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Expert Comparison: Rossignol Blackops W 92 + Xpress 11 GW Ski Bindings · Women's · 2024 vs Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis · Women's · 2024

Published on 02/14/2024 · 5 min readCompare Rossignol Blackops W 92 + Xpress 11 GW Ski Bindings · Women's · 2024 and Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis · Women's · 2024. Get expert insight below!
Charlie Walker, Ski Expert
Jessica Whittam, Ski Expert
Hunter Williams, Ski Expert
Contributed By Ski Expert Charlie Walker, Jessica Whittam, Hunter Williams, Sara Beeken, Daniela A and others

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Side by side comparison

Out of stock
Rossignol Blackops W 92 + Xpress 11 GW Ski Bindings · Women's · 2024
Out of stock
Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis · Women's · 2024
Price
$389.97
40% off
from:$244.99
50% off
User rating
4.85(20)
5(10)
The Curated Take

Best for progressive-minded all-mountain freeride skiers seeking power, pop, and playfulness.

Best for intermediate to advanced women skiers who prefer groomed runs.

Ski type
Freeride
All Mountain
Skill level
Intermediate, Advanced
Intermediate, Advanced
Rocker profile
Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Rocker/Camber/Rocker

In the world of women's skiing, two products stand out: the Rossignol Blackops W 92 + Xpress 11 GW Ski Bindings and the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis. Both are designed for the 2024 season and cater to intermediate to advanced skiers. The Rossignol Blackops W 92 is a versatile all-mountain freeride ski that offers a perfect blend of power, pop, and playfulness. It's lightweight, responsive, and great for those who want control on groomers and the ability to explore off-piste. On the other hand, the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 is a popular choice for women skiers who want a versatile ski that excels on groomers. It's stable, easy to turn, and can handle some off-piste skiing. Both skis are praised for their performance on groomers, but the Rossignol Blackops W 92 has a slight edge when it comes to off-piste exploration. However, the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 is more accessible for beginners looking to progress.

The Rossignol Blackops W 92 + Xpress 11 GW Ski Bindings is a fantastic choice for progressive-minded all-mountain freeride skiers. This ski is designed with a full sidewall construction and a progressive rocker profile, offering a perfect blend of power, pop, and playfulness. The lightweight paulownia wood core ensures agility and responsiveness, making it ideal for hitting jumps or shredding through powder.

This ski is particularly good for those who want control on groomers and the ability to explore off-piste. With 92 underfoot, these skis will float on top of most fresh powder that falls, but they're also great for other parts of the mountain, including morning runs on the fresh corduroy or a fun afternoon in the trees.

The Rossignol Blackops W 92 is also considered a partial twin and has a Camber Rocker combo to put energy into your turns. It's great for medium radius turns but has a little width for a snowfall. These skis are lightweight, energetic, and very responsive, giving you good control on both the slower more relaxed run and on steeper terrain.

With 92 underfoot these will float on top of most fresh powder that falls, but also be a great ski for other parts of the mountain including some morning runs on the fresh corduroy or a fun afternoon in the trees. Moguls don't mind if I do, these skis are great for the skier you are now but will continue to challenge you as you become a better skier.

Charlie Walker
Ski Expert

The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis are a popular choice for women skiers who want a versatile ski that excels on groomers. With a 88mm waist width, they are stable and easy to turn, making them ideal for cruising on groomed trails. While they may not perform as well off-piste, they are perfect for Midwest or East Coast skiers, or for those who prefer blue/black groomers out West.

These skis are rocker-camber-rocker, and they are more directional than their bigger sister, the Sheevas. These are going to excel on groomers and in light powder. They are also incredibly smooth thanks to the Flipcore technology, which is proprietary to Blizzard.

One of the cool features of these skis is called Trueblend technology, which means in the varying lengths of the ski, the stiffness is going to be adjusted. So, say you've got a 140-something for a really smaller female ski, those are going to be a softer ski than what you would find in the 170 version of the ski.

I loved the Black Pearl 88's. They're the best women’s ski on the market for a reason, and I can absolutely see why this ski is owned and beloved by so many women. It just carved so well, and there's just so much you can do on this ski.

Jessica Whittam
Ski Expert

Similarities

Both the Rossignol Blackops W 92 and the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 are designed for women skiers who are at an intermediate to advanced level. They both excel on groomers, offering excellent edge hold and responsiveness. Both skis are also versatile, capable of handling a variety of conditions and terrains. They both feature a rocker-camber-rocker profile, which provides a balance of stability and playfulness. Both skis are also praised for their lightweight construction, which contributes to their agility and responsiveness.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are versatile and perform well on groomers, the Rossignol Blackops W 92 is more suited for off-piste exploration. It's a great choice for skiers who want to venture off the groomed trails and into the trees or powder. The Blackops W 92 is also a bit wider underfoot, which provides better float in fresh snow.

On the other hand, the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 is more accessible for beginners looking to progress. It's a bit narrower underfoot, which makes it easier to turn and more suited to groomed runs. The Black Pearl 88 is a great choice for skiers who primarily stick to groomed trails and want a ski that's easy to control and fun to ride.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to versatility, both skis perform well, but the Rossignol Blackops W 92 has a slight edge due to its wider underfoot and better performance off-piste. For groomer performance, both skis excel, but the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 might be slightly better due to its narrower underfoot and strong edge hold. In terms of accessibility for beginners, the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 is the clear winner as it's easier to turn and control. Finally, for durability and longevity, both skis are highly praised, making it a tie in this dimension.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Rossignol Blackops W 92 and the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 are excellent choices for women skiers. The right choice depends on your skiing style and preferences. If you're an adventurous skier who loves to explore off-piste, the Rossignol Blackops W 92 would be a great fit. If you're a beginner looking to progress or a skier who primarily sticks to groomed trails, the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 would be a better choice. Either way, you can't go wrong with either of these skis. They're both high-quality, versatile, and fun to ride. Happy skiing!

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