2024 Blizzard Sheeva 10 Skis Review

The Lowdown

The new 2023/24 Blizzard Sheeva 10 brings small updates to a classic women's freeride ski, offering improved hard snow performance and maneuverability all around the mountain on mixed snow days. I tested it under a variety of snow conditions and weather, and found the Sheeva to be a formidable all-mountain ski that pushes you and adapts to your body from groomers to a few inches of new snow.

Thanks to it’s mid-wide waist and long rocker profile, the new Sheeva 10 can easily be considered a “do it all” ski for riders with a deeper snowpack who get after it. Their updates represent the continuing desire to find one ski that “does it all,” (spoiler: they don’t, but then again that’s probably why Blizzard has the Sheeva 9 and Sheeva 11 too.)

Technical Details

Construction updates include a “Trueblend Freeride WoodCore,” which puts stiffer wood where you support and softer wood where you need flex. Sandwich compound sidewalls (X pattern of titanal that extends along the perimeter of the ski) and a fiberglass plate differentiate the new Sheeva from its predecessor and its sibling. Smaller size increments between lengths help make the new model available to more people, and a slightly shallower rocker profile increases hard snow performance. My favorite thing about this ski is its tighter turn radius, which encourages maneuverability.

Sheeva vs. Rustler / Women’s Specific Construction
The only major difference between the Sheeva and the Rustler is due to “W.S.D.,” or “Women’s Specific Design,” that puts a fiberglass plate over the titanal stringers instead of the Rustler’s additional sheet of metal. Blizzard/Technica is currently one of the only brands that puts R&D into women’s hardgoods so openly, thanks to their Women2Women (W2W) program. These attributes are tested by women-identified riders and athletes before they’re integrated into the skis. And while building lighter materials into women’s skis compared to men’s has become pretty standard over the years, the Sheeva and W2W represent the right way to approach gendered construction changes, through transparency and an understanding of body mechanics. If you try the Sheeva and find it a tad too light, the Rustler offers sizes going down to a 164cm length. On the contrary,if you try the Rustler and find it too heavy, the Sheeva goes up to a 180cm length and they both serve the same primary all-mountain function.

Ride Impressions

Some context: I tested a 174 cm length. I am 5’6” and usually ride anything between 160 and 174 cm for every day skis. 174 comes just over my head in ski boots, but because shorter skis aren’t often available at demos, I test skis up to 184 cm. I still struggle with turn initiation on some longer skis and ultimately found the Sheeva 10 a little long for every-day, aggressive riding in the trees and in softer snow. An ideal every day “all mountain ski” would be between 165 and 169 cm for me, but I definitely adapted to the longer length the more I rode them and would easily recommend this height ratio for more advanced riders.

I’ve been testing the Sheeva 10 for a while now, and was fortunate to put it through many different conditions and locations. I got out on Wasatch and Rocky Mountain snowpacks, and had full groomer, mixed soft snow, and steep days. It’s also important to note that I had my appendix removed around the time I received this ski for testing.

When I was cleared to ride again, the Sheeva 10 was my primary tool. It rolled with me through the various stages of recovery and gave me the rare opportunity to explore a fast-paced form of skill progression as I gained my strength back. I felt the Sheeva was very adaptable to changes in my stance and ability, which makes it a great ski for growing riders.

Groomers - The Sheeva 10 absolutely RIPPED groomers and gave me some of the most fun night turns I’ve had in a while. At Brighton, where the runs are longer, I was able to gather some good speed and run it over the chopped out snow. It felt extra stable, like I could keep pushing my speed and still get out of sketchier turns or stop easily if needed. That being said, the hardpack in Utah and Colorado has been very good. I didn’t get to ride any ice like the PNW and East Coast get on their groomers. While skiing at Powder Mtn. on shorter groomers, I practiced slowing down, adapting my form. The Sheeva was responsive to different speeds and adjustments in stance.

Soft Chop / Variable Snow - I think 1-3 inches of new snow is really where this ski excels. There are definitely better skis for hard chop, but if you’re in a place with consistently cold temps and a reliable base, the Sheeva 10 gets it done. Its edge control, combined with the 102mm mid-wide waist made it relatively good at floating on soft snow, yet hooking an edge when it turned rough. At Alta, on sun-warmed snow in avalanche terrain, the Sheeva 10 felt slightly too long to engage turns in narrower spaces. Heavier snow does drag it down a bit, which is expected with any ski to an extent. The only point I felt unstable on the Sheeva was at the runout of a bootpack. Avalanche’s could be seen from the Canyon road, and the longer length didn’t benefit getting out of an area where snow was showing signs of instability. In these super variable temp changing conditions, I wish I would have had wider or shorter skis to avoid getting hooked on the mix of avy debris and pow. My partner was skiing on 124 Westons and expressed how good of a choice he made for the day. The Sheeva 10 was also fun on smaller side hits sprinkled through the pow, but isn’t a ski I would pick up for regular tricks because of its heavier weight.

Steeps & Trees: I put the Sheeva 10 to the test on steeps at Alta, on cold days with low risk mixed snow, and sunny days with higher avy danger. Because the 174 is at the top of my height range, wider turns did well for me, as the Sheeva took longer to engage in tight, steep, mogully trees. My all-time favorite run on these skis was off the high traverse at Alta. Just.. so much power. It really lets loose on open faces with little bumps. My next Alta day, I bootpacked up Devil’s Castle. Uphill, their weight is manageable but not ideal for longer trips. On the down, they felt slightly too long to engage turns, like I needed wider skis to avoid getting hooked on the mix of avy debris and chunky pow we were skiing. My favorite location on the extended length is definitely in slightly more open terrain.

Soft Snow - On a pow day with 5+ inches of fresh I’d ultimately go for the Sheeva 11. The 10 does FINE, but after skiing wider skis, it’s hard to ignore the extra work you need to drive a ski like this when it gets really deep. Also if you’re clumsy like me and constantly get your tips stuck, wider skis with longer rocker profiles do the best at avoiding that. That being said, they hold their own. Brighton had some open glades that the Sheeva 10 bounced and sped through no problem.

Bonus: Busy slopes - I found myself at Steamboat Springs, CO during spring break season. For beginner to intermediate skiers, steamboat is the perfect place to hone your skills and enjoy the views as there is mellow terrain on practically every lift. For more advanced riders, Steamboat is essentially a game of slalom through people and bumped out tree runs. I felt overwhelmed the most on this day despite skiing at the easier end of my ability level. There were bumps and people everywhere and I was constantly changing my speed to match the flow of mountain traffic. The added effort needed to engage this Sheeva 10 causes unnecessary fatigue that could be avoided by riding softer ski that enjoys low speeds. My thighs shouldn’t have burned as much as they did after the few lunch time laps that I took. That being said, I was able to respond to a soul who yardsaled. In this instance the Sheeva 10 was relatively nimble and effective in spotting the incident, slowing down, and assisting me in a timely manner when I helped pick up his gear.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Who Is It For?

The Sheeva 10 is great for riders who identify as intermediate to expert and enjoy a ski that is powerful yet responsive in varied terrain. These riders can get down anything and often find themselves trying to outpace their friends. You’d be a good fit for the Sheeva 10 if you have sore legs at the end of a long groomer day, or practice self love in the form of Thera-Gunning your ski muscles. If you hike bowls after the froth has settled or get a thrill from skiing soft crud, this ski is your gal. As part of a one-ski-quiver, the Sheeva 10 is ideal for riders with a deeper snowpack who don’t get out for a ton of deep powder days but enjoy every chance they get at a few inches of fresh. If you’re in the position to build a quiver, this ski is great for firmer days, hard to predict weather, the beginning of a storm, ripping with friends, or seeking stashes when waking up early is not in the cards.