New gear, resort reviews, athlete interviews, and more. Available Lengths: 152, 159, 166, 173 cm. The Blizzard Women's Black Pearl 88 Freeride All Mountain Skis have a new shape that make this versatile ski even more fun on any terrain or in any conditions. A do it all, little black … “You can engage the tip with little effort and ride the edge through the tail,” says one tester. Test Locations: Pico VT, Cannon NH, Waterville Valley NH. The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 is pretty much the best ski for what you are describing. Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 1635 & 1646 grams. Blizzard, the company that made Black Pearl 88, incorporates bi-directional carbon fiber to the skis' tails and tips. Barnes: “Powerhouse laying arcs. Head Rebels 159 Cm GS Skis. Junior GSlalom Skis. Blizzard Black Pearl Skis & Salomon Warden 11 Bindings. 3. We, like the rest of the ski industry world, have sold a lot of Black … $299. Blister Members can now check out our Flash Review of the Black Pearl 88 for our initial impressions. Essentially, the wood cores of these skis are much more complex in terms of how the wood “stringers” (i.e., the individual strips of wood that make up the wood core when laminated together) are put together / assembled. So will the new design provide the same level of all-mountain performance? If anything, the 20/21 Black Pearl 88 feels a bit softer in the tips, shovels, and tail sections. © 2021 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Users of the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 … Dimensions: 128-88 … For the TrueBlend skis, they do this by (1) the complex grid structure of the stringers and (2) using a mix of lighter, softer poplar stringers and heavier, stiffer beech stringers. The women’s Black Pearl 88 and 97 (as well as the unisex Bonafide and Brahma models) are now constructed using Blizzard’s … It’s no small feat to please all women all the time, but Blizzard comes close with the Black Pearl 88. The most notable change is a brand new TrueBlend Wood Core, giving this all mountain dynamo an even silkier smooth flex. ... $159. - the Black Pearl 88 performs on groomers, in the trees, through bumps and in powder. $510.00. Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 163.8 cm. For reference, here are a number of our measured weights (per ski in grams) for some notable skis. But Blizzard’s TrueBlend construction is supposed to let them be even more precise in terms of dialing in the exact flex patterns of the skis. New Kid's Blizzard Cochise 110cm Skis With Blizzard 4.5 Bindings (SY480) SkiYard. In terms of sizing, the 159 … or Best Offer. Free shipping. 2017 Blizzard Brahma CA Adult Demo Skis w/ Marker TP11 Bindings - ALL SIZES More about Blizzard’s Ski Factory: Where the Magic Happens. The result: a Black Pearl 88 that’s still primarily a corduroy destroyer with a need for speed, but one that’s more playful and willing to switch up turn shapes and styles. Redesigned with input from our Women to Women project and Blizzard’s engineers, the Black Pearl 88 shines as bright as ever. "Not the play favorites, but the Black Pearl 88 is an amazingly versatile ski. Unfortunately, we had to send the Black Pearl 88 back to Blizzard before we were able to take rocker profile pictures, but its rocker profile is extremely similar to the Brahma 88, so we’ve included our rocker images of that ski at the bottom of this post. 1. (Women's Specific Design) makes skiing all sorts of conditions easy and fun, so women are empowered to ski corduroy groomers, softer snow off-piste, bumps, trees and everything in between. But overall, the famed and feared pirate ship remains the same. Join Active Pass to get Ski magazine, access to exclusive content, thousands of training plans, and more. New Kid's Blizzard Cochise 110cm Skis With Blizzard … Blizzard says that this construction approach (which is unique to their women-specific skis) allows them to create strong, high-performance skis that are much lighter than many metal-laminate options. Offering the ultimate ride through all kinds of terrain, the women's Blizzard Black Pearl 88 skis shine as a versatile choice for skiers who rip and those looking for the confidence to up their game. 128 - 88 - 110. The Blizzard Women's Black Pearl 88 Freeride All Mountain Skis have a new shape that make this versatile ski even more fun on any terrain or in any conditions. The new True-Blend wood core includes stringers of denser wood strategically placed underfoot where you want the ski to be stiff, with less density in the tip and tail. Unfortunately, we had to send the Black Pearl 88 back to Blizzard before we were able to take our rocker profile pictures, but we will add them if / when we are again able to get our hands on the ski.]. $225.00. Redesigned with input from our Women to Women project and Blizzard’s engineers, the Black Pearl 88 shines as bright as ever. (Women's Specific Design) makes skiing all sorts of conditions easy and fun, so women are empowered to ski corduroy groomers, softer snow off-piste, bumps, trees and everything in between. And based on our time skiing the old Black Pearls, we’d say they did a good job of that with those previous skis. Doing so helps the ski equipment minimize vibration and weight by stabilizing the rockered areas. The 2021 Blizzard Black Pearl 88. Blizzard significantly revamped the core of its best-selling ski in an effort to give ladies what they were missing from the old Black Pearl 88… … The Black Pearl 88 still has a pretty traditional shape with wide tips and tails that don’t taper very much at all. The Black Pearl 88’s flex pattern is pretty similar overall compared to the 20/21 Nordica Santa Ana 93 and Liberty Genesis 90. It’s so popular, in fact, that it has inspired a couple sisters in the Black Pearl 78 and Black Pearl 98 and to differentiate now has the official title of Black Pearl 88. Blizzard Black Pearl 98. Unless you can make it … Both skis are stiff around the middle and notably softer at the tips and tails. Cheerkens. So here we’re going to go into the design of the new Black Pearl 88, how it compares to the rest of the market, and then Blister Members can check out my initial on-snow impression in my Flash Review of the Black Pearl 88. Blizzard says that they made some tweaks to the shape and rocker profile of the 20/21 Black Pearl 88, though the changes are extremely subtle when looking at the skis. $250. Fair condition. Stated Dimensions: 135-98-119 mm. We are constantly looking for ways to make a great ski even better. Atomic Redster G9 FIS J-RP2 159 cm HAND FLEXED IN AUSTRIA! Available Lengths: 152, 159, 166, 173 cm. All that said, one of the main reasons we liked the previous Black Pearl 88 was its versatility — despite its non-tapered shape and shallow rocker lines, it still offered an excellent blend of on- and off-piste performance. $250. (Women’s Specific Design) makes skiing … As the world's best selling women's ski, the Black Pearl 88 shines as the versatile, all-around ski offering the ultimate ride through all types of terrain. National Brotherhood of Skiers co-founder & U.S. Skis 159 cm, 82mm width. 1. Ariel Aidala went for the 159 cm length, which she thought was perfect for her size and ability level. $30.00 shipping. $64.50 shipping. Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 163.7 cm We are constantly looking for ways to make a great ski even better. The TrueBlend skis’ wood cores not only feature many more stringers (each one is much thinner than normal), but they’re also laid out in a sort of grid format, with not all individual stringers running from tip to tail. [Editor’s Note: the rocker pics shown are for the Blizzard Brahma 88, which has an extremely similar rocker profile to the Black Pearl 88. It takes a lot of guts and grit to reinvent the best-selling women’s ski. Users of the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 can expect better ski performance, as well as a … But here at Blizzard, we’re never satisfied with good enough. Blizzard Black Pearl 98. construction, the Black Pearl 88 … The 159 … The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 is versatile ski ideal for a wide range of skiers thanks to a balance of construction and shape, which creates a forgiving ski that can also be pushed at high speed. It’s no small feat to please all women all the time, but Blizzard comes close with the Black Pearl 88… (3) We were impressed by the previous Black Pearl 88’s versatility, both in terms of conditions and the types of skiers who could appreciate it, so will we be able to say similar things about the new version? Given the similarities between the new and old ski in terms of shape and rocker profile, that made us optimistic about the new ski. Close. Scratches to base and tops. We’ve sold a ton of them over the years to skiers of varying ability, and I don’t think we’ve ever heard a complaint. For a strong, get-after-it girl.”, STRENGTHS: Stability at Speed, Hard-Snow Integrity, WEAKNESSES: Crud Performance, Versatility. 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Blizzard Length Black Pearl 88 HS 152 Black Pearl 88 HS 159 Black Pearl 88 HS 159 Bonafide 98 180 Brahma 88 HS 173 Brahma 88 HS 180 Rustler 10 102 180 Sheeva 10 102 164. - the Black Pearl 88 … 1364 & 1392 Renoun Earhart 88, 170 cm (20/21)1446 & 1459 DPS Alchemist Uschi 87 C2, 165 cm (18/19–19/20)1507 & 1523 Liberty Genesis 90, 165 cm (18/19–20/21)1533 & 1537 Armada Trace 98, 172 cm (17/18-19/20)1535 & 1555 DPS Alchemist Uschi 94 C2, 171 cm (18/19–19/20)1556 & 1575 Liberty Genesis 96, 165 cm (18/19–20/21)1596 & 1608 Head Kore 93 W, 171 cm (19/20–20/21)1622 & 1638 Blizzard Black Pearl 88, 165 cm (20/21)1626 & 1631 K2 Fulluvit 95Ti, 170 cm (18/19–19/20)1626 & 1645 Line Pandora 104, 165 cm (18/19–20/21)1635 & 1646 Blizzard Black Pearl 98, 166 cm (17/18–19/20)1651 & 1669 Moment Sierra, 172 cm (17/18–19/20)1687 & 1695 Elan Ripstick 102 W, 170 cm (20/21)1709 & 1710 Blizzard Sheeva 10, 172 cm (17/18–20/21)1748 & 1763 Nordica Santa Ana 93, 169 cm (17/18–19/20)1750 & 1769 Armada Victa 97 Ti, 171 cm (17/18–19/20)1762 & 1801 K2 Mindbender 98Ti Alliance, 168 cm (19/20–20/21)1812 & 1817 Salomon Stance W 94, 174 cm (20/21)1828 & 1844 K2 Anthem 82, 167 cm (18/19–20/21)1881 & 1895 Salomon QST Lumen 99, 174 cm (19/20–20/21)1903 & 1917 Nordica Santa Ana 93, 172 cm (20/21), Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About. Keep in mind the length differences to try and keep things apples-to-apples. Specs: Blizzard Black Pearl 88. With an 88 mm waist, and a women's specific Carbon Flipcore W.S.D. Photo courtesy of Blizzard. or Best Offer. The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis get a makeover alongside the rest of Blizzard s all mountain freeride lineup this year. But here at Blizzard, we’re never satisfied with good enough. construction, the Black Pearl 88 … ... $159. Skylar from Aspen Ski and Board “Loved this ski! Used Blizzard Brahma All Mountain Skis with Bindings Size 166 (Option 2010013) barriessports. “Skiers come into shops saying they want an all-mountain ski, but don’t really know what that means. Available Lengths: 147, 153, 159, 165, 171, 177 cm. The firm snow complement to its wider sisters, the Black Pearl … r: 13 meters @ 159 centimeters // weight: 1350 grams @ 159 centimeters // Rocker-Camber-Rocker. Lengths: 147, 153, 159, 165, 171, 177 . The Black Pearl 88’s rocker profile is similarly traditional, with very shallow rocker lines at both the tip and tail. 1. It takes a lot of guts and grit to reinvent the best-selling women’s ski. 137), Martinus Evans, 300 Pounds & Running (Ep. As we noted in our announcement this past January, Blizzard is overhauling for the 20/21 season their men’s & women’s “All-Mountain Freeride” skis, which includes one of the best-selling skis in the world, the Black Pearl 88. This is the biggest update for the 20/21 Blizzard Black Pearl 88 and Black Pearl 97, with both skis featuring what Blizzard calls their “TrueBlend Flipcore.”. Blizzard’s TrueBlend Flipcore W.S.D. r: 13 meters @ 159 centimeters // weight: 1350 grams @ 159 centimeters // Rocker-Camber-Rocker. Redesigned with input from our Women to Women project and Blizzard’s engineers, the Black Pearl 88 shines as bright as ever. The most notable change is a brand new TrueBlend Wood Core, giving this all … The Black Pearl 88’s turn radius is 13 m at 159 cm length (as opposed to say, the Alight Pro, which has a radius of 10 m and 69 mm waist), so it has the capacity for a relatively tight carved turn. Doing so helps the ski equipment minimize vibration and weight by stabilizing the rockered areas. The 2021 Blizzard Black Pearl 88. Stated Weight per Ski: 1650 grams ± 50 … 88 refers to the skis waist width, which has always been the width of the Black Pearl. At 88mm underfoot, and with a women's specific construction - Carbon Flipcore W.S.D. Shop now for the Blizzard Black Pearl 88: REI | Backcountry | evo | Skis.com | Amazon, Get a bigger picture on 2021’s best frontside skis for women. Barely used 4 times Womens Blizzard Black Pearl Skis 159 length. It was easy to turn and felt very stable. With an 88 mm waist, and a women's specific Carbon Flipcore W.S.D. The Black Pearl 88 (length 166 cm) is a great choice for hard pack groomers as well as a few inches of powder. At 88mm underfoot, and with a women's specific construction - Carbon Flipcore W.S.D. I.e., the widest points of the tips and tails are quite close to the actual ends of the ski, in contrast to more tapered skis like the new Renoun Earhart 88 and Coalition Snow SOS (reviews of both coming in the future). Photo courtesy of Blizzard “The all-mountain category is filled with a lot of noise and lacks … As the world's best selling women's ski, the Black Pearl 88 shines as the versatile, all-around ski offering the ultimate ride through all types of terrain. $779.00. (1) The previous construction of the Black Pearl 88 was a part of what made it one of the best-selling skis in the world, and our reviewers were personally big fans. We can offer binding and boot recommendations but we will need more information about … Most skis’ wood cores feature several wood stringers that run pretty much from tip to tail. Watch it here. As the world's best selling women's ski, the Black Pearl 88 shines as the versatile, all-around ski offering the ultimate ride through all types of terrain. New Women's 2019 Blizzard All Mountain black pearl Skis Without Bindings. Redesigned with input from our Women to Women project and Blizzard’s engineers, the Black Pearl 88 shines as bright as ever. Now, I think I’d like a second impression, please. Blizzard's TrueBlend Flipcore W.S.D. Aside from the new wood core, the Black Pearl 88’s overall construction is fairly similar to the previous, 19/20 version. Given this ski’s popularity, this came as a bit of a surprise, but Blizzard is making some pretty bold claims about the performance benefits of the “TrueBlend” wood cores in the new Black Pearl 88 and several of their other new 20/21 skis. It does have a slightly deeper tail rocker line than some narrower, piste-oriented skis like the K2 Disruption MTi Alliance, but skis like the Liberty Genesis 90 have much deeper rocker lines. Ski: 2020-2021 Blizzard Black Pearl 88, 165 cm, Available Lengths: 147, 153, 159, 165, 171, 177 cm, Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 163.7 cm, Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 1638 & 1622 grams, Stated Dimensions (165 cm): 128-88-110 mm, Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 127.7-86.5-109.2 mm, Stated Sidecut Radii (for respective lengths): 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 m, Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 66.5 mm / 11 mm, Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: ~3 mm, Core: poplar/beech + carbon sheet + fiberglass & carbon laminate, Factory Recommended Mount Point: -10.95 cm / 70.9 cm from tail. We designed the Black Pearl 88 … The 2021 Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Women’s Frontside Ski. The end goal is to make the skis stiffer exactly where they want them to be (primarily around the middle / binding area), while making them softer where you don’t need as stiff of a flex (primarily at the ends of the skis). The Black Pearl 88’s lower profile front rocker skis smoothly up a mogul’s backside, and the new shape snakes around trees with greater ease. construction, the Black Pearl 88 … Ski: 2019-2020 Blizzard Black Pearl 98, 166 cm. The 2021 Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Women’s Frontside Ski Photo courtesy of Blizzard. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. At an average measured weight of 1630 grams per ski for the 165 cm length, the new Black Pearl 88 is notably heavier than the Earhart 88, Genesis 90, and now-discontinued DPS Alchemist Uschi 87. Ski: 2019-2020 Blizzard Black Pearl 98, 166 cm. Blizzard… ... Blizzard Black Pearl 88 ladies snow skis 159cm w-Bin (+POLES @ BuyItNow) NEW '21. But the Black Pearl 88 is also notably lighter than the new Nordica Santa Ana 93 and new Salomon Stance W 94. 128 - 88 - 110. Blizzard’s TrueBlend Flipcore W.S.D. Our Take On The 2021 Blizzard Black Pearl 82: After joining the Black Pearl family last season, the Black Pearl 82 returns unchanged, minus a new topsheet graphic, for the 2020-21 season. Overall, the Black Pearl 88’s flex pattern doesn’t feel super out of the ordinary. 3. It’s not as extremely stiff as the Head Kore 93 W or Volkl Secret 102, but it’s also a bit stronger than the Renoun Earhart 88. The Black Pearl 88 has been one of the most popular women's skis across all categories for the past several seasons. The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis get a makeover alongside the rest of Blizzard s all mountain freeride lineup this year. More high scores from Ariel, nothing but 4s and 5s, with mostly 5s. (2) How does the Black Pearl 88 compare to other skis in the same general category, like the Liberty Genesis 90, Renoun Earhart 88, Head Kore 93 W, and Nordica Santa Ana 88 & 93? 88 … $299. Skis and bases are in excellent condition. Blizzard, the company that made Black Pearl 88, incorporates bi-directional carbon fiber to the skis' tails and tips. At least while we hand-flex it, the 20/21 Black Pearl 88’s flex pattern feels fairly similar to the previous, 19/20 version. The Black Pearl has become one of the most popular women's all mountain skis on the market and has inspired a whole series of Black Pearl skis from Blizzard, so now takes on the title of Black Pearl 88. Cheerkens. Blister Members can check out my initial impressions in our Flash Review linked below, then stay tuned for updates, including info on the Black Pearl 88 and many other new women’s skis in our upcoming 20/21 Winter Buyer’s Guide. Or, could it be even better? Test Locations: Pico VT, Cannon NH, Waterville Valley NH. 1. When something is that good, there is no need to change it. Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis 2022 // Women's THE BEST. So, why make this more complicated, more expensive wood core? Ski: 2020-2021 Blizzard Black Pearl 88, 165 cm. Elan Length Ripstick … Ski Hall of Fame inductee, Art Clay (Ep. Blizzard’s TrueBlend Flipcore W.S.D. It still uses Blizzard’s “Carbon Flipcore WSD” construction, which basically consists of a unidirectional carbon-fiber sheet on top and then two layers of a fiberglass sheet with carbon stringers, with one above the wood core and the other below it. Used Blizzard Brahma All Mountain Skis with Bindings Size 166 (Option 2010013) barriessports. More about Blizzard’s Ski Factory: Where the Magic Happens. Stay stable at high speeds and power through tough conditions this season with the Black Pearl 88 from Blizzard. Become a Blister member now to check out this and all of our Flash Reviews, plus get exclusive deals and discounts on skis, and personalized gear recommendations from us. New Women's 2019 Blizzard All Mountain black pearl Skis Without Bindings. We already posted our First Look and Flash Review of the updated Blizzard Brahma 88, but the Black Pearl 88 is far from just a Brahma with a different top sheet. Black Pearl technologies for 2021 include a Women Specific Design Carbon Flipcore, unidirectional carbon frame, a titanal layer, fiberglass, and sandwich compound sidewalls. Just like the previous version, the 20/21 Black Pearl 88 is a fairly lightweight ski, though there are lighter options currently on the market. The 20/21 Blizzard Black Pearl 88 carries over a similar shape and rocker profile but with a unique, interesting construction. Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 163.8 cm. 2019 Ride MTNpig Demo (159 cm) $275.00. The Black Pearl continues to lead the charge as one of the highest performing, most popular women’s all mountain skis on the market. Stated Weight per Ski: 1650 grams ± 50 grams. The new for winter 20-21 Blizzard Black Pearl 97. Comes complete with Look Pivot Bindings - also have Nordica NXT N2 Womens … Blizzard significantly revamped the core of its best-selling ski in an effort to give ladies what they were missing from the old Black Pearl 88: more versatility. We designed the Black Pearl 88 not just for the best days on the mountain, but for every day. 60). $129. Location: 2020 Photo courtesy of Blizzard “The all-mountain category is filled with a lot of noise and lacks clarity,” explains Duke. Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Black Pearl 88: Tips: 6Shovels: 6.5-8In Front of Toe Piece: 9-9.5Underfoot: 10Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-8.5Tails: 8-7. With an 88 mm waist, and a women's specific Carbon Flipcore W.S.D. Blizzard says that it’s what lets them truly fine-tune the flex pattern of the ski, more so than they could with a traditional wood core. We, like the rest of the ski industry world, have sold a lot of Black Pearls over the last few seasons. Blizzard's TrueBlend Flipcore W.S.D. The Black Pearl 88’s lower profile front rocker skis smoothly up a mogul’s backside, and the new shape snakes around trees with greater ease. Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis 2022 // Women's THE BEST. If life were judged on first impressions, I’d say Blizzard has favorable odds to continue dominating the all-mountain market when the skis go on sale in fall 2020. Video not displaying correctly? Now, it’s worth noting that the vast majority of skis on the market today already feature a stiffer flex around the middle of the ski and a softer flex near the tips and tails.