So today I had the opportunity to take the new Blizzard GunSmoke out. I have been a fan of Blizzard's skis since I got on the Answer a few years ago (110 under foot 184cm long), I was really excited to give this ski a try.
Here is the Dope:
ME: 5'10" 186 lb, training for Alaska.
Boots/Bindings: Cochise w/ PW, Marker Jester Demos
Skis I like: 191 Billy Goat, XXL, Vicik, Answer, Cochise, Bodacious, Legend 105,
Skis that were meh: 193 Shiro, 184 Rocker2,
Skis that suck donkey dick: Armada JJ, First Gen BD Megawatts.
Conditions: Bluebird, 20's in the morning and shade. 30 in the sun. (guesstimate), 1in over night, 3 in places.
On Piste: Fast edgeble groomers.
Off piste: 1-3in on top of a firmer and edgeble, but lumpy, bottom. If you knew where to look you could find some places with boot top sugar.
Thoughts:
I initially had them set at recommended, which was aprox 85cm from the tail. I started out with a couple fast groomer laps. They were quick side to side, and very comfortable with medium to large radius turns. They felt weird though. It felt like the ski was only really gripping the snow from mid foot, to about 5 in behind the heel, and I could not get the front of the ski to really catch on. I had to ski with a centered stance.
I next took them to some off piste runs that were as described in the conditions section. Again, a centered stance was a must, but I still could not get them to work how I would like. The front of the ski felt pretty useless to be honest, like it was not even there. Any bump or snow change would be felt right at the binding, with no absorption from the tip, this is the same reason I think the JJ sucks dickwad through coffee stirring straws.
I am a stubborn twat, so I kept skiing them as is. Took them into some runs that were pretty well bumped out, and could not build up any confidence in them. The tail was too present, and there was not enough tip. I kept this up for a couple more runs to try and figure it out.
At 10:30 moved the mount back ~2cm. so now ~83cm from tail. Different ball game.
On groomed runs I had more control through the whole ski and could get the tip to pull into some nicer medium-small turns. Defiantly felt a better pressure and energy dissipation through the whole ski, rather then the localized feeling I had before. Ok, now for some softer snow. The tail was no longer a problem, it provide ample support, but did not force me around too much. Still a bit more tail to tip ratio than I personally like, but a very fun ski.
The ski really likes to pop, and bounce from spot to spot, similar to how my OG 186 Billy Goats did. Overall much less damp than the Cochise, and less ability to power through and over crud than the 191 Billy Goat, or 196 Bodacious.
I went for a little hike next, and was rewarded with some boot top sugar in the trees, where the Gunsmoke did not disappoint. It was still a bit more cumbersome to move around than my 191 Billy Goats, and I found my self opting for more open paths. Overall though, the Gunsmoke provided significantly more float than either the Cochise or Bodacious. It did lend itself more to fall line skiing, with less emphasis on slarving turns.
Round Up:
Blizzard has a good ski with this one, but it did not click for me like the Cochise did. It is much more playful than other Blizzard offerings, and lends itself to being a good everyday ski for someone who likes a more poppy than damp option, and would rather play around on the sides of a skied out run, than just mach through to the bottom. Hard pack performance is great for its size and class, and it is the best floating ski that blizzard offers.
Recommendation: This ski offers a great option for those who want a more jib oriented ski, but still want more stability than is currently offered by skis like the JJ. If you like damper, more charge skis, you will have fun on this, but there are better options out there. Unfortunately, I think this ski will get under used by those whom it would be the best for, due to the lack of interest in blizzard from the NS crowd.
Bookmarks