Firebird gs racing review

Overview

The Firebird GS Racing is the entry point to Blizzard's FIS-style giant slalom range for 26/27. Blizzard's own product text calls it the Firebird GS JR-Racing, which tells you the audience: junior and club racers moving into long-radius GS. It shares its 103-65.5-86 mm sidecut and its "over 23 m" radius with the Firebird GS FIS, but uses Blizzard's Racing Construction and a Racing Full Woodcore instead of the FIS Racing Construction, comes in four lengths from 173 to 188 cm, and weighs 3,360 g per pair at 173 cm — about 1,680 g per ski with plate — against the FIS model's 3,900 g at 183 cm. Like the whole Firebird race family it ships with the World Cup PC Interface 10 mm plate pre-mounted; Blizzard recommends a Comp20, Comp16 RD or Comp12 binding. German RRP is €800.

On-snow performance

On paper the GS Racing behaves like a GS ski first and a lighter one second. Full camber, a 65.5 mm waist and a radius of more than 23 m (over 25 m at 188 cm) mean it only makes sense when it is tipped high and driven through long arcs on firm, prepared snow; try to skid it and it will feel wooden. The Racing Construction and the lower weight should make it noticeably easier to bend than the FIS version — the point of this ski is that a lighter, younger or less powerful racer can actually load it — but the 10 mm interface, full sidewalls and the 0.6°/86° race tune still give it the direct, grippy character of a race ski. Blizzard lists two target groups, "advanced" and "expert": skiers who already carve clean parallel turns with solid edge control. It is not a ski for soft snow, bumps or relaxed cruising.

Construction & specs explained

• Construction: Racing Construction, Blizzard's step below the FIS Racing Construction (the laminate is not itemised on the product page).
• Core: Racing Full Woodcore.
• Sidewall: full sidewall.
• Profile: Full Camber, no tip or tail rocker.
• Plate: World Cup PC Interface 10 mm, pre-mounted; recommended binding Comp20 / Comp16 RD / Comp12.
• Factory tune: 0.6° base, 86° side.
• Dimensions: 103-65.5-86 mm at 173, 178 and 183 cm; 102.25-65.5-85.25 mm at 188 cm.
• Radius: over 23 m at 173, 178 and 183 cm; over 25 m at 188 cm.
• Weight per pair: 3,360 g (173), 3,560 g (178), 3,600 g (183), 3,820 g (188) — roughly 1,680 to 1,910 g per ski with plate.
• Price: €800 on blizzard-tecnica.com Germany, binding not included.

Who it's for & comparisons

The GS Racing suits junior racers and club or masters racers who want a long-radius GS ski that is lighter and cheaper than a full FIS model, and whose category does not require the senior 30 m radius. Within Blizzard, the Firebird GS FIS is the heavier 183/188 cm model with the FIS Racing Construction and the GS R.D. is the over-30 m World Cup ski; for non-racers the Blizzard Firebird rs ti is the free-skiing race carver. Across brands, the Atomic Redster g9 fis is the obvious rival with eight FIS lengths from 152 to 193 cm, the Rossignol Hero athlete gs (65 mm, 170–185 cm) covers the same junior-to-masters bracket, and the Volkl Racetiger gs r at 174–188 cm is Völkl's answer in almost identical lengths. The Nordica Dobermann gsr dc fdt (69 mm, 170–185 cm) is the slightly wider, plate-equipped alternative.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Same 103-65.5-86 mm GS sidecut and over-23 m radius as the Firebird GS FIS.
• Lighter Racing Construction, 3,360–3,820 g per pair, easier for younger racers to bend.
• Four lengths from 173 to 188 cm cover the junior-to-masters range.
• World Cup PC Interface 10 mm plate pre-mounted, at €800.

Cons

• A long-radius race ski: pointless in short turns or soft snow.
• Still 1,680–1,910 g per ski with plate.
• Race binding (Comp20 / Comp16 RD / Comp12) sold separately.
• Blizzard does not publish the laminate details, so metal layers cannot be compared on paper.

Verdict: The Firebird GS Racing is the sensible GS ski for juniors and club racers: FIS geometry and a World Cup plate in a lighter build at €800. Step up to the GS FIS only if your category and your strength call for it.