2022 Blizzard Rustler 11

Years from now, we’ll look back on the Blizzard Rustler 11 and note how far ahead of its time it was. This is mostly exemplified by the fact that the skis have remained largely unchanged since inception, mainly because they nailed it the first time. Wider skis, like these, ranging from 112 to 116 mm underfoot depending on length, had typically been either super heavy or very light, but the Rustler 11 really splits the difference quite nicely. You either had to charge or dance, but the Rustler 11 let you do both. With a gratuitous rocker profile and a turned-up tail, the Rustler 11 strikes an amazing balance between skis that are too heavy and bulky and those that are just flimsy powder floaters. These will stay on top of a ton of snow, but when they’re on groomers, you can really access the entirety of the 19-meter turn radius (in the 180), allowing for some really deep carves. Thanks to the metal laminate underfoot and tapering to the tips and tails, the skis remain incredibly stable, while leaving the extremities unencumbered by metal, and bolstered by uni-directional carbon that keeps the skis strong and light at the same time.

Phil McGrory and Mike Thomas both skied the 180, and both found it to be on the short side. Phil scored the ski 5’s out of 5 for flotation and overall impression, with 4’s given for stability, playfulness, and versatility. Very impressive to see a 112 mm underfoot ski called versatile, but here we are. His low score of 2 out of 5 for quickness and maneuverability isn’t terribly surprising given the girth of the board. Phil notes that the “ski excels on soft snow, but still very stable at speed and on groomed terrain. Versatile for its width. Very easy to steer but can still lock into a carve once it’s rolled over.” Finding those high edge angles on a wider ski like this is a whole lot of fun, you just have to commit to being up on those sidewalls. Mike Thomas, similarly to Phil, scored the ski 5’s out of 5 for flotation and overall impression, with 4.5’s for stability and playfulness. Mike’s low score of 2.5 was given for versatility, as he’s erring on the side of the ski being more one-trick, and that’s great. “Easy to steer but strong on the edge when following the sidecut radius. Nice blend of easy and powerful.” Mike ends with a compliment: “Really nice ski!”

On the longer 188, Marcus Shakun notes that it’s a good length for him, but he also states that “it’s a lot of ski.” Marcus scored the ski 5’s out of 5 for stability and flotation, with overall impression, torsional stiffness, and edge grip all earning 4’s. His low score of 2 for quickness and maneuverability is not that shocking, especially given his previous statement of the length of the ski. “A powerhouse through the soft Deep Corn. Just truly powers through anything in its way no matter what’s in front of it. Not for a lazy skier. Requires a strong active skier to bring it to life. “Expert skier” Has a surfy feel in the deep spring corn and a huge turn shape at 21 meters. Point and go and it will take you there at speed and confidence. Stable platform underfoot.” That’s the fun part of skis like this—they just plow through anything that you can find. So powerful and strong in adverse snow conditions, the Rustler 11 just does not seem to care what’s in front of it.

The longevity of this ski is pretty darn impressive. They really haven’t changed it much over the past four years, and that’s quite a long run for one model. They did it right the first time, and didn’t really have to go back over it, allowing skiers the benefit of having a wide-bodied freeride ski that can handle a huge variety of conditions and terrain. Stiff and burly enough to handle some of the most rugged skiing on the planet, but still accessible for skiers to use at the resort, the Blizzard Rustler 11 is a prime example of a ski done right.