By: Gordie Bowles
When I first clicked into Blizzard’s soon-to-be frontside line of skis, I was a bit nervous. I’d been inundated with the details and nuances of the art and science of constructing a high-quality ski the previous day at a media launch in Nurnberg, Germany, where the Blizzard team hinted that these skis could be a game-changer – not just for the company, but for all front-side rippers. The marketing line that stuck with me was “Make your Mark”, with the obvious suggestion that this ski will help you carve out some beautiful trenches to admire on your next chairlift upload.
When I first hopped aboard the black and stealthy Blizzard Quattro RX (part of a line of eight skis that will be launched to the world in early February) for the short traverse to the T-bar at the Kitzsteinhorn, Austria (near Zell Am See), I sensed instantly that these skis were a good match for my ability. Perhaps my days of digging crazy-deep tracks on the groomers are over, but I can still carve a good turn – and these had an immediate comfort level that let me know I wouldn’t need to hold back. This is a stable ski with a radius in the 16-17 metre range, with a slight rocker and enough width (129-84-113) to take into the crud and soft snow. Overall, a fun ride. Blizzard-Ski.com/quattro-site-canada/
