2022 Blizzard Firebird HRC

Quite simply, these things rip. There’s just something amazing about a high-end recreational race carver that gets us all excited go head out there and lay down some clean arcs. The 2022 Blizzard Firebird HRC is at the top of that list, containing the race-room style of construction but in a wider-bodied shape. At 76 mm underfoot, there aren’t a lot of skiers who will call this ski “wide,” but in relation to the narrower World Cup GS skis, it’s almost like a powder ski. This extra width does a couple of nice things for the skier. First, it allows for a better platform to stand on, giving the skier a better shot at achieving a high-level of balance without sacrificing much when it comes to edge grip and torsional stiffness. The 174 cm length in this ski generates a 15-meter turn radius, which is pretty much ideal for citizens and beer-league racing, as you get that short arc, but with no loss in terms of stability and power. As usual, our testers were pretty much blown away with these singular-minded carvers, loving the edge hold, grip, and energy out of the turn.

Reuben Jalbert was on the 174 and noted that it felt true to size and a good length for him. He scored the ski a 5 out of 5 for torsional stiffness and edge hold with 4’s given for stability, quickness, maneuverability, and overall impression. Lower scores of 2 for flotation, versatility, playfulness, and forgiveness are not terribly surprising, as we see a greater span in the scorecard on more single-minded skis like the HRC. Reuben calls the HRC “A very stable medium radius race ski. Perfect for ex-racers who want something stable and edge-able, but a little less work than a dedicated racing setup. Still requires a lot of input, you’ll want to be on top of this ski for sure.” Brad Schauerman was on the longer 182, and while he enjoyed it in the softer snow that we had on our test day, he did note that the 174 would be a better choice for firmer snow and more precise carves. He scored the ski 4’s out of 5 for torsional stiffness, edge hold, and stability, so he was right in line with what Reuben had going on as well. Brad calls the HRC a “very stable ski that seemed to handle alright given the sloppy conditions. Would like top try it on a harder surface.”

Marcus Shakun skied the 182 and noted that it was a good length for him, perhaps a bit short, but as the longest possible, he’ll have to make do. Lots of high scores from Marcus on these skis, with 5’s for stability, quickness, edge hold, and overall impression. For a carving ski, Marcus notes that it’s “one ski to do it all on the front side. Can do a variety of turn shapes. Not quite a slalom turn nor a full GS turn. Great for firm and soft groomers, first thing in the morning or at the end of the day. The more you push it the better it gets. These are certainly best served by an advanced to expert skier.” Another big skier, Mike Thomas, was also on the 182, and he also scored the ski 5’s out of 5 for stability and overall impression, with torsional stiffness and edge grip right on the cusp of a 5 at 4.5. Mike states that the HRC is “a really fun ski! This is kind of versatile for a race-like ski. I really enjoy the feel Blizzard gets from their skis. Torsionally strong, but smooth and butter in the longitudinal flex. This would be a great ski for a hard-snow addict who likes technically sound turns.” For a real-world context, Mike also notes that the HRC would be “perfect for an upper-level ski instructor.”

If you’re looking to lay down some of the cleanest and roundest turns on the hill, look no further than the Blizzard Firebird HRC. There’s a lot of skis that are somewhat similar on the market, as that 75-76 mm underfoot race ski has a lot of capacity for sure. For the most part, they’re all very similar, with the HRC standing out as one of the more versatile of the group because of its use of carbon to lighten the ski.