The Brahma is back, but it pretty much never left. There’s a lot that’s been said over the years in regards to this extraordinarily popular ski, but we’ll try to add some new material to the conversation anyway. At 88 mm underfoot, it falls somewhere in between the front side and all-mountain range. That’s okay, though, we do not have to pigeon hole any skis, much less one of the most popular models that Blizzard makes. If it works for you, then go with it! Our testers did find, on average, that the Brahma is much better suited as an expert level ski, rather than an intermediate one.
James Stewart skied the 180 cm length Brahma and found that it skied a bit long. He gave the skis a score of 5 out of 5 for stability, versatility, and overall impression. Obviously, he liked it a lot. He commended the skis for their “versatile modern shape and poise on edge. You can ski anything, any day of the week on this ski, and many do.” James is pretty stoked on the Brahma, to be sure, and notes that a lot of people feel the same way thanks to the versatile nature and character of the ski.
Skiing the 187, Bob St.Pierre loved the stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold of the Brahma. “Lots of stiffness—very stiff. Makes amazing turns/carves when pushed, but not a ski for intermediates, not by a long shot.” An expert skier who skis the Brahma like it should be skied will reap the benefits for sure, but a less skilled or less aggressive skier will most likely succumb to the unforgiving nature of the Brahma and get bucked around quite a bit.
Also ripping on the 187, Charlie Roy remarked at how thoroughly stable the Brahma is. “Stable at speed, smooth. The construction and shape of this ski feel just right. I can arc turns like I’m on a race ski, and then bring it right in to the trees and bumps. Great for the aggressive skier.” Charlie astutely notes that the stiffness and edge grip of the ski are not for the faint of heart. You better be on this ski.
Michael Rooney skied the 180 cm Brahma and gave it top marks for stability. He also felt that it was versatile and smooth. “The Brahma handles bumps and clumps in the trail easily. It is made to cruise. Nothing throws it off course.” The notion of getting thrown off course is important to note, because you have to be centered and balanced in order for that to take place. Good thing Michael is an accomplished skier who can handle the rigors of skiing that the Brahma demands!
Other than the fact that the newest version of the Brahma has a slightly shorter turning radius, it’s pretty much the same beef stick that it has always been. If you’re in-between sizes on this ski, you should probably err on the shorter side of caution. The 2019 Blizzard Brahma likes speed and it likes to be pushed. The more aggressive you are with the ski, the more feedback and performance you’re going to get out of it. Many of our testers sounded like they were issuing warnings with this ski, and maybe that’s because it does blur the lines between a front side and all-mountain stick.
