Blizzard Magnum 8.1, Volkl Grizzly, AC50

I', 5'11" 190lbs 53y/o, ski 65+ day's a season for 12 years now. Level 9 skier.

Blazzard Magnum 8.1
122/81/107 172cm
This was the one ski that when I took it back, I said WOW. If you like the AC40 you'll like this ski. We all know what a great ski that is so I won't bore you.

AC50
170cm
As good as the AC40 only lighter, thanks to the new binding.

Grizzly
170cm
May be I should have skied this in the shorter lenght. I felt it was to stiff on all 3 settings. My big buddy, 270lbs 6' liked the ski, same with a respected tuner at one of the local shops, but Randy's a big guy too.

When I took the Magnum back the second time and spoke to the girl more, I told her if this was a blind test, I would have thought I was on my AC4's or AC40's. She said that was the ski they were going after. Seems some of the Volkl guys work for Blazzard now. When I put my AC4's back on and went to ski off, I was amazed at how heavy they were. I had to ski back to the Blazzard rep and tell her the difference.

My Female friend, a Volkl Girl, liked the Blazzard Magnum 7.6 she's on the Volkl Fuego. She's not big on wider skis, but she's beginning to see the light...

I also skied the Volkl Tigershark 10ft, 167cm (no switch), what a plank, to stiff.

I demoed the BlIzzard magnum 8.1s the other day at my hill in a 164 (I think). I'm a Volkl fan, but the magnum blew me away. I already bought my allotted one pair of skis this year, but was sorely tempted to buy those for a harder-pack ski.

Scott

Cant find anything on this ski. What exactly are they

LeeX

Dawg may have more info.

I found them to be a All Mountain Mid-Fat that was very light on my feet and handled the frozen grandular, death cookies, scraped off frim surface and transitioned well between them. Most of my demo runs were with a buddy who's a PSIAIII. We agreed that if the ski felt good on this day, we would like it in the softer snow.

There was this one area on the run back to the base that was about a 30ft diameter of groomed ice. I could change edges on that ice and the ski just accepted the change. I will say that's one thing I found with all the skis I demoed that day.

I forgot to mention the day before the Demo it rained hard, about 2" worth, then froze over night. Okemo did a good job, which what there known for but the surface was well most of here in New England know what it was like.

The actually demoed about 9 skis and took all except two down the same run.

The Blazzard G Force Supersonic I thought was to stiff (GS style) carver but I liked the G Force Sonic (SL style) carver. On the Sonic, my friend who's going for her Level III said my short radius turns looked great on them. She had to tell me to make them. I guess I wasn't using the tool correctly, I found them very easy and they felt great. I like when I can feel the ski flex and it does all the work.

I can find Blizzard, but cannot find anything that matches the numbers 8,7,8.1 etc..Only thing I see is the Iqon Series..Are these new for 09?

Lee

dawg, thanks for filling in the holes.

I did mention this site to the rep, hope she comes on.

Twin Blizzards separated at birth?

Hi just found this thread, confused a bit by the existence of the 09 8.7 and a picture elsewhere of the 09 Cronus, which is (guess what?) 88 mm. Moreover, each seems to use the IQ setup with internal/external rails embedded in a sandwich. Only diff I can see is that the Cronus uses carbon instead of metal, I'd guess is slightly softer flexing. Is this analogous to the AC50/Grizzly or did someone at Blizzard get their finger stuck on the replicator button?

I think the 8.7 is more carving oriented. Funny to say that about an 87mm waisted ski.

My blizzard Eos has treated me well this winter. I definitely want to demo the Magnum!!

I think your going to like them...

volkl grizzly

Bit of help needed !!!. Went down to a local ski store and got persuaded to purchase a pair of Grizzly skis on the basis that the salesman told me they were the best all-rounder on the market and would take me "anywhere". I am not an expert skier, more an intermediary, with very little off-piste experience. I wanted a ski that would perform well carving the piste but also help me get by with my limited off-piste skills. Can anyone tell me whether I have made a mistake as what I have read from reports posted here, it seems that perhaps I have bitten off more than I can chew ???.

The Griz is supposedly one stiff ski. Unless you are 250 lbs, I suspect it is too much ski for you.

Mike

Ski'em and don't worry about it.

Where do you ski? what boot? how aggressive? How big of a guy and what do you weigh?

grizzly

I ski in the french / Italian Alps (I own a ski chalet there), but have no opportunity to ski in my home country (in the UK). I probably ski about 3 to 4 weeks per year. I am 47 years old and my family got into ski-ing about 6 years ago. I ski all the pisted runs, and black runs don't cause me a problem. I have tried to develop my ability off-piste but I'm not that confident yet so although I can get myself down slopes ok I am not that fluid and felt my current volkl race tiger skis were unsuitable perhaps for this terrain. I am 5ft 11" tall, weigh 170lb, foot size 8.5 (UK) (42.5 europe). The Grizzly skis I have just acquired are size 177 whereas my existing skis are 168cm (which I have always felt were a little on the small size). Hope this information helps and I look forward to hearing back from you.

grizzly

I forgot to include in my previous response that I ski quite aggressively. I'm uncertain what my ski boots make is as they are currently at my chalet in France but from memory I think they are Nordic.

I am shorter (5'8") and a bit heavier (180 lbs) than you are and I demoed the 177 Grizzly on piste this spring. I would not be likely to use this ski for much off piste skiing. It will blast through crud and broken snow, but the stiffness would make it a challenge in bumps. That being said, I liked the ski on its stiffest setting and thought it was like having lightning bolts on my feet. Super stable and with great grip - I didn't find a speed limit. If you tend to ski on piste and with higher speeds and aggressiveness, I suspect you will really like this ski.

ill also put in a vote for the grizzly...im 6'3" or so and around 190ish...LOVED them...like...if i had to own only one pair of skis and i was going to ski everywhere on that one pair these would be them. i live in eastern canada and skied them on a tiny ontario hill and loved them...take them somewhere large and id love them more..they demolished anything in front of me...hard patches, crud, lumps..nothing stood a chance.

hands down my ski of the year

Grizzly seem to be a ski that you either "get", or don't.

I spoke to some shop guys in Vail a couple weeks ago. One loved the Grizzly, and the other didn't.

I'd like to try a pair.

I wonder how different they feel from Mantra's.

Grizzly

You have to be a solid skiier, and know how to flex a ski to ski these Grizzly's. In saying that, this is the best performace ski I have ever been on.

For me it is a second ski. I am usually on a Sumo. When the pow isn't deep, I still have a smile on my face with the Grizzly. These skiis are monsters!

I would second the notion that you either get it or you don't.

 

Technology these days in ski-marketeering is destroying the sport in ways the manufacturers will only see the other other boot drop in a decade or so.

 

Skiers need less choice and more ambition to learn the tools of the trade.

 

Ever seen a Patroller switch skis in the middle of the day? Highly doubtful. He/she probably owns 3 pair of skis: Powder wakeboards, all mountain, and tight slalom skis. If even that many. Hopefully Patroller owns 2 pairs: own for 36 inch powder and one for everything else.

 

-- f9a

freedom of choice is paralyzing for most people.

 

-- f9a 

I'm interested in hearing back from tim schools.

 

I wonder how he likes the long skis.

 

If I demo the grizzy again, I'll do it on a 163. I'm 5'11" 190lbs. Most know I like shorter skis. If I skied 12+ inches of fresh every day I may want a longer ski.

 

 

163 might not be enough, but a 170 vs. the 177 would be the ticket for me. 

I demoed them in 170,

 

Nice try Phil...:)

 

I also ski high end Rossi's in 162cm.

I demoed the Grizzly's in a 170 and the Magnum 8.7 in 174

 

IMO the Grizzly is a better ski. I'm 6'1" 170lb and had no trouble getting some really good slalom turns out of them. I liked them in the moguls too. They would be no good in deep power, but I don't think that's the aim of these planks.