What's Blizzard up to?

To be honest I never was trying to ski it at very high speed through tons of chop. It definitely won't be as good at that as the old one or any stiffer ski for that matter. These are softer for sure. Was able to ski plenty fast through the untouched I found though. However I never really felt like I wanted to crush crud at speed cause I was having so much fun just playing around on them.

I tried to keep the "marketing" mumbo jumbo to a minimum and Just describe what I felt. I had completely different expectations for the ski going into the first day on them. I thought they would be great in untracked but would regret having them as soon as stuff got tracked up, sort of like old Spur. It couldn't have been farther from the truth. Again like I said I don't have a lot of experience on big soft playful pow skis. Skied the first Spur a fair amount in resort, cat skiing, brought the 193 Bodacious to AK, etc.

I was just having more fun in powder than I ever have had on a ski. Most of our skis built for soft snow have been chargers where you just want to crush everything in sight. Old spurs are tanks when on edge but can be nimble when pivoted bases down. The new ones are very different but never did I feel like the ski was limiting me, like I wanted to go faster or was getting pushed around.

Stoked to get people out on it and get more feedback although the 5 or 6 people I've put out on it who have been very different body types and way different skiers and all have had similar feedback.

I just think lots of folks will have fun on them.

I was just messin' with you a little. It does sound like you are genuinely stoked! But seriously, I'm getting old. I really want a ski like that, a fun pow ski where you don't have to rail full throttle on edge through the chunder all day after the pow is chopped up. A ski where it is fun and manageable to play around at moderate speed in the leftovers without being too floppy or cumbersome.

I think changing up the Spur is a wise move. The current iteration if way too much ski for just about anyone other than those who get to ski AK on a regular basis.

I still want a ~190cm OG Bodacious.

Rustler 11 and new Spur are peaking my interest in a good way. Gunsmoke and Peacemaker will be missed.

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Originally Posted by Bandit Man

I think changing up the Spur is a wise move. The current iteration if way too much ski for just about anyone other than those who get to ski AK on a regular basis.

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It's a two run inbounds ski. Ski two runs on a powder day and put it away. I love it those two runs, but after that not so much.

I'm looking forward to taking the new Spur for a spin. And the Rustler 11 too!

Just as an aside to the new gear stoke, I bought my wife this years Sheeva. It was her first 3d snow ski, up until now she's been on fully cambered carving skis. Her first day on them was about 5" inch fresh. It was just amazing to see the look on her face at the bottom of the first run, it completely changed the way she approached the sport (20 years skiing). Normally on a pow day she would stay on groomers but I was following her around all day ducking ropes and looking for any stashes. She's taking them out in any conditions now, (including boiler plate).

If any other dudes are thinking about a pow ski for the Mrs, I can you tell that the Sheeva is a game changer for someone with solid fundamentals, (high intermediate advanced on piste) who hasn't ventured much into ungroomed/3d snow.. I've never seen her have as much fun skiing or charge (for her) with such abandon. She's about 5,2 105 pounds on the 158.

Can someone help me out a bit with understanding the new Spur design? I have not seen the rocker profile, so maybe that plays into it.... The other asymmetrical designs being discussed seem to be "all-mountain" oriented. So I get the asymmetry in terms of effective edge in firm and variable snow. Looking at the shape of the Spur, I am having a hard time reconciling it with the pure powder orientation being described. What makes it better than a Spatula type shape or the better powder focused five pointy models in that element?

well, another stiff as fuck big mountain board goes the way of the dodo. Shame.

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Originally Posted by XavierD

I still want a ~190cm OG Bodacious.

Rustler 11 and new Spur are peaking my interest in a good way. Gunsmoke and Peacemaker will be missed.

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I have not been a huge fan of a lot of the new Blizzards, but holy shit have I loved my 193 Gunsmokes... I am sure its replacement will be a good one, but the Gunsmoke is just a flat out fun as shit easy going ski that makes the mountain fun... It def opened my eyes to a style of ski that I ignored and did not think I would like...

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Originally Posted by Undertow

I have not been a huge fan of a lot of the new Blizzards, but holy shit have I loved my 193 Gunsmokes... I am sure its replacement will be a good one, but the Gunsmoke is just a flat out fun as shit easy going ski that makes the mountain fun... It def opened my eyes to a style of ski that I ignored and did not think I would like...

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WasatchBack was kind enough to let me take the 180 Rustler 11's for a spin today, If you like the Gunsmoke you'll dig these. Skied a run on hardpack then put them on the pack and did a Mary's lap in some leftover pow.

I'm 145lbs and own the 180 Brahma, 179 Peacemaker, and 178 Cochise. I like lighter stiffer skis and turn a lot. These have metal underfoot and zero G material in the tip, they're light in the hand and are super easy to throw around, pretty fun in soft bumps and easy to make short radius turns without much effort. Felt good letting them run down the fall line in softer snow. The tail has less rocker than the Peacemaker and I believe the Gunsmoke, it felt a bit more solid like the Cochise.

TL:DR I'm not a talented skier and these things were easy skiing and felt light yet solid. If you're not a total weight weeny these would be a sweet touring ski too I think.

Also the new Spur looks super interesting, maybe should have called it something else since its so different from the OG.

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Originally Posted by Jay P

well, another stiff as fuck big mountain board goes the way of the dodo. Shame.

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But yet another was thought to be extinct yet the species has made a miraculous recovery...

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Oh and do yourself a favor and google image "Bodacious"... there could be a thread on just that

Sounds like the new old Bodacious might be the soft snow tool to compliment my MX 98s.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...953d0e3fdf.jpg

He looks about how I imagine the new old Bodacious skis!

PSA - Blizzard is doing a Facebook Live event today to show off the 17-18 lineup. Starts at 12:30pm mountain time.

Replay here: https://www.facebook.com/blizzardski...4921610279561/

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Originally Posted by johnnyg82

Replay here: https://www.facebook.com/blizzardski...4921610279561/

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Thanks for posting. I was a bit disappointed in the Spur discussion (the part I was waiting for). Nothing that explained why it was better or worse than more directly Spatula derived skis or why they chose to build up the sidewall vs using a convex 3D base (or both). And the different sidecuts seemed overemphasized to me. I don't know if they just did not care to focus on any of that history/lineage or if they really just missed it all along the way. Not judging the ski - but the discussion was seriously lacking. When McConkey laid out the case for the Spatula - it was coherent and compelling. Likewise some of the other skis that followed along. I'm still scratching my head on this one. Maybe a demo will make me a believer. But for now...

Is the asymmetry about reducing "outrigger leg?" When you're drifting a turn in soft snow the tail of the uphill ski tends to hang up a bit more than the downhill ski. Having less effective edge of the uphill edge could help mitigate this, and make skis with more a conventional tip/waist/tail ratio drift more like reverse-reverse or extremely pintailed skis.

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Originally Posted by spindrift

Thanks for posting. I was a bit disappointed in the Spur discussion (the part I was waiting for). Nothing that explained why it was better or worse than more directly Spatula derived skis or why they chose to build up the sidewall vs using a convex 3D base (or both). And the different sidecuts seemed overemphasized to me. I don't know if they just did not care to focus on any of that history/lineage or if they really just missed it all along the way. Not judging the ski - but the discussion was seriously lacking. When McConkey laid out the case for the Spatula - it was coherent and compelling. Likewise some of the other skis that followed along. I'm still scratching my head on this one. Maybe a demo will make me a believer. But for now...

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He did say that they set out to make the ultimate powder ski...but the Lotus 138 and Praxis Powder Boards already exist, so they made that thing. :wink:

The people who like hard charging skis and have tried the existing Blizzard line, probably are customers already. For those who want something more accessible, this line seems a bit more appealing.

No one is really innovating the way that McConkey did...just refining and rebranding...you decide which.

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Rad ^^^

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Originally Posted by mntlion

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goddamn.

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Originally Posted by Jay P

goddamn.

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X2... That ski is Fing sexy...!

I know you guys probably aren't going to be too excited about the Brahma, but how do you think the changes will effect how it skis? Sounds to me like it is going to prefer to be more of a carving style of ski with a larger turning radius. How much impact do you think that will have on it's ability to get in trees and moguls?

Deleted due to more info

The Brahma and Bonafide still have metal in the tip and tail. They have the same basic construction as the 15/16 products with different sidecut and rocker profiles. They have less rocker lengthwise but the tips aren't as low profile. They also have 1.5-2m more sidecut. Basically you don't have to lay them over as far to get them to engage. Still a longer radius than most but easier to turn at slower speeds and they pull harder through the turn.

Not sure why everyone thinks that cause there's Carbon in the tip and tail on the Brahma, Bonafide, Cochise there is no metal. The carbon is in addition to the metal.

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Originally Posted by wasatchback

The Brahma and Bonafide still have metal in the tip and tail. They have the same basic construction as the 15/16 products with different sidecut and rocker profiles. They have less rocker lengthwise but the tips aren't as low profile. They also have 1.5-2m more sidecut. Basically you don't have to lay them over as far to get them to engage. Still a longer radius than most but easier to turn at slower speeds and they pull harder through the turn.

Not sure why everyone thinks that cause there's Carbon in the tip and tail on the Brahma, Bonafide, Cochise there is no metal. The carbon is in addition to the metal.

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I think I'm confused because I was under the impression that the Rustler 10/11 has a partial metal core, and that was in the new Brahma, and Bonafide. The Cochise isn't changing from the current model, correct?

Rustlers and Spur have a partial metal construction (I'll post pics tomorrow). Brahma, Bonafide are still 2.5 sheets of metal.

Sounds like the Bonafide and Brahma are getting more front side bias. What I currently like about these skis is how they ski off piste. They both strike a nice balance of predictability and maneuverability is crud conditions, while maintaining decent hard snow grip, and energetic carvers. Jack of all trades, master of none.

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Originally Posted by Nevada29er

Sounds like the Bonafide and Brahma are getting more front side bias. What I currently like about these skis is how they ski off piste. They both strike a nice balance of predictability and maneuverability is crud conditions, while maintaining decent hard snow grip, and energetic carvers. Jack of all trades, master of none.

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Not sure how interested in them I am anymore, I was looking for a second ski for when conditions are a bit rougher at to take onto the backside of Lake Louise. If they are going to be sacrificing a lot of their backside ability I may end up looking to something else to fill the role. I'll have to see what happens when I demo though.

I'm only averaging 30 days a season so I feel like any durability issues that would arise from having less metal in it wouldn't really be an issue for me, although from what wasatchback is saying it shouldn't be an issue.

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Originally Posted by AntiVortex

Not sure how interested in them I am anymore, I was looking for a second ski for when conditions are a bit rougher at to take onto the backside of Lake Louise. If they are going to be sacrificing a lot of their backside ability I may end up looking to something else to fill the role. I'll have to see what happens when I demo though.

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Demo at LL on 11th Feb so come try them out.

Got a little more beta on the Spurs... engineers were in Alta this week and gotta talk to them for a bit...

Inside edge Radius 30m
Outside edge Radius 26m

Different taper rates and obviously different lengths to each edge

Weight of one of my samples
2222g... pretty decent for a 192 124mm waisted ski.

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Originally Posted by wasatchback

Got a little more beta on the Spurs... engineers were in Alta this week and gotta talk to them for a bit...

Inside edge Radius 30m
Outside edge Radius 26m

Different taper rates and obviously different lengths to each edge

Weight of one of my samples
2222g... pretty decent for a 192 124mm waisted ski.

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Any_weights_on_the_Rustlers?

What is the Zero G lineup going to look like? Mention earlier of the mid-teens model, do 95 and 108 stay the same?

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Originally Posted by Lord Thomas

What is the Zero G lineup going to look like? Mention earlier of the mid-teens model, do 95 and 108 stay the same?

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Looks like they stay the same

So Bodacious is going back to the bad ass metal original like in the yellow top sheet version? No carbon tip and tail? Lengths will be 196 and 186 again?
Just askin. The yellow Bods are such frickin rippers. I still have the 186 in my quiver but they are rather on the shorter edge and I'd be really diggin something around 190 cm.

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Originally Posted by roQer

So Bodacious is going back to the bad ass metal original like in the yellow top sheet version? No carbon tip and tail? Lengths will be 196 and 186 again?
Just askin. The yellow Bods are such frickin rippers. I still have the 186 in my quiver but they are rather on the shorter edge and I'd be really diggin something around 190 cm.

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You got it. Original construction, shape, sizes, etc. Gonna be a one shot kinda deal I believe.
Can't remember but I think a total of 150 split between two sizes. Plan is for the proceeds to be donated to Arne's Foundation and Flyin Ryan Hawks Foundation.

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Originally Posted by Lord Thomas

What is the Zero G lineup going to look like? Mention earlier of the mid-teens model, do 95 and 108 stay the same?

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Zero G is unchanged for next season. Same graphics, same models.

No new ski in the mid teens but new Rustler 11 weighs around 1850 in size 180 (112 waste). 178 ZG 108 weighs around 1650 for reference.

#appstillcantdeleteposts
#bringbackthetagz

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Originally Posted by wasatchback

You got it. Original construction, shape, sizes, etc. Gonna be a one shot kinda deal I believe.
Can't remember but I think a total of 150 split between two sizes. Plan is for the proceeds to be donated to Arne's Foundation and Flyin Ryan Hawks Foundation.

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Any chance of an old school cochise coming back?
Those would sell like hotcakes....again.

Let's get more rippers on the old school bodacious how about it. There a hell of a lot of ski, in the best of ways.

I got a chance to spend some time on the new Bonafide, and it doesn't sacrifice anything.. still a crud-buster, still can lay trenches. Minor improvements on an old classic. The new changes shouldn't deter anyone from buying one, it's not like they made it a 98mm-waisted "carving" ski, those are stupid.