For 2019, Blizzard offers the Alight 8.2 in both a Ti and a Ca version. The Ca version does not have any metal whereas the Ti has two sheets of titanal. Accordingly, the Ca will be lighter and snappier, whereas the Ti will be heavier and damper. For more intermediate level skiers, the Ca will most likely be a better choice. Our testers, expert skiers for the most part, appreciated the playful nature of the skis and seemed to find the Ca forgiving, versatile, and fun.
Katie Nichols skied the 162 cm length ski and gave it average and above average scores for stability, quickness, versatility, and overall impression. She loved the forgiveness of the ski. In the comments section of the ski, she left it blank—had nothing to say about the ski at all. She was speechless at how awesome it was.
Chloe Wexler skied both versions of the Alight 8.2, and liked the Ca version better. She gave the skis high scores in most categories, including overall impression. She commented by saying: “I liked the Ca better, it’s lighter and more playful. It’s more lively and energetic in and out of turns.” In comparison to the Ti version, she found them “as stable as the Ti version, just provided more feedback from the snow.” It’s awesome at a test like this when you can get a skier like Chloe on two different versions of pretty much the same ski for a direct, side-by-side comparison.
Ann MacDonald was pretty blown away with the performance of the Alight 8.2 Ca in a 162. She called it a “ripping front side GS carving ski. Good stiffness—great hold. Could really stand on it and lay it over! Aggressive gals will like this on groomers—stable with speed! J”
Another ripping skier, Pascale Savard, took the 162 for a few runs and found that it had awesome torsional stiffness and edge hold. Another Ca fan, Pascale noted that she “really liked this ski. Good edge control, mostly in medium to long turns. Awesome bounce, would be perfect for an intermediate to expert all mountain skier.”
Susan Dorn called the 162 ski a “workhorse.” Her advice is to “give it all you’ve got. These skis can handle it! Feels a bit heavy but this can be a plus in cruddy conditions. For the expert skier who knows how to use a ski to it s best and who will put it through the paces. This ski handles it all with aplomb.” That’s very nice advice from Susan, who certainly had a favorable impression of the Alight 8.2 Ca.
Also with a favorable opinion of her experience with the Alight 8.2 Ca, Mar Kuhnel gave top marks for quickness, maneuverability, and playfulness. She didn’t seem to find it as versatile as the other testers, but did call it a “fun lively ski, easy to ski a variety of turn shapes, however it shines when making fast, short radius turns. The carbon is active, livelier than the Ti version, but loses a little stability at speed.” Mar touches on some nice aspects here, and shows the subtle but important differences between the Carbon and Titanium versions of the ski.
For front side skiers looking for a lightweight and stable ski that’ll rip the groomers and carve some sweet arcs, the 2019 Blizzard 8.2 Ca could be your stick.
