I think GregL calls out a good point on the 183. I also did some aggressive tuning to the tips and tails and about 2” inside the contact points. It made the ski easier to disengage and manage in heavy, deep coastal snow.
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Well, I hope I don't regret the 177. Based on earlier feedback I don't expect to.
Should get them mounted and out this weekend.
Had a full day on the 177's yesterday. Conditions were super smooth groomers with really good snow, so probably not the best conditions to understand their limits and smoothness in chop.
In just a few shaded areas that were a tad bumpy when snow was pushed around, they remained very solid even when I could feel some bumps.
Off piste was frozen crust heavy snow which was very difficult to turn in. I don't think I can fault the skis for this but my technique or just snow that nobody wants to be in.
The edge hold is incredible when leaning over. I could also lean into a stop as hard as possible and there was zero chatter or uncertainty.
My only complaint is the turning radius. I don't know why they designed it to be so small? I wanted to make larger, faster arcing carve turns but they turned a bit tighter than I would have liked. They do turn on rails though.
Unsure 183 vs 177 would make a huge difference (1.5m). But I also think I could have gone with 183?
I did find them very easy to ski – I was concerned about this from what some reviews wrote. Required very little warm up time on them, and no observed speed limit on these conditions.
Overall pleased with them.
I think they truly set out to make distinct skis for the different sizes in the range for better or worse. Each is supposed to have their own differentiated flex, turn radius and amount of camber, for example. The 183 has more camber than the 189, and I think the 177 as well?
And then this year with the red running through the topsheets 2022-23 they have a thinner core and less rubber.
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Good info, thanks man! I noticed Sooth Ski's 22/23 189s are 155 grams lighter than my 21/22s, but haven't skied new stock, so kept my trap shut. Looking forward to a comparison between 189 B97s and Heritage Lab 188 R99 Comps, should any mags manage to get time on both. Crushed some corn on my pair today, almost time to add in some MTB and spring touring to the weekly routine. Gotta love spring.
The 22/23 version is a bit different than the previous two years. They’re the same shape but they thinned the core profile by a small amount in the tip and tail and also removed two small strips of rubber that were under the edges of the topsheet that ran tip to tail.
It was a considerable improvement to the existing ski without changing the shape and rocker profile. They’re much easier to break loose when you need to than the previous two years. Just feel less “locked” especially off trail. No less grip but much easier to manipulate turn shape. A little more lively in and out of the turn.
Hopped on the Corbetts deal @ 183cm bc I have perfectly matched STH2s NIB & Joey is a terrible influence.
Went 183 over 177 @ 145 lbs for a DD mostly bc of my views that a short/fat option just fails to run as smoothly as a longer variant.
I was very surprised hand flexing the 2023. Had just offloaded my 2021 version and the current year seemed like a much nicer flexing ski. If I had to guess I think the tips and tails flex softer than my m102 and m6, but the middle of the b97 is still stiffer than those. Makes me want to pick up the 183 2023 on close out REEAAAL bad and maybe mount +1 or 2.
I guess I overlooked the fact that the Bonafide changed from 21 to 22... but it looks like the radius remained unchanged at least for 177.
In case this hasn’t been stated - blister has only reviewed the 2021 before blizzard changed the construction to make the ski more accessible and soften the tips. The 2021 was a bit off imo but works for some people. The current version (23) is a bit softer at least in the tips and tails and weighs less. Still a hefty badass ski though - this is not an enforcer.
BM, I’d love your comparison of the m102 to the 23 B97.
As a big dude I will say I am happy with my 22 189s. They are a big of a handful in sun affected deep wet snow but are great at anything under a few inches and when there isn’t anything soft.
The shorter radius beefy build is an interesting combo that works well at alpental where I normally ski. I’m taking mine to Whistler next week and have a feeling a longer radius might be preferred in the alpine.
These skis are rad! Seriously, go grab a pair for $300 from the Corbett’s sale. I don’t find them a handful at all. Easy-enough to dilly-dally at low speeds as long as you keep your tits forward, and feel very stable through variable/shitty snow.
They were a touch grabby at slow speed through frozen/wind-affected crust, but that’s probably mostly pilot error (zero vis so skiing more defensively than ideal). I haven’t detuned at all. Guessing your standard tip/tail detune would resolve that nicely.
I didn’t have any issues throwing them sideways at any speed. Seems like a great DD so far.
Had 2.5 days at Whistler this week in varied old snow. These handled everything pretty well, they are a bit of a handful tin deep moguls (as is anything) and I found them to have a bit of a speed limit in rough soft chalk but it was damn fast and wouldn’t be reachable if it wasn’t bluebird and empty slopes. I brought my old goliaths to have a longer radius option but didn’t bother to pull them out. I told someone on the lift they are boring in a good way, they just do what they need to do across all conditions that aren’t deep in a nice predictable fashion.
I even followed my 6yo down a bunch of greens with no issues other than dulling my edges since I didn’t bring my beaters on the trip.
I had the pleasure of skiing the 21/22 Bonafide in 183cm for 12 days early last season. On the 12th day I hit an ice clump from a groomer, hidden by some fresh snow. Took a tumble and later noticed that the ski had managed to bend itself so that the rocker profile resembled a Raven or some other full rocker ski. The damaged tip was 1,5cm higher than the other. It was a weird one, since there was no visible damage other than the bend. I have taken much heavier impacts on much flimsier skis and the skis have survived.
It felt like the perfect dd for Northern Finland resorts: lots of ice and crust. It was so damp that it encouraged me to do some stupid skiing, so maybe it was a blessing to hurt the ski before I hurt myself. They didn't feel that demanding, even though I'm not that aggressive of a skier. Didn't get the chance to take them into any mogul lines, but they handled weird crusty variable snow very elegantly. I guess anyone reading Blister reviews who is around 200lbs has already learned to apply this factor of being much heavier than most of their reviewers.
I want a pair of the first gen Bonafide97s
I could be convinced to sell my 187s with sth2s at 320 to buy some heritage labs skis.
my first touring ski was the bonafide with an baron epf binding. lessons were learned.
definitely cut through Wind crust nicely though
Anyone skied the 23 Brahma 88 and 23 Bonafide?
I have the Brahma and love it but looking for a new ski I don't really need.
Already have Enforcer 110 and Rustler 11.
I had the 21 Bonafide in 189 and liked it but sold it for some unknown reason
Not sure if the Brahma and Bonafide are too close.
6'1, 195 lbs 70 days a year Lake Louise and Sunshine.
anyone?
I also had a pair ok E100 but didn't click
https://www.corbetts.com/2021-blizza...-97-mens-skis/
Still $290 USD for 183 and 177
Hmm…those were the model I bought which says 2021…so that means I have the original “more stout” layup? They are close to my OG Volkl M102 but they feel a tad less ski/stable. Still need to put more time on them.
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Attachment 482683
183's mounted with Attacks. Kept going back and forth between the line or +1, ended up splitting the difference and mounting at +0.5. Stoked to get them on snow.
^^^Just had a great day today on my 183s just like these ^ so great, feel cat quick relative to the 189s, very agile... I also love the full tip to tail effective edge to edge when linking turns, and still easy to slide if you want to. my camber is about clapped out, I think they're getting better and better as they break in
Bump.
Mounting on the line would’ve been fine for me. +.5 works too though. I detuned the tips and tails a bit. Had a lot of fun skiing these on piste and in spring conditions. They feel composed at speed, and are most fun when rallying around at speed. Not saying nothing new…
Re loss of camber, I had a pair of OG Kendo's that had no camber. Definitely got better and better. Passed them along because they were too short. That spot in the quiver was vacant till I got these b97’s.
Been grabbing my 24 Bonafide 97 most days this spring. So capable on the morning firm and tons of fun as it softens. Despite a bloated quiver I'm taking just these on the road to Mammoth next week.