Zero g 96 w review

Overview

The Zero G 96 W is the women's version of Blizzard's touring all-rounder, the ski Blizzard describes as "an all-rounder in the touring collection that leaves nothing to be desired". It shares its shape with the unisex Zero G 96 but uses a W.S.D. (Women Specific Design) layup that Blizzard says is 9.7 per cent softer than the men's ski, for easier turn initiation. The 26/27 ski comes in 157, 164, 171 and 178 cm with radii of 17 to 20 m, a sidecut of 126-96-110 mm at 171 cm and listed weights of 1,070 g per ski at 157 cm, 1,200 g at 171 cm and 1,260 g at 178 cm. It is a flat ski with Blizzard's Trueblend Tour 2.0 core, an ash insert under the binding and a subtle early-rise tip and tail over camber.

On-snow performance

On paper the 96 W is a balanced touring ski rather than a weight-at-all-costs one. The Trueblend Tour core mixes light paulownia with stronger poplar and, in Blizzard's words, uses less carbon and more wood, which should take the nervous, "pingy" feel out of the ski that pure carbon tourers can have. The ash insert under the foot adds torsional stiffness where the binding sits, so edge hold on firm spring snow and traverses should be above what the weight suggests. The 5 Radius Sidecut splits the edge into zones: a straighter mid-section for steep, icy terrain and gentler transitions towards the tip and tail for easy turn entry in soft or variable snow. At 96 mm the ski has real float for a tour ski without becoming slow to roll on edge, and the early-rise tip and tail with camber keep the tail supportive in kick turns. Riders of the unisex 96 report a composed, predictable descent for its class; the softer W flex should make it a touch easier at lower speeds.

Construction & specs explained

• Construction: W.S.D. Trueblend Tour with Ash Plate Insert.
• Core: W.S.D. Trueblend Tour 2.0, poplar and paulownia in a set ratio, with an ash insert under the foot for torsional stiffness and power transfer.
• Reinforcement: less carbon than earlier Zero G generations, by Blizzard's own account; no titanal.
• Sidewall: Partial ABS.
• Profile: Early Rise Tip and Tail, Camber Under Foot.
• Sidecut: 5 Radius Sidecut; 124-96-108 mm (157 cm), 126-96-110 mm (171 cm), 127-96-111 mm (178 cm).
• Radius: 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 m at 157 / 164 / 171 / 178 cm.
• Weight: 1,070 g (157 cm), 1,200 g (171 cm), 1,260 g (178 cm) per ski.
• Bindings: flat ski, Blizzard recommends a Pintech touring binding.
• Factory tune: 0.9° base, 87.5° side edge. Made in Austria.

Who it's for & comparisons

Blizzard aims the 96 W at women ski tourers who want one ski for the whole season, from firm spring tracks to soft midwinter snow, and lists intermediate to expert skiers as the audience. If you ski mostly firm or steep terrain, the narrower Zero G 88 W is lighter and quicker edge to edge. The unisex Blizzard Zero g 96 has the same dimensions in 164–185 cm and a slightly stiffer flex, and the previous-generation Blizzard Zero g 095 w used the stiffer Carbon Drive 3.0 chassis with longer 19–24 m radii. Outside Blizzard, the Volkl Rise beyond 96 w (96 mm, 1,122–1,320 g, 156–177 cm) is the closest rival on weight and width, and the K2 Wayback 98 womens (98 mm, about 1,260 g at 165 cm) offers more tip rocker for softer snow.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• 1,070–1,260 g per ski with a wood-forward core that should feel calm, not nervous.
• Ash insert under the foot for edge hold and power transfer on firm snow.
• 5 Radius Sidecut and early-rise tip and tail make turn shape easy to vary.
• Women-specific flex and a 157–178 cm length run.

Cons

• Not the lightest 96 mm tour ski; carbon-heavy rivals save 100 g or more.
• Four lengths only, with nothing below 157 cm.
• Flat ski, so the binding is an extra purchase.
• Softer W flex may feel too easy for very strong, heavy skiers, who should look at the unisex 96.

Verdict: The Zero G 96 W is the sensible one-ski touring choice in Blizzard's women's line: light enough for long days, wide enough for soft snow and built to feel predictable on the way down. Weight-focused tourers on firm terrain should look at the Zero G 88 W instead.