Review: Blizzard Bonafide 97 Skis · 2024
By Ski Expert
Bryant Leech
Blizzard Bonafide 97 Skis · 2024
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$799.95
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The Curated Take
3.2/5
The Blizzard Bonafide 97 Skis are ideal for advanced to expert skiers seeking a strong, fast, and stable ski. They offer excellent all-mountain performance with a directional build and slight flexibility in the tip. However, their heavy build and mid-stiff flex require a forward skiing position and may be challenging for less experienced skiers. The Bonafide is designed for high-speed stability and precision carving on softer snow. These skis are great for those who want a powerful, uncompromising ski that excels in packed powder, groomers, and chopped-up conditions.
Ideal for
- Ideal for those who want full-speed capabilities on a wider ski
- A strong directional ski
- Slight give in the tip allows for all-mountain performance
Not ideal for
- A hard ski for anyone but an advanced/expert skier to like
- Must be skied in a forward position
- Heavier ski
Turn Ease
Many skis are looking for easier, quicker, or simpler turn initiation. The Bonafide is different from those skis. It is an absolute monster in terms of a ski requiring a...Read more
Playfulness
The core of this ski has some progressive flex, allowing the tips and tails to bend. However, if "playful" is something skiers are looking for, I would look elsewhere. The...Read more
High Speed Stability
I don't think I ever got close to the limit of the speed potential of this ski. With two sheets of metal, a minimal tip rocker, and a flat tail,...Read more
Carving
If one is lucky enough to live in an area with ample snowpack and the groomers stay in good shape, this ski will carve beautifully. Since it has a stiff...Read more
Flotation
While 97mm underfoot, this ski would not be considered a powder ski. This ski does do well blowing through chop due to its weight, but due to its very low...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Bryant Leech
About the ski gear
- Model: Blizzard Bonafide 97 Skis · 2024
Test conditions
- What conditions I used these: Packed powder, groomers, late-day groomers, moguls, chopped up powder, and light powder conditions (1-4").
- Where I’ve used them: Alta, Utah
- How many times I've used it: 2
Expert Reviews of the Blizzard Bonafide 97 Skis
Bryant Leech The Bonafide 97 is a ski that doesn't make any excuses about what it is: a strong weapon for attacking the mountain. The Bonafide is best suited for advanced and expert skiers who want a tool that is stiff, demanding, and uncompromising of mistakes (a unique offering in today's world of rocker everything). The Bonafide provides a platform for the best skiers to be able to bend the mountain to their will rather than the other way around. Without much rocker in the tip or tail, 97mm underfoot, and metal, this ski feels a bit like a relic in the ski industry, but not in a bad way. While many skis want to be a little bit of everything, this ski provides an option for folks who want something that will allow unlimited speed, stability, and control wherever they choose to bring the ski.
Product Specs
| Age Group | Adult |
| Gender | Men's |
| Includes bindings | No |
| Model year | 2024 |
| Ski type | All Mountain |
| Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced |
Review Ratings
Turn Ease
2/5
Bryant Leech gave 2 of 5 stars. Many skis are looking for easier, quicker, or simpler turn initiation. The Bonafide is different from those skis. It is an absolute monster in terms of a ski requiring a driver who is confident in their ability. Even with my 120 flex boots, it felt like I could have had 130+ flex plus to power this ski fully. It does not want any backseat skiing; otherwise, turning will be a constant struggle.
Playfulness
2/5
Bryant Leech gave 2 of 5 stars. The core of this ski has some progressive flex, allowing the tips and tails to bend. However, if "playful" is something skiers are looking for, I would look elsewhere. The shape of this ski also is in no way playful. It has one of the flattest tails I have seen outside of a frontside ski and very little rocker.
High Speed Stability
5/5
Bryant Leech gave 5 of 5 stars. I don't think I ever got close to the limit of the speed potential of this ski. With two sheets of metal, a minimal tip rocker, and a flat tail, everything about this ski screams high-speed stability. There is limitless stability for this ski's speed.
Carving
4/5
Bryant Leech gave 4 of 5 stars. If one is lucky enough to live in an area with ample snowpack and the groomers stay in good shape, this ski will carve beautifully. Since it has a stiff core, this ski is made for carving huge, long arcs on groomers. It is 97mm underfoot, so that comes with a limitation on carving. With that much underfoot, it's probably the best carver in the class; however, I think many who want this type of carving performance are likely better suited with something thinner underfoot.
Flotation
3/5
Bryant Leech gave 3 of 5 stars. While 97mm underfoot, this ski would not be considered a powder ski. This ski does do well blowing through chop due to its weight, but due to its very low rocker, this is not a powder ski by the modern definition.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Bryant Leech The Blizzard Bonafide minces no words when it comes to its personality. It's a hard-charging wide ski. It is similar in construction to a race ski and is built to be skied fast by a seasoned speed veteran. Its flat tail and lack of rocker in the tip are a rarity these days, with all types of ski shapes being the norm. This ski is really one where "if you know, you know." Others need not apply.
Why did you choose this product?
Bryant Leech This has been a ski I have wanted to try for a long time. It has a bit of an aura about it. I see the grizzly locals on this ski that will tell me about "that storm in '82 you missed was one you won't ever see again, young lad." The Bonafide is a throwback to when skis were strong, and skiers had to be stronger. Most skis these days incorporate something to lighten, soften, ease, or help in some way. This ski does none of that. With a minimal rocker and two full sheets of metal, it doesn't apologize for what it is.
