2022 Blizzard Thunderbird R15

All new and ready to rip for 2022, the Blizzard Thunderbird R15 is a race-like ski that loves to make some of the cleanest and roundest turns on the planet. At 70 mm underfoot and generating a 15-meter turn radius in the 175 cm length, the Thunderbird R15 is a quick turner that has edge grip for days. Built with Blizzard’s new True Blend on-piste wood core, the skis have an incredible amount of strength and power underfoot, as the designers have layered stiffer and denser wood stringers in the middle third of the ski, creating a more stable and solid platform for true edge control and endless grip. By leaving the shovels and tails more flexible, the skis are able to initiate and complete turns with a bit friendlier of a nature than the real-deal race skis. This is a god thing for skiers who aren’t quite to the World Cup level yet, but who still appreciate an amazing amount of stability and power in the front-side resort skis. Fear not, the Thunderbird R15 still has carbon armor and dual-metal laminate as well, so if you’re worried about a lack of burliness, you can set that aside.

On the 175, David Carter gave the ski high scores of 4 out of 5 for stability, torsional stiffness, edge hold, playfulness, maneuverability, and overall impression. When a carving ski gets in the hands (or feet) of a carving skier like David, it’s great to see that playfulness ranks high on his list. A lot of that has to do with the fact that the shovels and tails are more approachable in a front side ski than a lot of others, and Blizzard does a great job in making the skis be business-oriented as well as having that party side to them as well. David calls the Thunderbird R15 “A good front side carver fairly high energy Ski that requires user input and delivers accordingly.” Input is certainly a big thing here, especially with a ski at 70 mm underfoot—they need to be piloted appropriately, or else they’re going to get you. On the 170, David Wolfgang noted that “it’s a good carving ski that holds well on all surfaces,” hence his score of 5 out of 5 for torsional stiffness and edge grip. In addition, 5’s were given for stability, quickness, and maneuverability, so it’s pretty safe to assume David had a positive experience on the Thunderbird R15.

Also on the 170, Jeffrey Siegel noted that it skied true to size, and while he would like the longer length, he found no lack of stability in the shorter size. As a result, his highest scores of 4 out of 5 were given for stability, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and overall impression. Low scores of 2 out of 5 for versatility, flotation, forgiveness, and playfulness are not surprising, as these skis certainly fit a narrower slice of the market due to the shape and build. Jeffrey notes that he “had an absolute blast on this ski. It was very stable and I loved how it delivers power. It gives a little bit of pop, but never more than you can handle. I never felt it was going to put me in trouble, I always felt like I was directing the ski. I was ripping GS turns through slush bumps like they weren’t even there. Lots of fun. Definitely a frontside carving ski for an advanced to expert skier. Great beer-league racing ski.” Another tester noting the importance of driving and steering the ski, and we’re here for it.

There’s a whole lot to like about the new Thunderbird series from Blizzard, and as the narrowest version, the R15 is here to please the likes of true front-side skiers looking to get the most out of their gear. The narrow waist does put a lot of emphasis on the skier’s ability to maintain balance and poise out there on the hill, as it rewards solid technique and is a bit on the twitchy side for skiers who aren’t as comfortable being on edge all the time. For those skiers, the Thunderbird R15 WB is likely a better choice.