Review: Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis · Women's · 2024
By Curated Experts
Leo Cocchiara, Cat Leonowicz, Bryant Leech and Lauren Dobbins
Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis · Women's · 2024
$489.97
$699.95
30% off
8 photos
The Curated Take
4.1/5
The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis are well-suited for intermediate to expert women skiers who prefer groomed runs and occasional off-piste adventures. They excel in easy turn initiation, high-speed stability, and carving, making them a reliable choice for East-to-West skiing. With a versatile 88mm waist, they perform well in up to 4-6" of snow. However, they are not ideal for freestyle or deep powder skiing, and heavier or more powerful skiers may desire more support. Despite their traditional style, the Black Pearl 88s offer long-term durability and are a popular choice for skiers seeking a frontside-oriented ski with a fun, day-glow base.
Ideal for
- Versatile to intermediate, advanced, and expert skiers
- Easy turn initiation, great high-speed stability, and excellent carving properties
- Great long-term durability, reliability, and performance for East-to-West skiing
- Stable on groomers
- Day-glow bases are a fun feature
Not ideal for
- Very traditional style that's not particularly playful or freestyle-oriented
- 88mm waist width has limited flotation and will find its limit around 4-6" of snow
- Heavier and more powerful skiers will want more backbone
- Will be overpowered by an expert skier
- Frontside-oriented, so not strong off-piste
Flotation
In the past decade or so, skis have gotten better and better at performing in powder, even if they're not specifically powder skis. The advent of rockered tip shapes has...Read more
One of the most impressive things about this ski is that it is 88 underfoot and can still do really well in light powder and choppy snow. The well-built design...Read more
This ski employs its 88 underfoot waist to help with float. Besides that medium waist, it doesn't provide much other help to the skier regarding flotation. If skiers find themselves...Read more
High Speed Stability
The Blizzard Black Pearl is perfectly stable at higher speeds thanks to the carbon flip core construction that adds dampening and minimizes chatter. Plus, the traditional square tail helps keep...Read more
One of the best parts about this ski, in my opinion, was that it felt both lightweight and stable, even at high speeds. Often, it feels like a trade-off between...Read more
If someone loves ripping groomers at a high speed, this ski is one to consider. It loves speed and just asks for more once skiers give it the gas. The...Read more
Carving
Many skiers want to improve their carving technique but don't want a ski that is only good at carving. The Blizzard Black Pearl gives the skier the right shape and...Read more
My big test on whether I liked these skis was just doing big steep carves across the slopes. Even with the quick uphill to downhill transition the weight shift felt...Read more
The Black Pearl's universal appeal to women who like all different types of turn shapes is interesting. As long as its primary purpose is on the trail, this ski does...Read more
Playfulness
The term "playfulness" in skiing describes a ski's willingness to smear out of turns, flex into the tips and tails, and deviate from a more traditional straight-forward skiing style. Think...Read more
The multiple types of wood combined with the numerous layers in the core bonded together really give this ski a fun reaction when carving and turning. I could easily spin...Read more
Durability
I still see original Blizzard Black Pearls from 2011 out there in the world, a testament to their longevity and how well-loved they have been from the get-go. Their durability...Read more
Overall, this ski held up through all of the conditions I tested it on, including groomers and even over smaller rocks. I have yet to see any major damage on...Read more
Turn Ease
The Black Pearl has a reputation that precedes it. Over the years, the catchy name, classic blue and purple colorways, and rave performance reviews have made it one of the...Read more
One of the first things I noticed about this ski was how easy it was to maneuver. The highly rockered tip and sidecut, combined with this ski's multi-wood core, made...Read more
This ski has metal in it. Like any ski that employs metal, getting on edge can take some effort. This can be a great thing for a trained skier as...Read more
Versatility
The Blizzard Black Pearl is a straightforward, classic all-mountain ski versatile in many ways. It's adaptable to a variety of terrains, including groomers, trees, moguls, light to medium off-piste. It's...Read more
This ski really excels in all-mountain conditions. It can carve great, turn fast, and stay stable at high speeds. This is not a ski I would necessarily take into powder;...Read more
This ski only employs a few of the modern characteristics of ski design we have grown accustomed to seeing. Rocker, progressive flex pattern, and playfulness are all foreign terms to...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Cat Leonowicz
Bryant Leech
About the ski gear
- Model: Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis · Women's · 2024
Test conditions
- I demoed these skis.
- What conditions I've used them in: Mainly groomers but some off-piste conditions, too
- Where I’ve used them: Crystal Mountain
- How many times I've used it: 4
Expert Reviews of the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis
Leo Cocchiara The Blizzard Black Pearl is the best-selling women's ski of all time and for good reason.
The Black Pearl's performance is satisfyingly classic in personality and suits a wide range of skiers, from cautious intermediates to highly technical experts. It's just as happy at lower, more casual speeds as it is at higher, more aggressive speeds. Its rockered tip gives easy turn initiation and compliance over variable snow, and it loves to get up on edge and carve.
The 88mm underfoot waist width is right on the nose for an all-mountain East-to-West capable ski for just about everything minus the deepest powder. The width will find its limit in about 4-6" of powder. Heavier and more aggressive skiers may want more power and backbone than the current version of Black Pearl offers.
It's the perfect one-ski quiver for the average woman who wants a high-quality ski with a great reputation and personality for East to West skiing with only the occasional powder day.
Lauren Dobbins The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 is a very accessible option for women skiers looking to advance their skills. They are easy to turn and have a strong grip on groomers. This ski truly excels in frontside conditions. At 88mm underfoot, there is something to be desired for off-piste skiing. The Black Pearl is a great match for an intermediate to advanced woman. Experts will find this ski a bit too easy to drive, and it lacks the strong responsiveness someone of this ability level would expect. Overall, this ski is a good choice for a Midwest or East Coast skier or someone out West wanting to stay on blue/black groomers.
Cat Leonowicz I was amazed at how easy it was to maneuver and get around when riding this ski. This ski was easy to get on edge and initiate fast, quick carved-around turns. The wood core made the ski pop around turns but could float freely through a light layer of powder. I was also impressed that even with 88 underfoot, this ski could float so easily in a fresh, light coat of powder. With how playful this ski felt as well, I think even a more freeride-based skier would have fun on this. This ski is ideal for beginners and intermediate skiers just looking to go out and have fun. It was truly difficult to come up with any negatives about this ski.
Bryant Leech This is an expert-level women's ski in every sense of the word. It demands a precise form predicated on a forward stance. This is not a ski where someone can sit in the backseat and hope it will help them turn. It requires skiers to make the turn and will not help them with anything to do with getting down the mountain. However, with its minimal rocker lines and significant camber, skiers can rail carving turns at any speed they would like. It's very stout and gives confidence at speed.
Product Specs
| Age Group | Adult |
| Gender | Women's |
| Includes bindings | No |
| Model year | 2024 |
| Ski type | All Mountain |
| Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced |
Review Ratings
Averaged between reviewers, view below how all experts voted.
Flotation
3/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 3 of 5 stars. In the past decade or so, skis have gotten better and better at performing in powder, even if they're not specifically powder skis. The advent of rockered tip shapes has made even more piste-oriented skis, like the Black Pearl, capable of handling fresh storm days better than anything I ever skied in the early 2000s. Skis of quality like the Black Pearl are, for the most part, going to do significantly better in powder than a typical rental fleet ski. So whether this is someone's first pair of skis coming out of rentals or an upgrade over an older model, they can count on an easier time in powder without increasing the difficulty of the all-mountain skiing they're doing 90% of the time.
Cat Leonowicz gave 5 of 5 stars. One of the most impressive things about this ski is that it is 88 underfoot and can still do really well in light powder and choppy snow. The well-built design of the ski allows it to stay stable and on top of the snow. This ski is light and easily pops back up after every turn.
Bryant Leech gave 2 of 5 stars. This ski employs its 88 underfoot waist to help with float. Besides that medium waist, it doesn't provide much other help to the skier regarding flotation. If skiers find themselves in soft snow often, I think they would be disappointed in its performance. It requires a very skilled tactician to be able to navigate soft snow well.
High Speed Stability
5/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 5 of 5 stars. The Blizzard Black Pearl is perfectly stable at higher speeds thanks to the carbon flip core construction that adds dampening and minimizes chatter. Plus, the traditional square tail helps keep my edges locked into the snow when engaged. It's perfect for skiers who want to stick to cut runs versus off-piste terrain but still want to push themselves to ski at their highest level.
Cat Leonowicz gave 5 of 5 stars. One of the best parts about this ski, in my opinion, was that it felt both lightweight and stable, even at high speeds. Often, it feels like a trade-off between a fast, heavy, stable ski or an unstable light ski. This ski really felt like the best of both worlds in this scenario. It was light and fast but still remained stable even in a deep carve.
Bryant Leech gave 5 of 5 stars. If someone loves ripping groomers at a high speed, this ski is one to consider. It loves speed and just asks for more once skiers give it the gas. The metal sheet in this ski allows for great stability at speed, and without any rocker, skiers won't feel the tips flopping around.
Carving
5/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 5 of 5 stars. Many skiers want to improve their carving technique but don't want a ski that is only good at carving. The Blizzard Black Pearl gives the skier the right shape and dimensions to develop a crisp and clean carve. The inner edge of the outside ski responds well to the turn initiation. It's easy to keep my weight and pressure balanced as I roll the ski up on the edge. The tails allow for a smooth change of direction with just the right amount of momentum to launch into the next turn.
Cat Leonowicz gave 5 of 5 stars. My big test on whether I liked these skis was just doing big steep carves across the slopes. Even with the quick uphill to downhill transition the weight shift felt effortless and I was easily able to get on edge and carve so smoothly and quickly around the hill.
Bryant Leech gave 5 of 5 stars. The Black Pearl's universal appeal to women who like all different types of turn shapes is interesting. As long as its primary purpose is on the trail, this ski does an excellent job of holding an edge for short-radius carves while also ripping down the mountain at breakneck speed.
Playfulness
4/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 3 of 5 stars. The term "playfulness" in skiing describes a ski's willingness to smear out of turns, flex into the tips and tails, and deviate from a more traditional straight-forward skiing style. Think old-school versus new-school. The Blizzard Black Pearl has a very classic and traditional style with the best benefits of modern technology. It's most at home on the groomers and moguls all-mountain with the ability to explore the boundaries of trees and back bowls when called upon.
Cat Leonowicz gave 5 of 5 stars. The multiple types of wood combined with the numerous layers in the core bonded together really give this ski a fun reaction when carving and turning. I could easily spin around, change directions, and hit aggressive fast slides on this ski. It truly felt like this ski was just an extension of my foot at times, and it made me not want to take it off.
Durability
4/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 4 of 5 stars. I still see original Blizzard Black Pearls from 2011 out there in the world, a testament to their longevity and how well-loved they have been from the get-go. Their durability and refinement have only improved over time. The typical user profile of this skier is not the type to go smashing them against rocks, trees, and rails. If skiers take good care of them, their life span could easily extend 10-15 years, and they'll find themselves ready for something new before the skis ever give out.
Cat Leonowicz gave 4 of 5 stars. Overall, this ski held up through all of the conditions I tested it on, including groomers and even over smaller rocks. I have yet to see any major damage on them. My only comment regarding durability is minor damage to the topsheet of the ski and a few scratches on the bottom.
Turn Ease
4/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 5 of 5 stars. The Black Pearl has a reputation that precedes it. Over the years, the catchy name, classic blue and purple colorways, and rave performance reviews have made it one of the most recognizable skis on the market for women, so it's no surprise that many customers ask for it by name. The ease of turn initiation is one of the biggest performance factors of this ski that makes it so approachable for skiers of all levels. Intermediate and experts alike will appreciate how the rockered tip of the ski, constructed with Blizzard's patented Flip-Core construction, makes the effective edge of the ski feel shorter and easy to change directions with.
Cat Leonowicz gave 5 of 5 stars. One of the first things I noticed about this ski was how easy it was to maneuver. The highly rockered tip and sidecut, combined with this ski's multi-wood core, made it easily turn on the dime. Even in terms of smoothness this ski floated around each turn with such stability and ease.
Bryant Leech gave 3 of 5 stars. This ski has metal in it. Like any ski that employs metal, getting on edge can take some effort. This can be a great thing for a trained skier as it helps with stability and stiffness; to the untrained, it can be a chore. The ease of its turning ability really comes down to one's skill level and comfort with a direction and stiff tool.
Versatility
4/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 4 of 5 stars. The Blizzard Black Pearl is a straightforward, classic all-mountain ski versatile in many ways. It's adaptable to a variety of terrains, including groomers, trees, moguls, light to medium off-piste. It's versatile to many skill levels, from low intermediates to experts. It's also versatile to various conditions, from icy hard pack to light powder, but finds the limit of its floatation beyond about 6" of fresh snow.
Cat Leonowicz gave 5 of 5 stars. This ski really excels in all-mountain conditions. It can carve great, turn fast, and stay stable at high speeds. This is not a ski I would necessarily take into powder; however, given a few tests in light powder, it was still able to perform fairly well. The 88 underfoot makes this an ideal all-mountain ski for a beginner.
Bryant Leech gave 2 of 5 stars. This ski only employs a few of the modern characteristics of ski design we have grown accustomed to seeing. Rocker, progressive flex pattern, and playfulness are all foreign terms to this ski. This ski wants a forward, aggressive drive of the ski likely that is used to having a flat tail and potentially coming from even straight or race skis.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Leo Cocchiara My favorite moment of skiing the Black Pearls was on an average groomer day when the carving turns just really clicked. I was never classically trained in skiing, so my carving technique was never given much attention. Still, on this day, I found the rhythm of it, and it was a huge jump up in my progression.
Why did you choose this product?
Cat Leonowicz I had heard great things about it and wanted to see if it lived up to its reputation.
Bryant Leech As one of the most popular skis on the market for almost a decade, this ski does a lot of things right. It's stiff enough to hold up to strong skiing and provides very good control on groomers. It has enough underfoot to be a reliable option for both East and West skiing. I wanted to understand how this ski might be interesting to folks looking for an excellent on-trail option.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Leo Cocchiara The real value of the Black Pearl is how approachable it is for a multitude of skiers. I can put an intermediate, advanced, or expert skier on it, whether in the East or the West, knowing they will have a great experience with it.
Bryant Leech This stiff and directional ski wants to be pointed down the fall line. Comparable skis are the Nordica Santa Ana 88 and the Salomon Stance 88. These options offer more off-trail ability, but the Black Pearl takes the cake for pure groomer performance. The Santa Ana provides similar stability at speed and has a fairly similar construction. On the other hand, the Stance ticks down that super high-end stability at speed. All of these skis are best for advanced/expert-level skiers.
What do you love about this product?
Leo Cocchiara I love the Black Pearls because they deliver exactly what they promise: a high-quality ski that will excel all-mountain and meet skiers right where they're at in their skiing.
Cat Leonowicz It's just a fun, easy-to-ride, easy-to-turn ski overall.
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Leo Cocchiara
Ski ExpertCat Leonowicz
Ski ExpertBryant Leech
Ski ExpertLauren Dobbins
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