2027 Blizzard Sheeva 11

The 2027 Blizzard Sheeva 11 is a carryover model featuring the same construction, shape, and graphics as last year. At 112 mm underfoot and with a sophisticated construction, the Sheeva 11 is an ideal choice for advanced and expert skiers who are looking for flotation, energy, and creative freeride performance. While most skiers will use this as a powder day ski, it’s not out of the realm for those who ski at Alta, Jackson Hole, or other areas with frequent snowfalls to use it as a daily ski, although it is admittedly on the wider side. For such a wide ski, though, the agility and carving performance are both quite good.

Blizzard does a great job adding sophistication and modernity to the build. They start with their Trueblend Free wood core consisting of poplar, beech, and paulownia woods. By using the different stringers of wood in specific zones, Blizzard fine-tunes the flex and feel of the ski to maximize comfort and confidence. Fluxform is the next big thing here, with a layer of fiberglass underfoot and two sets of metal arms that extend into the tips and the tails of the ski. Acting like a tuning fork, these metal arms in a frame form put more pressure and damping on the edges, allowing for a solid and stable feel while the central spine of the ski can flex torsionally with greater ease, putting more smoothness into the character. Blizzard also adds two layers of carbon-infused fiberglass to the mix to provide energy and pep. In the 174, Blizzard states a weight of 1920 g/ski putting it on the heftier end of the spectrum. Tester Megan Papineau calls it a “Great all mountain ski, definitely heavy and big, not as quick but for big terrain they would be so fun.” Part of the fun is being able to wield such a large ski and have it be relatively nimble and mobile.

The shape and profile of the Sheeva 11 is quite dramatic. There’s no way around that fact. As such, it’s just not as quick, but the flatter underfoot profile does make it easier to smear and swerve. The ski uses 140 mm tips and 130 mm tails to generate a 17.5-meter turn radius. That’s on the turny side for modern freeride skis, but it does afford easy turning and great carving for such a wide-bodied ski. There’s a lot of splay here in the tips and tails that pair well with the shorter arc to create a bouncy feel—this ski loves to play in the fresh snow. Lauren Morton scored the Sheeva 11 a 9 out of 10 for overall impression and states: “It surprised me how skiable it was. Responsive and fun. Plowed right through the soft bumps.” These skis do feel surprising and approachable for their size for sure.

The Sheeva 11 is a pretty specific ski when it comes to skier type and application. As such, it has a smaller audience than the well-rounded Sheeva 9 but works significantly better in the zones for which it’s designed. Advanced and expert skiers will get the most out of the Sheeva 11, and if you’re lucky enough to get these on powder days, then it becomes quite apparent that these are built and shaped for deeper and softer snow. If deep trees and wide-open spaces are part of your keys to happiness, the Sheeva 11 is all good for those zones.