2023 Blizzard Black Pearl 88

A favorite among many female skiers, the Blizzard Black Pearl has earned its place in the lineup of notable all-mountain skis for the past several seasons. Known for its versatility and overall approachability, the Black Pearl remains an easy go-to for high-end performance, confidence building, and guaranteed fun on the hill. An ideal one ski quiver for any intermediate, the 88 mm width underfoot is the perfect foundation for all-mountain versatility, ready for various snow conditions, and easily manageable. Made with a TrueBlend wood core in combination with a Flipcore, women-specific design construction, you achieve a light, well-balanced ski with different weights and stiffness in the areas of the ski that need it most. Heavier, stiffer Beech wood is used throughout the midsection of the ski for the purpose of stability and power directly underfoot while lighter poplar wood is used in the extremities of the ski to maximize turn initiation. Impressively quick edge-to-edge, the Black Pearl is eager to maneuver in trees and bumps yet upon crud or variable snow, it is smooth and damp, eliminating any unwanted vibrations. Between the shape and camber/slight rocker profile, combined with the construction, you get an easy-going ski that is stable and performance-oriented, making it easy to understand its popularity within the market.

Carly Monahan tested the 165 in length and noted that it would definitely be her do-it-all size. However, if she were to venture into more open terrain, she may opt for a longer size. Her scores reflect her overall impression of the Black Pearls, with 4’s and 5’s awarded in each category with the exception of one. For flotation, she marked a 3, which adds up considering the 88 mm width underfoot. While they may not shine in a couple of inches of snow, they certainly know how to tackle everything else. Carly mentioned “Tried and true; the Pearl 88 is accessible and forgiving, but definitely not a pushover. I always have a blast skiing Black Pearls on groomers and the 88's are just as at home off-trail in softer snow, though obviously not a powder ski. They are super agile and, for their lightweight personality, they stay nice and damp through choppier snow. Great ski for someone spending most of their time on groomers, but who wants the ability to duck into the woods or play in ungroomed terrain. They don't require expert-level technique, but don't whimp out when charging either.” Important to note their capabilities as far as more demanding speed, proving their well-rounded personality as an all-mountain ski.

Kerry Douglas Pearce skied the 171 and felt they were just right and that she would definitely choose this length for herself. Her scores also reflected a particular liking, with all 4’s and 5’s, personally awarding forgiveness and edge grip/torsional stiffness. Her takeaway was “a great all-mountain ski. These cut through a variety of hard-pack snow from groomed to choppy/frozen granular. More geared towards the advanced skier, especially at a longer length, this is a great carving ski for someone who likes to make a variety of turns.” Our final tester on the 165, Louise Lintilhac, also found the length to be true to size. She had a handful of 5’s on her scorecard, including those for stability, quickness, maneuverability, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and the coveted overall impression. It goes to show that the Black Pearl’s are worthy of such applause, holding true for all three of our testers. Louise states that “The Black Pearl 88 is a great daily carver for high-speed accuracy, digging trenches and channeling Lindsey Vonn. This ski, while on the heavier side, is super stable and is quick edge to edge, from small to large radius turns and everything in between. This is a great pick for intermediate to advanced skiers who love groomer laps and going fast.” While good for a wide variety of skiers, they just have the best range in that they can hit the lows and the highs.

It goes without saying that the Blizzard Black Pearl has earned its ranking as far as versatile, forgiving all-mountain skis go, making a mark on a variety of ability levels. Checking a lot of boxes, they continue to impress and make a fantastic option for a one-ski quiver.