BEST FOR: Feeling like a racer.
LENGTHS: 158, 166, 174, 182
DIMENSIONS: 126/76/107
RADIUS: 15@174
Even before our first tester came back gushing, everyone was lining up to test this ski on Mount Washington’s firm morning conditions. The bright orange topsheet was obviously eye candy, and the Firebird name backed up the promise of the 76mm waist width. Testers weren’t disappointed, judging by the number of exclamation marks. Wow! Holy! Speed! Powerful! The HRC is Blizzard’s most versatile ski of the Firebird family of detuned race skis, with a turn radius between the GS and slalom ski profiles and a powerful mix of carbon and titanium construction. Expert skiers and ex-racers loved the ride. “Amazing ski for people who like to tear it up on the groomed,” summed up Nigel Harrison. But it’s a ski that demands attention and technique. “Aggressive ski that will drive you if you’re not careful,” said Ryan Stuart, who noted it was a beast to control in the bumps. It’s not a ski for relaxing on, but put energy into it and it will provide an amusement-park ride of carving in everything from ice to slush with damp stability and predictability. It made everyone want to ski faster.
