![]() The Blizzard Brahma 88 looks and feels like a premium all-mountain ski, and we have no qualms from a long-term durability standpoint. All told, the ski could be a decent mogul option for experts, although dedicated riders will likely prefer more rocker and forgiveness like you get with Blizzard’s own Rustler 9. Other considerations include the skis’ fairly hefty feel, although they do partly compensate for it with a reasonably tight 16-meter turn radius (for the 177cm version). The slightly softened-up tip should help absorb impacts-it certainly does its job in mixed, skied-out snow-however the reduced rocker could diminish overall performance. And while we haven’t had a chance to really put it to the test, the latest model seems promising, particularly if you avoid going too long (thereby increasing weight and stiffness). ![]() The Brahma has traditionally been surprisingly good at bump and mogul skiing, especially given its otherwise buttoned-down feel. Out West, we prefer a little more versatility in a daily driver. Where the Brahma will do reasonably well is when there’s a fairly small amount of soft snow over a firmer base, allowing it to dig in and utilize that sturdy grip, which again reinforces its appeal among East Coast riders. Sure, you can dip in and out of the trees on occasion, but it seems to get bogged down quickly (and our testing conditions were mostly dry and lacking in deep powder stashes). Put simply, the minimal rocker and speed- and grip-focused design don’t translate to much playfulness off-piste. Here, the Brahma comes up a little short. Further, the ski does a great job soaking up chopped-up snow and crud and seems to have improved its ability to pivot (although it’s still not very fast edge-to-edge).Ī ski at 88 millimeters wide lands on the narrower end of the all-mountain category, but we still look for decent floatation and soft snow fun from these models. The ski was plenty solid underfoot and had that no-speed-limit feel that the Brahma is renowned for, but the tip and tail were a little easier to control than expected. Personally, I found the 177-centimeter length to be spot-on for my needs. As you go up, you get more stiffness, which is logical as skiers on longer sticks typically are larger and more powerful riders. Another important component is that the densities of the wood vary based on length. The design uses two types of wood: beech for firmness and stability-it’s used heavily underfoot-and poplar for more flex and less weight towards the tip and tail. Here, Blizzard employed their new TrueBlend technology, which is also found on the wider Bonafide and women’s Black Pearl. The core is perhaps the Brahma’s most interesting aspect. ![]() If you like speed and want a design that you can trust the vast majority of the season, the Brahma 88 makes a very convincing case for itself. It’s the kind of ski that's locked in in just about any type of firm conditions, from ice to refrozen snow and corduroy. All in all, you feel like you’re utilizing nearly the full length as you roll it over into a wide and fast turn, and the power seems to always be on tap with two sheets of metal, a carbon-heavy tip, and a well-sorted wood core. It has great edge grip thanks to the generous camber underfoot, only a small amount of tip rocker, and a mostly flat tail (it’s only slightly raised at the end). The Brahma made its name as a frontside beast, and despite a laundry list of changes, the retooled 2021 model is still a fantastic performer on-piste. To see how the Brahma 88 stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best all-mountain skis. It’s not a true all-rounder but should be towards the top of the list for advanced and expert East Coast riders and those that primarily stay on trail. ![]() Our testing was cut short due to COVID-19, but what stood out is the Brahma remains a highly capable ski that’s most at home on hardpack and at high speed. For 2021, the ski has gotten a serious redesign, with tweaks to everything from the flex pattern to the rocker profile and even the core construction. Now in its third iteration, Blizzard’s Brahma 88 is one of the most well-respected frontside rippers on the market. ![]()
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