Review: Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis · Women's · 2024
Published on 07/27/2023 · 3 min readCurated Ski Experts share their experience with using the 2024 Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis. Note that experts are not sponsored by any brands; these are their honest opinions.By Curated Experts
Leo Cocchiara and Lauren Dobbins
8 photos
The Curated Take
4.1/5
The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis, built with modern technology, such as a rockered tip and carbon flip core, are a major upgrade for those transitioning from rentals or older skis. Suitable for intermediates to experts, they excel in stability, carving, and versatility across a variety of terrains and conditions, although deep powder limits their performance. Known for their longevity, these skis can last 10-15 years with good care. This classic all-mountain ski's high performance and approachability offer excellent value for money. Ideal for those wanting to push their skiing skills while ensuring durability and versatility.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Review Ratings
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.
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.
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.
Playfulness
3/5
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.
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.
Turn Ease
5/5
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How experienced are you as a skier?
Answer questions to receive a personalized product recommendation from an expert like the author of the article.Leo Cocchiara
Ski ExpertLauren Dobbins
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