Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Women’s All-Mountain Ski 2021 – 2022 | Review
Why we chose the Black Pearl 88: Well-rounded, versatile, accessible.
Lengths (cm): 147, 153, 159, 165, 171, 173cm
Sidecut (mm): 128 / 88 / 110 (165 cm)
Radius: 11 – 16m (14m @ 165cm)
Rocker Profile: Tip rocker and camber
Weight (per ski): 1450g
Price: £500 / €550 / $650
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You’ll be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t like the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 as an all-mountain ski. While they’re not a dedicated off piste ski, if you do find yourself following your crew into some fresh lines, we’ve always found the Black Pearl will have our back no matter what the conditions.
For the 2021 – 2022 winter season, Blizzard has brought in design tweaks from their Women2Women programme, while also expanding the range with 6 different lengths available. The Black Pearl 88 sits the middle width of the Black Pearl range and, for that reason, is the most versatile of the three, sitting between the Black Pearl 78 and 98.
The addition of more lengths – from 147cm to 173cm – means you won’t find yourself sitting between two sizes. With the new Blizzard True Blend construction, the bigger the ski the slightly stiffer it gets, meaning the shorter lengths will be more appealing to the smaller less aggressive skiers, but the bigger lengths can hold their own for physically stronger or more advanced skiers.
Build
The Black Pearl has a similar make up to the Freeride Sheeva range, with strong camber underfoot and a rockered tip, the only difference being a slightly flatter tail and narrower sidecut. This makes the ski versatile, with a softer flex in the tip and tail and a firmer flex in the centre, for a mix of power and forgiveness exactly where you want it.
Aluminium dura-tec tip protectors, textured thick material and a rounded top edge contribute to the durability of the skis. This gives you confidence to charge with confidence knowing a rock dink won’t totally write off the skis (we still recommend staying firmly on the snow, though).
The Carbon Flipcore Women Specific Design reduces weight without sacrificing performance. A layer of unidirectional carbon within the Poplar and Beech core ensures lightness, stability and a well-rounded flex with strong torsional stiffness.
Black Pearl 88 Shaping
The Black Pearl 88 shape makes it a hugely versatile ski. It’s narrow enough underfoot to be responsive and stable on piste, but wide enough to allow you to ski off piste without too much difficulty. This is aided by the larger tips that help the ski to float through deep snow, but also cut through variable terrain offering great ski to snow contact and easy handling through most types of snow conditions.
Probably the only room for improvement here is that it could have a little more rocker in the tips for soft snow performance (but we’re being extra fussy with that one).
Classic camber underfoot provides grip on piste, while the wider rockered tip and slightly rockered tail allow the ski to charge off piste and through a variety of snow conditions. This rocker, camber, rocker shape, coupled with the turn radius (14m at 165cm) allows the ski to react quickly and efficiently.
Who Is The Black Pearl 88 For?
The Black Pearl 88 is for advanced – expert skiers who tend to spend more time on piste but still like the option of skiing the whole resort. Its lightweight construction makes it the ideal ski for high-level female skiers or for those who are looking to progress with confidence on all types of terrain.
The huge range in sizes and corresponding sidecut makes it accessible for a variety of sizes and abilities without compromising on performance. Blizzard have created a ski suitable for a variety of women, the more aggressive and accomplished will thrive off its stability at high speeds and ability to generate speed through all types of snow, whereas those looking to progress will enjoy the excellent ski to snow contact and agility of the ski.
Although not specifically an off piste ski, the Black Pearl 88 is capable of carving without too much force on piste, as well as being agile through forests, bumps and off the sides of the piste. If you are looking for one ski to do everything, this could be the pearl for you.
What Is The Black Pearl 88 Good At?
Versatility: 9/10
Carving: 8/10
Soft Snow: 7/10
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