What's Blizzard up to?

[kid-kapow]

hm, another day with a fair few runs on the R9s in completely different conditions, and I must admit to admitting to being wrong above (re making skis easier to ski / lighter being a positive).

Today we had refrozen to soft/almost corny/slushy groomers and crusty and heavy as hell "soft" snow off piste. While I do not expect a 96mm ski to perform off piste in this kinda snow, it still surprised me just how much I did not get along with them on. They felt twitchy, lacked edge hold underfoot (not as in that they did not grip, more like it did not feel like it - that they felt very insubstantial) and just too light for my liking. Like, the Woodsman 110s I also used for some runs felt better on piste than the R9s did, and they are not exactly known for their on (icy) piste prowess. I usually prefer wider skis, so that could be part of the equation as well - I dunno.

I think some work on the tune could've helped, as would a change in my technique to being a bit more forward. The main thing for me though is that they just feel too light.

So, if you want a light, turny ski that can excel under intermediates and strong skiers with a dynamic style, look no further. It is not for me. And no, I am not saying it is a bad ski - I am sure it is awesome for a lot of skiers.

My Black Ops 98 on the other hand were great. The extra effective edge, longer sidecut and extra heft felt borderline perfect and made the conditions just about as enjoyable as they could be. So from that you can also gather that I ski from a more centered stance and drive the skis from the center by riding the sidecut, not through bending the shit out of the shovels. My technique is enthusiastic and would prob make an alpine coach consider retirement So take this for what it is - some thoughts after a limited number of runs across two days with very different conditions.

[SoVT Joey]

Kind of funny opinion but whatever. Great we have choices.

I guess that is the outcome when the majority of the forum is getting older. I’ll probably feel the same way in another 25 to 30 years as well.

[ticketchecker]

I guess that is the outcome when the majority of the forum is getting older. I’ll probably feel the same way in another 25 to 30 years as well.

I feel seen


Sent from the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen

[Reformed]

It's good enough that you should buy a pair and ski them. I went from a 180 to 186 and mounted +5mm; detuned from 1 and 2.8 to 1 and 2. Have skied it 2/3 of my days this season.

I was able to demo the current R11 this weekend and had a lot of fun on the ski in a broad range of conditions. I am assuming that the family resemblance between the R10 and R11 would be as expected - R10 being slightly less loose in 3d snow, slightly quicker edge to edge, less float, quicker to pull you into shorter radius turns but offering similar stability at speed and better edge hold on firm? Do my assumptions align with your experience on the two skis? Are there any other differences that stand out? I can't demo the R10, and want to make sure that it's not wildly different from the R11. Blister's take is that it isn't, but I'm interested in other people's experience too.

[gregL]

I was able to demo the current R11 this weekend and had a lot of fun on the ski in a broad range of conditions. I am assuming that the family resemblance between the R10 and R11 would be as expected - R10 being slightly less loose in 3d snow, slightly quicker edge to edge, less float, quicker to pull you into shorter radius turns but offering similar stability at speed and better edge hold on firm? Do my assumptions align with your experience on the two skis? Are there any other differences that stand out? I can't demo the R10, and want to make sure that it's not wildly different from the R11. Blister's take is that it isn't, but I'm interested in other people's experience too.

Your "predictions" are pretty accurate. I think the trademark Blizzard traits - like adequate edgehold for any snow you're likely to see on a given ski and similar stability at speed - are in evidence with both skis. I have both in 186 and the R10 skis longer and works quite well on firm groomers while the R11 is really waiting for 8" plus.

[gregL]

Was able to get out today on the new Anomaly 94 and Anomaly 84, both in 182, and was stoked about both. Most people who love the old Bonafide 97 and Brahma 88/82 will have no trouble transitioning to the new designs, including old school die-hards like me with several pairs of the aforementioned icons (plus 2 Bodacious) in the basement. They rail hard, but the tips are not as "stubborn" and there is more tail rocker AND more camber.

[Gweilo]

Your "predictions" are pretty accurate. I think the trademark Blizzard traits - like adequate edgehold for any snow you're likely to see on a given ski and similar stability at speed - are in evidence with both skis. I have both in 186 and the R10 skis longer and works quite well on firm groomers while the R11 is really waiting for 8" plus.

Thought too the new R10 (in 192) is much closer to the R11 than the previous one was. Definitely the 10.5 I was expected [emoji1305]


Envoyé de mon iPhone en utilisant Tapatalk

[MD12]

Was able to get out today on the new Anomaly 94 and Anomaly 84, both in 182, and was stoked about both. Most people who love the old Bonafide 97 and Brahma 88/82 will have no trouble transitioning to the new designs, including old school die-hards like me with several pairs of the aforementioned icons (plus 2 Bodacious) in the basement. They rail hard, but the tips are not as "stubborn" and there is more tail rocker AND more camber.

This is good to hear. More camber though? Never thought my b97 needed more bite lol thing carved up high speed groomers like nothing else even straight ice.

[gregL]

This is good to hear. More camber though? Never thought my b97 needed more bite lol thing carved up high speed groomers like nothing else even straight ice.

Not a huge amount, but visibly so. There's also more rocker at both ends, so the net result isn't balky or grabby but the skis have more pop out of the turn.

[MD12]

Nice thanks. I sort of crapped on the anomaly line and blizzard over on blister this morning but this makes me think I’ll be picking up a pair haha. No more posts before coffee.

[Reformed]

Thanks for the comments fellas. R10 is sounding like a fun ski. Likely going to come down to that or a QST 106.

[gregL]

Nice thanks. I sort of crapped on the anomaly line and blizzard over on blister this morning but this makes me think I’ll be picking up a pair haha. No more posts before coffee.

You shit talked them without skiing them? Always a dubious move. IMO the Anomaly 102 and 84 are the best of the line, but all of them are good.

[PhishingME]

Anyone compare previous gen R9 with current? These are my east coast "soft snow" ski, and I'm wondering if they softened them, which wouldn't help me.

I do think they take some getting used to, disliked them at first, but they've really grown on me. They get the diamond stone treatment every day do they'll hold an edge.

[rainy512day]

Anyone compare previous gen R9 with current? These are my east coast "soft snow" ski, and I'm wondering if they softened them, which wouldn't help me.

I do think they take some getting used to, disliked them at first, but they've really grown on me. They get the diamond stone treatment every day do they'll hold an edge.

Here is a comparison over at SkiTalk Post in thread '2023/2024 Rustler 9 Review' https://www.skitalk.com/threads/2023...90/post-950509

[wasatchback]

Anyone compare previous gen R9 with current? These are my east coast "soft snow" ski, and I'm wondering if they softened them, which wouldn't help me.

I do think they take some getting used to, disliked them at first, but they've really grown on me. They get the diamond stone treatment every day do they'll hold an edge.

They are by no means softer.. much rounder overall flex profile. You can feel the full length of the ski. The also ski more like their length vs the precious gen which tended to ski short.

[byates1]

Another day on og bodacious. Tanks. But manageable in tighter shit. Not sure I need a ski this heavy and tank ish. Not getting worked over by them though.

[PhishingME]

They are by no means softer.. much rounder overall flex profile. You can feel the full length of the ski. The also ski more like their length vs the precious gen which tended to ski short.

By "rounder flex" I suspect they worked thru the lack of transition from tip to underfoot of previous R9. Sort of notchy.
You do sort of need to stay centered on them too. After some nasty injuries my charging days are sort of behind me. My hardpack is a Brahma 82 which can handle some soft too.

[SchralphMacchio]

Anyone have cliff notes on Rustler 9 (current or previous gen) vs Enforcer 94 for off piste junk snow?

I’m kind of leaning towards Enforcer but I’m thinking the R9 may be less eager to carve and maybe more versatile in turn shapes at the expense of being less settled on chickenheads and other firm junk? I’m talking about high density snow that got skied at 40F and then froze to 25F and isn’t thawing … (gotta love our low elevation coastal resort!)

[sf]

If the 94 is anything close to the old 93 I’d say they’re pretty different.

Neither are demanding, but the 93 didn’t really float that well, but was very easy to bend into a carve

The Rustler has more tail rocker and a more «modern» mount point as well, so that should be taken into account, but neither is «better» as such

It carves pretty well though

[wasatchback]

By "rounder flex" I suspect they worked thru the lack of transition from tip to underfoot of previous R9. Sort of notchy.
You do sort of need to stay centered on them too. After some nasty injuries my charging days are sort of behind me. My hardpack is a Brahma 82 which can handle some soft too.

Correct. They have roughly the same amount of metal as the previous gen but it’s been redistributed. Having the two strips of metal that run on either side of the ski but never join gets rid of the hinge but still allows for the similar torsional flex that the previous gen had in the tips and tails. They don’t need to be “driven” to have fun on them at all but they have a bit more stability at speed and in cruddier snow as the tips don’t deflect nearly as much.

[SchralphMacchio]

They don’t need to be “driven” to have fun on them at all but they have a bit more stability at speed and in cruddier snow as the tips don’t deflect nearly as much.

Sounds like I should be deciding between the new R9 or E94 then!!!

[sf]

Sounds like I should be deciding between the new R9 or E94 then!!!

By the way. I’m not sure if neither is what I’d choose for «refrozen junk».

I’d rather look at some of Volkls offerings

[SchralphMacchio]

By the way. I’m not sure if neither is what I’d choose for «refrozen junk».

I’d rather look at some of Volkls offerings

Yeah I have the K88 high on my list. Longer effective edge with not nearly as much tip rocker as Enforcer or Rustler though, so I would downsize in length for that one.

Mostly I skied some warm/high density dust on crust yesterday where some of it had been collected into packed pockets where a 94mm ski would be more capable/smeary, while still having most of the bite of an 88mm ski on the scalped underlying boilerplate.

Also I try to spend as little time on groomed runs as possible, so I’m not looking for a flat tailed carver that has beef, more looking for a settled and not too locked in all mountain ski that has damped bite on garbage while being fun off piste.

Gotta love low elevation coastal snow skiing [emoji23]

[Fred Pabst]

Has there been any changes to the Zero G 105 in the last few years? Just snagged a pair of the 188cm that amazon said were 2022's. They look like black tips that fad to blue top sheet in the picture.

[SoVT Joey]

Has there been any changes to the Zero G 105 in the last few years? Just snagged a pair of the 188cm that amazon said were 2022's. They look like black tips that fad to blue top sheet in the picture.

the 22/23 which I think are the ones you are talking about got an updated core. The trublend wood core. Supposed to take the carbon feel away some what.