Blizzard Canvas 118 — Review

The Canvas 118 is the widest member of Blizzard's new metal-free Canvas line — 117 mm under foot, ~145-117-134 sidecut at 180 cm, 19 m radius at 180 cm scaling to 20 m at 188 cm, 1,920 g per ski at 180 cm. Light Sandwich Full Sidewall, paulownia/poplar woodcore, twin rocker with camber underfoot, and no titanal anywhere. Engineered as a playful powder platform that floats and pivots without the weight of typical titanal 118s.

In deep snow the Canvas 118 makes immediate sense — the twin rocker plus 117 mm waist floats predictably even in tracked-up afternoon pow, and the camber underfoot keeps it from feeling washy underfoot when you want a real turn. The 1,920 g mass is unusually low for a 118 mm platform (typical titanal 118s run 2,200-2,300 g), which means it pivots through trees and into side hits with no fight. On hard groomers it gives up the line earlier than a metal 118 would, but for a ski this wide and metal-free that ceiling is well above the usual descent. Push through chunky pow at speed and it stays composed within the limits of its weight class.

Light Sandwich Full Sidewall construction with twin rocker camber profile. Poplar + Paulownia woodcore — explicitly metal-free, no titanal layers. Twin rocker (rockered tip and tail) with traditional camber underfoot. Lengths 172 / 180 / 188 cm. Measured 1,920 g per ski at 180 cm. Sidecut ~145/117/134 at 180 cm (Blister measured 144.5/117/133.5). Radius 19 m at 180 cm / 20 m at 188 cm. Measured tip and tail splay 78 mm / 65 mm with 4.5 mm camber underfoot.

Closest internal sibling is the narrower Blizzard Canvas 108 — same metal-free construction in a more all-rounder shape. Cross-shop, the Volkl Revolt 114 is the German playful powder rival; the Atomic Bent chetler 120 is the wider Austrian alternative; the Rossignol Sender free 118 is the French freeride alternative; the K2 Reckoner 124 is the American freestyle-powder benchmark at slightly wider waist.

Pros

• 1,920 g unusually low for a 118 mm platform — pivots without fight.
• Twin rocker floats predictably in tracked-up afternoon pow.
• Camber underfoot prevents the washy feel of fully rockered powder skis.
• Three-length range (172-188 cm) accommodates taller skiers.
• Metal-free build keeps the ski genuinely playful at 118 mm.

Cons

• No titanal — gives up the line on hard groomers earlier than metal 118s.
• Light Sandwich Full Sidewall less durable in rocky resort terrain.
• Top speed in chunky pow capped by weight savings.
• Long 19-20 m radius reluctant in tight terrain.
• Skill demand mid — strong powder chargers will outpace it.

Verdict: The right Canvas for skiers who want a true powder platform with playful character rather than charger weight. Best matched to playful one-quiver skiers in soft-snow resorts; chargers should look at the Rustler 11 or Sender free 118.