2023 Blizzard Sheeva 9

The Blizzard Sheeva 9 is the jack of all trades when it comes to freeride, all-mountain performance for women. Approaching the mountain with a different personality than its sister model, the Sheeva 10, the 9 boasts a narrower waist width, focusing less on powder stashes and more on total terrain domination. With camber underfoot and sandwich compound sidewalls, the level of ski-to-snow contact is amplified, allowing for maximum edge hold and precision upon every turn initiation and release. Focusing specifically on female preferences as far as performance, the Carbon Flipcore D.R.T Technology combines a lighter construction with a women-specific design to blend reduced weight and increased performance. Adding to this approach, the poplar wood core and metal laminates, with carbon in the tip and tail, leaves you with a solid foundation yet with enough playful nature that allows for an all-around approachable personality. For skiers looking for an intuitive, progressive ride for whatever the mountain may throw at you, the Sheeva 9 is a great option.

Carly Monahan and Louise Lintilhac skied the 172 and both felt that it skied long, especially for east coast conditions. Despite their shared reaction to the size, they both scored quite differently on their sheets, which we enjoy seeing since every skier has a different preference and ability level. Carly found that the Sheeva 9 performed exceptionally well in every category except for torsional stiffness, giving that a 3. Her overall takeaway was “In comparison to the Sheeva 10, this ski would definitely be a better daily driver for east coast skiers, given its narrower waist and what feels like a stiffer camber (or maybe that was just from skiing a longer length!) - giving it better bite on groomed trails. Would make a good contender for a daily driver for someone who spends equal time on trail and in the woods. Feels stiff for a playful ski, without being overly demanding. Tails release easily for freedom to make quick, floaty turns, but they still hold their own carving on groomers. Could be a good stepping stone for a strong intermediate skier looking to advance their skills and explore a variety of terrain with a single ski quiver.” For Louise, where her scores ranged from 2 to 5, she felt the ski lacked most in maneuverability, playfulness, and forgiveness. She felt that “these skis are directional chargers. They excel at high speeds and want to finish each turn. They are great for ex- racers who want an on-mountain, high-speed groomer experience. Not for the faint of heart. They require a bit of muscle to make them move and shutting them down isn’t easy.”

Giving us a third opinion on the 172, Ann MacDonald found the length to be good for her. Providing us with another mixed bag of scores, Ann scored a 1 for forgiveness, which given the notes from our other testers, it sounds like it does take a little muscle to drive these skis. She also felt it lacked in versatility and playfulness, remarking “I couldn’t find the sweet spot on this ski… tired legs or conditions maybe? It wasn’t very forgiving and felt like a light 2x 4 … Maybe a better smearing ski then trying to carve it but wasn’t really playful either. Not the right ski for me!” This array of emotions surrounding the Sheeva 9 leaves us feeling as though when put in the right conditions, for a stronger skier who likes to get behind the driver seat and go, the Sheeva 9 delivers high performance and dynamic responsiveness.

This review speaks to the reason behind why we do the ski test in the first place. Providing us with an array of feedback, our testers each experience a ski differently, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses based on personal preference, conditions, and performance. The Blizzard Sheeva 9 may not be for the faint of heart, but it truly shines when put into its natural habitat. Blending a women-specific shape and profile, you get the powerful deliverance of a burly ski but with the light weighted nature of a playful, versatile ski. This will appeal to intermediate to advanced female skiers looking for high-performance, stability and freeride-oriented performance.