What's Blizzard up to?

[mr_pretzel]

I might go a touch wider than that, but a skinny one would be full "shut up and take my money" status for me. I love the OG, but see them more as a fat all mountain/big mountain ski, that isn't actually that great as a dedicated powder ski for how wide it is, and a, say, 106mm version sounds like an incredible soft chop/variable condition charger for me.


Of course, it doesn't seem like the reissue of the OG sold very well, and there's likely not enough of a market to justify it, but I can dream, right?

Is this just the OG cochise? I have both and considered it a skinnier bodacious.

[HAB]

Is this just the OG cochise? I have both and considered it a skinnier bodacious.

Could be. I, unfortunately, haven't ever skied the OG version. But I forgot that they were reverse camber initially. So yeah, that might be it.

Shit! I thought I was done buying skis this year. (I also said that 2 pairs ago.) Anybody have a pair of 185s?

[CaliBrit]

Awesome “behind the scenes” backstory on the Rustler 11 roots. All of my buddies have purchased Rustler 11’s and it tends to be be our favorite travel and resort powder ski.

How does the Rustler 11 compare to the Enforcer 110?

[Kevo]

I've been having a lot of fun on Rustler 11s this season.

What is pretty striking to me is the difference between Rustler 11s in 3D snow and on hardpack. On hardpack they want to rail and stay pretty locked into a carve. It's easy to get them to disengage from a turn, but when they are on their edge they rail and provide great rebound energy. They don't wash out very easily and it honestly doesn't feel like it has much tail rocker when skiing on hard snow. I also can't really get them to pivot on hard snow. This isn't good or bad. It just means that if I grab them on a low tide day I'm probably not going to ski tight terrain with them. For low tide days when I want to pivot and go into tighter terrain, I find myself reaching for my Moment Deathwishes. When I want to carve and ski fast I go for my Rustler 11s.

In deep snow, Rustler 11s are a very different ski. They will carve and hold a turn, and the turns are easy to release just like on hardpack. However, they can also pivot and smear in 3D snow, which opens up a lot of possibilities in tighter terrain. They are also stout enough to deal with moderate chop/crud. They aren't the ultimate crud buster, but for my ability level and where I ski (the Ghee) they are by far my favorite resort pow ski and I also use them on low tide days.

[Bandit Man]

How does the Rustler 11 compare to the Enforcer 110?

Hmm...where to start? Skied both a bunch (191 110 and 188 R11).

They are almost like fraternal twins...the Enforcer 110 being the disciplined rule follower and the Rustler 11 being the adventurous wild child.

Rustler is more energetic and the Enforcer more damp. I’d call the Enforcer almost boring compared to the Rustler. Both are very good on groomers. The Enforcer makes a nice, easy turn, where the Rustler takes a bit more to get it to turn but really bites and really slingshots you out of the turn. It really likes to release the energy you put into it. The Enforcer, not so much.

Both are solid in deep snow. The Rustler seems to have a tad more float being wider in the waist. I think the Enforcer 110 skis looser in the tail, as it has more pronounced, longer tail rocker. Both are average to above average in crud, but I’d give the edge to the Enforcer which is heavier and more damp. The Rustler has carbon tips and tails and the metal layer does not run the full length of the ski. To me, it feels like the lighter tips provide less absorption in crud and the transmit to a more jarring ride to the skier.

I think the Rustler 11 can be more work in tight spaces, where the tail can be hard to release. Even at the 191 length, I think the Enforcer 110 is pretty agile in tight spaces, especially trees.

Neither has hugely negative traits. But, I can see why the Enforcer 110 is such a crowd pleaser...it’s just so darned easy and accessible, where the Rustler wants to be driven and rewards in kind.

My Enforcer 110’s are my skiing with my kids powder ski. My Rustler 11’s are my travel ski I pair with something narrower. They almost always make it with me when I make it up to Whistler, where I might ski Pow up high and have long groomer runs back to the lifts. They are just so much fun. I’ll let go of my Enforcers before my Rustlers.

[CaliBrit]

Hmm...where to start? Skied both a bunch (191 110 and 188 R11).

They are almost like fraternal twins...the Enforcer 110 being the disciplined rule follower and the Rustler 11 being the adventurous wild child.

Rustler is more more energetic and the Enforcer more damp. I’d call the Enforcer almost boring compared to the Rustler. Both are very good on groomers. The Enforcer makes a nice, easy turn, where the Rustler takes a bit more to get it to turn but really bites and really slingshots you out of the turn. It really likes to release the energy you put into it. The Enforcer, not so much.

Both are solid in deep snow. The Rustler seems to have a tad more float being wider in the waist. I think the Enforcer 110 skis looser in the tail, as it has more pronounced, longer tail rocker. Both are average to above average in crud, but I’d give the edge to the Enforcer which is heavier and more damp. The Rustler has carbon tips and tails and the metal layer does not run the full length of the ski. To me, it feels like the lighter tips provide less absorption in crud and the transmit to a more jarring ride to the skier.

I think the Rustler 11 can be more work in tight spaces, where the tail can be hard to release. Even at the 191 length, I think the Enforcer 110 is pretty agile in tight spaces, especially trees.

Neither has hugely negative traits. But, I can see why the Enforcer 110 is such a crowd pleaser...it’s just so darned easy and accessible, where the Rustler wants to be driven and rewards in kind.

My Enforcer 110’s are my skiing with my kids powder ski. My Rustler 11’s are my travel ski I pair with something narrower. They almost always make it with me when I make it up to Whistler, where I might ski Pow up high and have long groomer runs back to the lifts. They are just so much fun. I’ll let go of my Enforcers before my Rustlers.

Thanks for taking the time. Much appreciated.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

How does the Rustler 11 compare to the Enforcer 110?

I haven't skied the Enforcer 110, but I have skied the 104's (which are very similar) and I've skied the Rustler 11's quite a bit.

The 11's are the best ski I've been on. They're the only ski I've never regretted taking out. They can be skied casually, but they can also haul ass. They aren't that damp but they track straight through all kinds of snow. Other skis with a similar width are better pure pow skis, but the Rustlers ability to perform in all conditions is uncanny whether you are trucking or following kids. Before the 188 Rustlers I had 187 GPO's (enduro veneer). The GPO's were a bit stiffer in the tips and tails. They were better in soft chop. That's it. Rustlers and GPO's are similar in powder, and the Rustlers are a good bit better in all manner of firm snow, especially bumps. In tight space with any sort of snow the Rustler are far superior. The tail has more energy, they pivot more easily and they feel more balanced than the GPO's. I ski faster on the 11's. I thought I'd give up some top end stability when I made the switch, but what the 11's lack in pure stiffness, they make up for with predictability. The GPO's were great, but every so often the tip or tail would hook up when I didn't expect it to, even after a detune.

I liked the 104 Free's, but didn't love them. The tails are very loose. Too loose for me. Whereas the Rustler will rail, then pivot when I tell them too, the 104's would come around a bit too easily for my tastes. I think if you have an upright skiing style this could be a good thing. If you have spent a lot of time on park skis or "playful" skis with forward mounts, they might feel pretty sturdy. But I like pretty traditional mounts and ski in the front of my boots by default. On the 104's I felt like I was over skiing them. I'm not some bad ass charger. I'm mostly a backcountry skier. I don't care that much about how damp a ski is. But I do value a ski's ability to track straight and predictably. The Rustlers do this very, very well. So did my Zero g 108's and now my Zero G 105's, even with light boots and bindings. So did the Cochises I skied for years (gen 1 and 2) and the 2 pairs of GPO's I've owned, including the flex 3 UL pair I still tour on. The 104's are different. They like to follow their radius and the tail comes around much more easily.

Something the OG Cochises do magnificently, and the Rustlers are nearly as good, is maintain the shape of a big carved turn while you are actually scrubbing some speed. I mean, just about any skis can do this on a smooth groomer, but the OG Cochise is king of this move, and can do it in all sorts of shit snow at any speed. The Rustlers approach this ability without being heavy and dead feeling. This is not in the 104's repertoire. They will slarve turns at low speeds, and carve medium radius turns nicely. If you're sliding through tight spaces the 104's are easier, but the Rustler aren't exactly difficult, plus they have more energy in the tail if you want to change directions more actively.

Some more context: I skied some 181 QST 106's at the same time I was skiing the 186 104 Frees. I preferred the QST's. They are mounted with Tectons as well as lighter and shorter that the 104's, but I could ski them faster because they respond to inputs the way that I'm used to (longer radius, flatter tail). The lengths felt similar because of the big tail rocker on the 104's. I sold the 104's.

[tuco]

Blacks are rc, just like OG

Appears the Tucs didn't have his head in his ass after all. Here's a pic of my 186's. Wasn't able to bust out Stallions to compare to though.. I mean, my PB's have a longer flat spot. This is the model w/ Titanium

[tuco]

I mean, my PB's have a longer flat spot.

Yep

[nickwm21]

Any ‘21 Cochise 106 reviews here? Seems like a few of you were going to pull the trigger....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wasatchback]

Question for Wasatchback. Starting to see a trend towards the 110ish underfoot as becoming the ultimate allrounder. Any idea if Blizzard plans to maybe fill this niche? Thinking lovechild between the cochise and R11.

No probably not. Sister company already has a 110 wasted ski that sells well. There are almost too many skis over 100mm in our lineup as is. Adding one at 110 when we already have 104/106/112 would just confuse people and muddy the waters.

I might go a touch wider than that, but a skinny one would be full "shut up and take my money" status for me. I love the OG, but see them more as a fat all mountain/big mountain ski, that isn't actually that great as a dedicated powder ski for how wide it is, and a, say, 106mm version sounds like an incredible soft chop/variable condition charger for me.


Of course, it doesn't seem like the reissue of the OG sold very well, and there's likely not enough of a market to justify it, but I can dream, right?

I think we might struggle to sell 100 pairs of the OG reissue Bodacious per year... and that number might be closer to 50 honesty. If you want a narrower version ski the Cochise or Bonafide. Yes they aren’t totally flat under foot but they don’t have much camber that’s would affect the skis ability to pivot or check
Speed. The previous gen Cochise did struggle with that but it’s not because of the camber it was because of the tip and tail stiffness. New 20/21 Cochise is IMHO a better ski at just about everything as compared to the first gen. It’s a Rustler 11 core with 2.5 sheets of metal and a new side cut design. There is more side cut in the tip but actually less in the tail so they release easier when you want to.

OG Bodacious has a 1mm tolerance in the mold. Some might be totally flat, some almost reverse and some with 1mm of camber per ski. No way you could tell the difference between them.

[SoVT Joey]

Anyone skied the b97? Any feed back. I have a 183 on the way to ski when I need more hold then my Justis but narrower then a Corvus or Cochise. But I haven’t seen much on this ski from anyone.

[gregL]

Anyone skied the b97? Any feed back. I have a 183 on the way to ski when I need more hold then my Justis but narrower then a Corvus or Cochise. But I haven’t seen much on this ski from anyone.

I've been skiing a pair the past three weeks on firm groomers. Super strong ski, stable at any sane speed, holds like a mofo on ice. I downsized to 177 (tried the 183 and it felt sluggish, my daily driver is a 188 Rustler 11) and it feels fine. Detuned from 1:2.8 to 1:2 and dulled the tips back 3cm past the contact point to make the 17m radius less hooky. Like them a lot. Wish I knew the retro graphic was coming before I ordered my pair . . .

[wasatchback]

For those that tried the early production skis last spring I’d say revisit the final production ones that landed this fall, especially the 189.

The 189 was the only ski that didn’t really go through all the testing protocols before we got them last winter. To me it wasn’t quite right. Been skiing a final production one the last few weeks and it feels much better. It’s still a big ski for sure but they dialed the flex pattern in a bit so the tails are much easier to release and it makes the ski much more versatile than the early production ones we got for testing last winter.

[SoVT Joey]

I've been skiing a pair the past three weeks on firm groomers. Super strong ski, stable at any sane speed, holds like a mofo on ice. I downsized to 177 (tried the 183 and it felt sluggish, my daily driver is a 188 Rustler 11) and it feels fine. Detuned from 1:2.8 to 1:2 and dulled the tips back 3cm past the contact point to make the 17m radius less hooky. Like them a lot. Wish I knew the retro graphic was coming before I ordered my pair . . .

Sounds just like what I was hoping for. I need a hard snow east coast ski, well maybe not this year, but that’s really exciting. I saw that graphic.... it’s badass. I ordered a 183. Just because my Justis is a 189 and is too much sometimes on the smaller trails here. Im pretty stoked for it to show up.

[searchforclarity]

Does anyone know what the release is going to be for the retro graphics B97's? Would love to snag the 183's for an east coast DD.

[HAB]

I think we might struggle to sell 100 pairs of the OG reissue Bodacious per year... and that number might be closer to 50 honesty. If you want a narrower version ski the Cochise or Bonafide. Yes they aren’t totally flat under foot but they don’t have much camber that’s would affect the skis ability to pivot or check
Speed. The previous gen Cochise did struggle with that but it’s not because of the camber it was because of the tip and tail stiffness. New 20/21 Cochise is IMHO a better ski at just about everything as compared to the first gen. It’s a Rustler 11 core with 2.5 sheets of metal and a new side cut design. There is more side cut in the tip but actually less in the tail so they release easier when you want to.

OG Bodacious has a 1mm tolerance in the mold. Some might be totally flat, some almost reverse and some with 1mm of camber per ski. No way you could tell the difference between them.

Interesting. I didn't love the prior gen Cochise but haven't gotten on the new one. Sounds like maybe I need to.

[gregL]

Does anyone know what the release is going to be for the retro graphics B97's? Would love to snag the 183's for an east coast DD.

I believe it was a limited shop employee-only offering - production Bonafide will look the same (black with red trim) for 2022.

[searchforclarity]

I believe it was a limited shop employee-only offering - production Bonafide will look the same (black with red trim) for 2022.

that's too bad would of loved to have them. Thanks for the info.

[twat]

what´s happening with zero-g 105. just a topsheet change or more? i like the new colorway.

[mr_pretzel]

Interesting. I didn't love the prior gen Cochise but haven't gotten on the new one. Sounds like maybe I need to.

I need more time on them, but they are more similar to the previous gen versus the OG in my opinion. They are a lot friendlier though

[wasatchback]

what´s happening with zero-g 105. just a topsheet change or more? i like the new colorway.

Just a new graphic

[gregL]

There are almost too many skis over 100mm in our lineup as is.

I disagree.

A Rustler Ten.5 @ 108mm and a rocker-flat-rocker Rustler 12 @ 120mm would easily find spots in my quiver.

You are right that no one I know cares about the Thunderbird/Phoenix series . . .

[kid-kapow]

A Rustler Ten.5 @ 108mm and a rocker-flat-rocker Rustler 12 @ 120mm would easily find spots in my quiver.

yes. Especially if the R10.5 had the titanal plate / turn characteristics of the 11 and not the 10. That would probably be as versatile a ski as they come.

The R12 sounds more than intriguing too

And while we're at it - a 114/184 version of the 188 R11 would be awesome too.

A 182-184 R10.5 and 184 R11 would be on my "must find cash to buy instantly" list of skis.

[klauss]

192 Rustler 11s in hand [emoji869]