2023 Blizzard Black Pearl 97

The Blizzard Black Pearl 97 is a reputable ski for intermediate, female skiers looking for a moderate waist width for ultimate versatility and all-mountain capabilities. With a bit more power than its sister model, it is considered one of the stiffer, more stable skis in the Blizzard lineup. Made with the TrueBlend Flipcore construction, the grid-like structure distributes varying levels of stiffness throughout the ski to provide stability directly underfoot and maneuverability towards the tips and tails. The overall approach that Blizzard took precisely impacts the flex of the ski by increasing the number of wood stringers and adjusting the pattern to achieve the nature and personality of the product. What really added to this particular ski’s performance was the full-width, partial-length sheet of titanal located around the binding area, which is what stands out as far as a more dominant, powerful ski. While many flock to the Black Pearl 88 for its approachability, for hard-charging, more commanding skiers looking for a powerful yet versatile ski, the Black Pearl 97 is a perfect choice.

Louise Lintilhac tested the 165 and felt it was true to size. Her scores were mostly 5’s with the exception of a 4 given for flotation. We love it when a tester awards the highest score for the majority of the categories, reflecting the ski’s positive impression. She felt that “this ski fits well into the quiver of one category. It is wide enough to float on top of the chop and crud (and I assume pow) and can still lay trenches both with short and long radius turns. It’s super nimble and playful edge to edge and I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a ski that can go from the front country to side country. Great for intermediate to advanced skiers.” An agile yet powerful personality is ideal when it comes to an all-mountain ski for your daily driver, capable of all types of turns and terrain. Allison Kozar also skied the 165 in length and resounded its perfect feel. With very similar scores to Louise’s with mostly 4’s and 5’s, she highlighted stability, maneuverability, and playfulness. She commented “I was very surprised and thrilled by this ski. It handled so easily yet felt incredibly stable. It made really nice quick turns as well as fast hard turns. It was able to power through mashed taters and made the ride feel smooth.” A well-capable, sturdy ski that is fun and smooth is what we love to see!

Ann MacDonald was on the 171 and found it was a good length for her. All 4’s for Ann—nice and simple, just like how the Pearl 97 skis. “I liked this ski! It moved from fairly quick turns to wide-open turns easily. It had enough dampness to bend easily and felt really stable. It felt smooth like butter! Love to try it in different conditions to get a better feel for it honestly but seems like it would handle most conditions. Girls who like to charge would love this ski for its ease and versatility!”

For a wider, all-mountain ski with dynamic power, responsiveness, and high-performance, the Blizzard Black Pearl 97 will not disappoint. Appealing to a wide range of skiers, this versatile ski will handle anything you throw its way and charge uppon request.