Blizzard has continued with the popular Black Pearl 88 skis for the 2017-18 winter season, whilst building around them with two further models (78 and 98) - we feel the 88 model provides a great balance between piste and powder for advanced women skiers and they are one of our favourite skis for 2018.
If you're looking for the skis of the year that scored high across all our ratings then you've found it in the Black Pearl. Not only do they make us feel like ski gods on the slopes, we're convinced we looked like it too. No matter what we asked of these skis, they were able to perform and delivered every step of the way.
We even feel they perform at the highest levels when pushed hard - not like a race ski, but certainly as a performance ski that experts will enjoy. Easy turning too, they will suit a female skier looking to improve their carve turns on-piste as well as explore more variable terrain beyond the boundaries.
On groomed snow they are the only ski we know that can handle everything from slow, short turns on piste to long fast turns in the powder - a true all-rounder and more than worthy of being labelled with the 'one ski for everything' tag.
Off-piste and into the deep snow, we love the playful energy and stability the skis have.
In the moguls, they handle brilliantly and don't demand too much work from the legs to keep your chosen line.
The simple top sheet design is a little understated, but we like that, although the show isn't all on the surface, it comes from the performance.
Not the cheapest in the category but worth every penny.
