2016/2017 Blizzard Black Pearl ski review. OnTheSnow tested this ski as part of its women’s All-Mountain Front Category and awarded it an Editors’ Choice honor.

“It’s the glass slipper in the All-Mountain Front category,” says Johnson. “It fits any skier beautifully.” The Black Pearl celebrates a victory trifecta this season, landing an Editors’ Choice award three years in a row. Testers ranked the ski highest in the versatility criteria and the top average score in the category; its lowest marks are for stability. Blizzard adds a new lightweight construction this season to the 88-mm-waisted ski called Carbon Flipcore, an addition of carbon added to the original Flipcore, a process that “flips” the core upside down during production to create tip and tail rocker and slight camber underfoot without bending. Blizzard says the addition of a carbon frame “sandwiched” over a poplar/beech wood core creates a smooth, even flex without loosing torsional rigidity. “It’s not the liveliest ski at the party, but it’s solid, forgiving and can manage most speeds and terrain,” says Riley.

Website: blizzard-ski.com