2027 Blizzard Rustler 9

At this point, it’s fair to say that we’ve covered the Blizzard Rustler 9 a whole lot. Even so, it’s always interesting to see what our testers find, as it’s more than feasible that they are first time Rustler 9 skiers. For 2027, the ski returns unchanged, providing a solid and predictable all-mountain platform for advanced and expert skiers. With a sophisticated build, a fun shape and profile, and a proven track record, it’s tough to argue against this ski as being a solid choice for a one and only ski regardless of where you’re at.

The Rustler 9 uses a blend of Flux Form metal laminates to go along with a True Blend wood core. This stays the same as in past years, providing a sophisticated and energetic feel with appropriate damping. We’ve always loved the energy and predictability of the ski, and it’s always just a bit more solid than you may expect. The 180 cm length sits on the scale at a stated weight of 1880 g/ski, so it’s not terribly light but does have agility due to shape. Tester Grant Wieler states: “I had a blast on this ski, incredibly damp, which comes at the expense of playfulness, but certainly a confidence-inspiring platform. It was happy doing any type of turn or maneuver I wanted it to. I didn’t feel like I had to drive it too hard either, and it was very stable when getting it up to speed. I found it perhaps a little bit slow edge to edge and a little stiff throughout – at least for my preference – rare instance where I recommend sizing down. First impression is that it’s a comfortable and maneuverable platform, even if I did find my feet wanting to stay planted on the ground a little bit. This is mostly due to the fact that it’s just a beefy ski in general and one of the reasons why I may recommend sizing down.”

While beefy in terms of having a solid feel, the shape and profile does make it feel manageable, although not quite as drifty as some other more freeride-oriented skis. We’re getting measurements of 131/96/121 in the 180 generating a turn radius of 17-meters—this ski likes to carve and feels planted when engaged. We do get a decent amount of splay here, with dramatic rise in both tips and tails, but especially the tips. This gives a bouncy feel to the skis in softer snow. We get some great feedback from tester Caleb Carbonneau who notes “When I first put them on, the first thing that stood out was their weight; they felt a little bulky. However, when skiing it felt great on the hard packed when carving. It felt like I could really trust the edge and felt confident when plowing through the crud. This ski seems to be better for an Advanced to Expert rider who’s looking for a ski that they can push and feel stable on. With the ski being a little heavier and wider it’s not as easy to throw around, which is why I would recommend it for stronger skiers.”

The stoke on the Rustler 9 continues into 2027. We’re not sure where Blizzard plans on going from here as it’s a hard thing to fathom. In our discussions with Blizzard, it sure sounds like a good problem to have. You have a great ski that most people really like. It sells well. It looks good. How on earth can you improve on it without killing it or replacing it?