top layer of thicker titanal is arranged in strips over a True Blend wood core and a second full sheet of thinner metal. Essentially, the two sheets are arranged into three layers, with the top layers able shear. This makes the skis less torsionally rigid.
Second: rocker. By increasing the depth and height of the rocker, Blizzard hopes to produce a less punishing ski that goes 0-to-60 as well as Brahma/Bonafide but also goes 60-to-0 more easily. The camber underfoot is higher, meant to provide ample edge grip even with the shorter contact length. And third, Trueblend. Blizzard more or less makes a unique wood core for every ski in every size, and the Anomaly 94 features sturdy beech wood underfoot and more lively, softer poplar in its extremities.
Blizzard also sheds fiberglass, epoxies, and resins. The result is a sustainability boost, a slight weight reduction (50-60 grams), and less beef. But, ideally, no loss in top-end performance.
Anyway, that’s the marketing claim. I’ve been putting the Anomaly through the wringer this winter, and I’ll report back with my full review soon!
