2022 Blizzard Black Pearl 97

It’s almost not even fair to let Blizzard build any Black Pearl skis anymore. They just keep cranking out these winners, and at the wide end of the Pearl spectrum, the 97 is simply an amazing ski. Wide enough to be able to handle the deeper snow you may encounter, but still narrow enough to rip around the groomers all day, the Black Pearl 97 is smooth, stable, quick, and agile all at the same time. That’s no small feat for a ski as user-friendly and approachable as this 97. It shares the DNA with the men’s Bonafide 97 in terms of shaping, just without the dual-metal laminate. It still keeps its strength and power with the titanal laminate underfoot, but it remains incredibly maneuverable and fun in all types of snow conditions and terrain. The 165 cm length generates a 15-meter turn radius, and with that shape, it likes to pull you into the turn and provide some good energy on the rebound out. As with most other Black Pearl skis, our testers continuously rave about the range and well-roundedness of the skis. The ease of use combines well with the stable and confidence-inspiring construction.

Carly Monahan loves a good 165 Black Pearl 97. She notes that the 165 is her Goldilocks size for this one, and as former Samba owner, she’s also a fan of that mid to upper-90's underfoot ski like this. Her scores were all pretty top-notch, with 5’s out of 5 given for stability, playfulness, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and overall impression. All other scores were 4’s, giving this ski a very high overall average—consistently in line with what the ski is built for. “This ski will charm anyone looking for some pop and zest! Though on the wider end, this would be a great everyday ski for an all-mountain skier. Wanna catch a little air, smear some turns in soft snow, and lay down tracks in groomers? The Black Pearl 97 is your one-ski quiver!” That is pretty much exactly what Blizzard is going for with this ski, as it’s really meant to do it all, while lying slightly on the wider side. It’s fun to get up and high on those edge angles with this ski, as the shorter turn radius rapidly brings you through the turn.

Also on the 165, Danielle Nichols notes that it skis true to size. She scored it 5’s out of 5 for torsional stiffness, edge hold, and overall impression. All other scores, like Carly’s, were in the 4-range. Danielle normally skis on a Nordica Enforcer 100, so for her to give this a 5 for edge hold is pretty impressive. “Super sweet! Beefy. A bit heavy for the end of the day 😂😂😂. I’m pretty sure I would love this ski when the snow is a little firmer and the surface is smoother.” For being so maneuverable, it’s impressive how many testers note the burliness of the ski as one of its strong parts. Ann MacDonald was on the 171 and found it was a good length for her. All 4’s for Ann—nice and simple, just like how the Pearl 97 skis. “I liked this ski! It moved from fairly quick turns to wide open turns easily. It had enough dampness to bend easily and felt really stable. It felt smooth like butter! Love to try it in different conditions to get a better feel for it honestly but seems like it would handle most conditions. Girls who like to charge would love this ski for its ease and versatility!”

Wider all-mountain skis are just so much fun. They turn well for their width and float really well on the fresh. The Blizzard Black Pearl 97 is just right up there with the best of them. There’s no real need for any other ski than this, for most skiers, on most days, at most mountains. The versatility and well-roundedness, as well as the high-end quality and feel, are just out of this world. It’s no wonder the Black Pearl skis have been some of the best-selling sticks on the market, and the 97 satisfies a lot of needs for advanced and expert lady skiers.