1-Ski Quiver: Reviewers’ Choices (17/18)

by

Sascha Anastas (see Bio)

 

I. What’s your 1-ski quiver (of currently available skis) for where you ski most?

Since I mostly spend my time jumping around the Colorado ski slopes with the majority of my time skiing at Aspen Highlands, I want an all-mountain ski that is stiff enough to carve on hard pack at high speeds, and that is as stable in soft and firm chop as it is in on hardpack. While our continental snow is known for being light and dry, it isn’t always deep, so a super wide powder ski would be somewhat limiting. With that said, the Blizzard Black Pearl 98 would be my go-to ski. As I mentioned in my 2-ski quiver, this ski checks all the boxes of an advanced / expert all-mountain ski.

Blister's Ski Quivers
Blizzard Black Pearl 98

 

II. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?

Tough question — what a commitment! I’d again say the Black Pearl 98, but a close contender would be the Volkl Aura. I am somewhat petite, so I can often get away with a 100 mm underfoot ski to sufficiently float on powder and charge through both hard and soft chop, so I don’t feel that I would be missing out on big powder days with less width underfoot.

 

III. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?

This would be a tie between the Nordica Santa Ana 100 (the 16/17 version) and a wider ski such as the Line Pandora 110. The Santa Ana is a really playful ski with a lot of flexibility, and I’ve used it as my all-mountain, do-everything ski for the past three seasons. The Pandora 110 is a great big-mountain ski, and its wider platform floats in powder and charges in firm chop, so I also have a hard time leaving this ski off my list.

 

IV. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?

Nordica recently updated the Santa Ana, and I am dying to try the new version. The RMU Valhalla 102 and Sego Gnarwhal also look interesting. Due to my short stature, more often than not, my options are limited to women’s-specific skis due to length (I usually ski something in the 156-168 cm range).

 

NEXT: Kristin Sinnott’s 1-Ski Quiver Selections

 

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7 comments on “1-Ski Quiver: Reviewers’ Choices (17/18)”

  1. Fischer Motive 95 for me, of skis I’ve actually skied. Bumps, pow, groomers, corn, it holds its head up high everywhere.

    But they have gotten VERY tired, so being replaced with the seemingly loved by everybody Enforcer 100s (in garage, eagerly awaiting snow).

  2. 190 Bibby Pro, ” Don’t leave home without it!” Made skiing super fun again . 54 year old, skiing 46 years at Whistler. Feel like a kid again when I click in . Thanks for your awesome reviews!!

  4. How does the Deathwish ski compared to the Kartel 108 other than differences in float from the waist difference? Is one poppier or a better charger?

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