2027 Blizzard Stormbird 80 TI

The 2027 Blizzard Stormbird 80 Ti is a carryover model for this year, bringing forth the same shape, profile, and construction as last year. The Blizzard Stormbird series offers front side skiers a gentler version of the rugged Thunderbird skis, and the Stormbird 80 Ti is a quick, agile, and energetic performer that loves to spend time in a carved turn. With a damper feel and a lighter overall character, the Stormbird 80 Ti offers intermediate and advanced skiers a solid and strong performing ski that will help them progress and allow them to have a ton of fun on groomed and smooth terrain. These skis have a surprising performance ceiling and a great range for mixing front side and all-mountain.

The construction is more sophisticated than you may think. Blizzard puts a lot of thought and engineering into these skis, and it all starts with their Trueblend Piste wood core. By using a mix of poplar and beech stringers in the core, they can fine-tune the flex and stability of the ski to achieve a desired effect. In the case of the Stormbird 80 Ti, this puts more of the dense beech stringers running in the center of the ski to provide a damp and stable spine. The beech stringers on the sides are shorter, allowing for more torsional flex and ease of use. Underfoot, we get a sheet of titanal to provide sturdiness and edge grip while in the tips and tails the ski uses a rubber vibration damping layer to reduce chatter and keep the ski smooth and quiet. Continuing the theme of lightness, the Stormbird 80 Ti also uses an incorporated Marker TP 11 Light demo binding, offering a cohesive feel and a safe and easy use. Tester Jonas Engle states that the skis are “Surprisingly versatile for a frontside carving ski, the Blizzard Stormbird 80TI was a great pick for ripping groomers while still being able to adventure into a bit of fresh snow without feeling squirrelly. If you’re going to take a carving ski into the woods, that’s never a good idea, but this is a good bit more capable than most others of handling variability. This was a surprisingly approachable ski for a ski in its category, so I think most skiers of an advanced ability level could handle and enjoy it. Experts looking for a truly aggressive carver may prefer something with a bit more edge hold on ice.”

The shape of the ski is effective at mixing front side and all-mountain for intermediate and advanced skiers. At 80 mm underfoot, this ski is mainly destined to spend most of its time on groomers. That’s fine, since most skiers spend most of their time on groomers, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all. These skis have relatively short turn radii, with the longest 175 cm length hitting a 15-meter arc. With measurements of 129/80/110 mm, these skis are pretty fun and easy to turn. Dave Raybould, a long-time instructor and very technical skier, notes on the Stormbird 80 Ti: “First impression was pleasantly surprising as I was expecting less out of this ski. The first thing I noticed was how damp the ski is; it doesn’t chatter or deflect much, but also offers more edge grip than expected. This ski is best suited to soft groomers and would do fine in the bumps and a couple of inches of fresh snow.”

Intermediates and above will love the simplicity and smoothness of the Stormbird 80 Ti. While there is room here for higher advanced and expert skiers, they may end up being unsatisfied in the long run. In terms of terrain, Stormbird 80 Ti works best on groomers, but is easy to ski in bumps as well—if you’re looking to progress in moguls, this is a fantastic option.