2023 Blizzard Zero G 95 W

The 2023 Blizzard Zero G 95 W is a fantastic choice for backcountry enthusiasts who are looking for something totally light and agile, but with a surprising downhill performance to boot. Easy to use on the ups, and incredibly fun on the downs, the Blizzard Zero G 95 W is an amazing touring ski that comes in a nice span of lengths for a wide range of skiers. Due to the explosion of backcountry skiing and touring over the past few years, the equipment is quickly catching up and the skiers are making great strides in getting to more distant peaks with speed and efficiency. There's so much snow out there for everyone, you just need the tools and gear to get you there, and that's where the Blizzard Zero G 95 W comes into play. Built with a light weight paulownia wood core, the skis start out pretty darn light. That wood has some good energy to it as well, so just because it doesn't weigh a lot doesn't mean it's flimsy or floppy. In order to put to bed any type of rumor that these skis will flop, Blizzard uses their Carbon Drive 2.0 laminate to quell those fears. This (mostly) full carbon layup extends to the edges in the tips and tails with a bit of a recession in the mid-body of the ski, leaving the wood core a bit exposed over the sidewalls. This provides some compliance to the ski in the turns on the way down, and eliminates some of the chatter or harshness that carbon can sometimes inflict upon a ski. It does, however, keep the tips and tails totally smooth and strong, which is something that a lot of skis don't really have at this weight. Additionally, there's carbon fiber binding reinforcement plates that keep your feet nailed into the ski, as well as providing ample torsional stiffness to the underfoot part of the ski, increasing edge grip and power through the turn.

Width-wise, the 95 mm waist is ideal for general ski touring, with some emphasis on floating, but more so on the all-around experience. It's a great mid-range of width to use in a multitude of areas, from deep and fresh snow, to firmer days at the resort. Coming in at 1310 grams in the 185 cm length, these skis are definitely on the light side, but they do have enough material to make them stable on the downs. The tip rocker is more pronounced than that in the tail, as this allows for the tail side of the ski to hold a better grip in the skin track. Rockered skis just don't climb as well as flatter ones, and these Zero G 95 W's are efficient, if nothing else.

Alix Klein skied the 178, and noted it was a great length for her. She scored it a top mark of 5 out of 5 for versatility, with 4’s covering the rest of the way. Those are some high scores for any ski, much less a sub-1500-gram touring ski. Alix states that “It’s noticeable that this is a carbon wood ski, but that being said, it does all the right things. Great to get on edge on all radius turns but particularly GS turns. Stable despite the slight carbon chatter this ski is light and fast.” Again, this is some impressive feedback for such a light and touring-oriented option.

From the build and shape to the performance and construction, the 2023 Blizzard Zero G 95 W is an excellent choice for skiers who spend most of their time skiing uphill and without the use of lifts. They do a great job combining the stiffness of carbon with the lighter paulownia wood in order to make a snappy, agile, and maneuverable ski. If you’re looking for a dedicated touring ski with a bit more performance than you may expect, definitely check out the Blizzard Zero G 95 W.