The 2024 Blizzard Brahma 88 returns for another round, unchanged from 2023 with exception to a new graphic. It is one of those skis where you either love it or not. Not many skis on the market have a minimum speed limit, but the Brahma is certainly one of them. You should either have some wide-open slope in front of you, or have the ability to muscle the skis to make a quick turn to have success with the Brahma 88. As one of, if not the, strongest 88mm all-mountain skis on the market, it is the choice for many people who want unparalleled carving performance. Skis like the Volkl Kendo 88 or Nordica Enforcer 88 are great comparisons to this ski but the Brahma is commonly regarded as the strongest of the bunch in terms of torsional stiffness and raw power. With that being said, there is a limited percentage of skiers who are able to fully extract the maximum potential out of this ski. Those people know who they are and will be stoked to see the Brahma 88 back unchanged.

The Brahma 88 is constructed with Blizzard’s All-Mountain TrueBlend Wood Core with consists of 7 Beech stringers and 3 Poplar stringers. These stringers are configured in a multi-stringer lay-up that fine tunes the flex of the ski to provide maximum edge grip and responsiveness. Sandwiching the TrueBlend Woodcore are two Titanal Laminates with further reinforce the ski by maximizing torsional stiffness and in turn increase edge grip, power, and dampen vibrations. Although only 88mm at its waist, the Brahma comes in at a weight of 4200 grams for the pair at 177cm in length. This is relatively heavy for a ski in this genre, but that comes with an insane amount of downhill carving performance in both stability and responsiveness. The Brahma feels completely solid from the very beginning of the turn, all the way to the very end where it accelerates and propels you into your next turn. It is one of those skies where you can truly stand on it without any doubt of it conceding to the snow underneath it. So, if that is the feeling that you are looking for, you have likely found your match.

The 2024 Bonafide 88 has an appropriate profile and sidecut for its all-mountain application. Mostly camber with subtle tip rock and slight tail rocker. What this shape gives you is floatation in soft snow while also locking you into carves, so it’s a unique balance that is struck between those two attributes. Another aspect of this ski that contributes to this balance is its side, which consists of a 128mm forebody width, 88mm waist width, and 110mm tail width. With a sidecut like this, the Brahma is able to not only float in soft snow, but also grip onto firm snow and drag trenches down your favorite groomer. At the 177cm length, a turning radius of 17 meters is produced which is pretty impressive given how strong the ski is. A 17 meter radius gives way for many different turn shapes as long as they have the right pilot that knows how to drive the ski and is physically capable of demanding the ski to hook up. We say challenge accepted!

It is a well know fact here at Ski Essentials, amongst our testers, that the Brahma 88 doesn’t play. It’s a strong, stiff, heavy, and burly ski that has the capability to grip onto the firmest snow and ice in the steepest terrain. Intended for advanced to expert skier who are looking for a challenge and to push the limits of their own comfort zone, the Brahma 88 has a speed minimum and demands respect no matter who is skiing them.