2025 Blizzard Anomaly 102 Skis Review

The Lowdown

I’m a long-time fan of the flat tailed, two sheets of Titanal, full sidewall skis from Blizzard for firm, “all-mountain” conditions (the majority of ski days this season in many parts of the world). My pick for day-in, day-out hard charging has normally been the Blizzard Bonafide 97, which strikes the perfect balance between edgehold and stability on the one hand and versatility in variable snow and tight spaces on the other.

When rumors filtered down about a major shakeup coming from Blizzard – namely replacing the venerable Brahma, Bonafide, and Cochise skis with an all-new design, I was among those who wondered aloud if I should stock up on the existing models. 

I’d spent a number of groomer days on my trusted 183cm Bonafide 97’s already this year – a lean snow year with plenty of rain events followed by hard freezes – and can’t say I wasn’t happy with the “old-school” standard. In fact, they had been magnificent. Was the replacement really going to cut it?

Ride Impressions

My first day on the Blizzard Anomaly 102 was at the WWSRA industry demo at Mission Ridge (Washington) and conditions left a bit to be desired. There was a good groomed surface as a base, but rising temperatures and a light drizzle meant there was soon a layer of soft corn over the top of it. No matter, you can still tell a lot about a ski even if conditions aren’t ideal.  A firm patch on Chair 4 at the top affirmed that the reliable edgehold of the Bonafide hadn’t gone away, and a mellow smooth middle section made clear that the Anomaly 102’s preferred turn radius was on the large side (GS turns at 35+ mph), but could be make to work for more moderate speeds without too much extra effort. Where the Bonafide prefers a traditional, tip-pressure/shin to the front of the tongue technique, the Anomaly 102 is fine with a more centered stance and simple lateral movement from the knees and hips once you get it up to speed. I’m not a fan of tight turn radii on skis I intend to ski fast, and the 19.5 meter design of the 102 seems to nail the sweet spot.
 
As for straightline stability at 40+ mph, the Anomaly 102 is stellar; it’s calm and confident when you’re really hauling, but a touch more “connected” feeling than the Bonafide when you’re on edge. Where the Bonafide feels silky smooth at the limit, the Anomaly 102 feels more alive and poppy with a bit more energy between turns.

I got my pair of 182 Anomaly 102’s shortly after returning from the Mission demo, and did my standard tune check, settling on 1 degree base edge and 2 degree side edge bevels and a couple of hot waxes from my Swix low-fluoro stash (LF8 and LF7 mixed 2:1). I slapped a new pair of Strive 16 MN bindings on the Blizzard recommended line (the molded-in bumps) and headed out to get some more mileage on them. I tune my Bonafides with a two-foot patch @ 3 degrees side edge bevel underfoot, but I think I’ll skip it with the Anomaly 102, as the ski has plenty of bite underfoot already. 

Days 2 and 3 were at Stevens Pass and Crystal Mountain respectively, the snow was firm and well groomed at both mountains and there was about an inch or two of heavy fresh to “take the edge off” on both days. The Anomaly 102’s didn’t seem to notice that it wasn’t perfect 22 degree corduroy, rolling over the heavy fresh and making the frozen corn base feel like butter. The stability and precision of the Anomaly 102 will make you an instant convert; I found myself passing other very good skiers in a state of mental calm, sure I could handle the speed and change direction in a split second if necessary.

I spent four days on the Anomaly 102 at Whistler Blackcomb, and the combination of morning ice and afternoon corn showed off the skis’ versatility. Rapier-sharp precision on the ultra-firm and crud-busting power to blast through the corn later in the day made the Anomaly 102 a great choice for this week (not to mention civilized behavior while shepherding my 7 year old grandson down the blues and greens).

Where the old Bonafide 97 locks into a turn and doesn’t really want to change trajectory, the Anomaly 102 can be coaxed into tightening the radius from a centered stance or even doing a quick pivot to finish the turn. That gives it an “edge” in maneuverability in bumps and tighter terrain.
 
In terms of stability, the old Bonafide design is one of the dampest and quietest ever at the upper limit – it’s almost as if the Bonafide 97 has a layer of insulation between you and the snow, especially if it’s hard. The new Anomaly isn’t quite at that level in terms of dampness, but it’s still ultra confident at speed and the extra pop and maneuverability makes the ski more fun most of the time. On a super icy day, I’d still pick the Bonafide for the extra “cushion,” but for most west coast or Rocky Mountain frontside use, the Anomaly 102 will get the call. The Anomaly 102 still isn’t an “easy” ski to ski, especially at moderate speeds, and asks for a pilot with a good grasp of technique and strong legs, but the results are impressive. 

Rating: ★★★★★

Who Are They For?

Traditionally-inclined rippers who love the feel of a clean turn, seldom ski switch, and consistently ski faster than traffic will love the Anomaly 102. This ski slots in between the widths of the old Cochise and Bonafide 97, but is more manageable in tight quarters than the Cochise and feels livelier coming out of the turn than the Bonafide – the new width should be helpful in places with significant average snowfall and will handle anything short of a true foot-deep pow day with panache.