With its Zero series, Austrian ski manufacturer Blizzard promises nothing less than to "usher in a revolution in the touring segment" - in other words: lightness without compromising on downhill performance. That sounds exactly like the ski we've always been looking for. For this reason, during a trip to New Zealand, we tested under a wide range of conditions whether the Zero G is the ski with which we can enjoy a "hard" descent after an "easy" ascent.
Hard facts and test set-up
The Zero G was tested with a center width of 108 mm and a length of 185 cm. The rental version of the Marker Kingpin 10 binding was used (we would just like to point out that we recommend the 13 mm version of the Kingpin for this ski, which is not made by Blizzard).
Skins from Pomoca (the Swiss skin manufacturer from the Oberalp Group also produces the skins for K2, for example) were used for the ascent. The ski was tested by a 182 cm tall, 81 kg man with a sporty skiing style during 15 days of skiing in New Zealand in August 2015. With the exception of firn or spring snow, there was a wide range of test conditions, from more than 40 cm of powder to rutted variants and icy, blown-off backs. The ski was always used with a K2 Pinnacle 130 from the 14/15 season. The Zero G 108 is available in lengths of 171, 178 and 185 cm. The 136-108-122 mm waist gives the 185 cm version a radius of 27 meters. Blizzard specifies a weight of 1750 g per ski (at 185 cm length: 0.79 g/cm2 - it was not possible to take our own measurements due to the bindings already being fitted). The ski has a sandwich construction and also features a "Compound Sidewall" and a "Carbon Drive" layer (more on this below). The recommended retail price for the ski is 749 euros.
First impression:
When you pick up the Zero G for the first time, you immediately notice the low weight for a ski of this size and width. With a center width of 108 mm and 185 cm, 1750 g per ski is really very light. However, the Zero G is still not the lightest ski among the freetourers. In order to be able to classify the weight correctly, here is some information on skis designed for a similar area of use (manufacturers' specifications in each case): Black Diamond "Carbon Convert" length: 188 cm, tailing 134-105-117, weight: 1550 g; Whitedot "R.108" length: 186 cm, waist 138-108-119, weight: 1760 g; Down Skis "Countdown 107" length: 184 cm, waist 127-107-121, weight: 1800 g.
This comparison shows that although the Blizzard's weight is impressive, it is not significantly better than its competitors in terms of weight. The shape of the Zero G is reminiscent of a big mountain ski: 27 m radius, relatively little tailing, flat tail, short rocker and little camber invite you to make fast turns and should also provide enough smoothness in tougher conditions. These characteristics definitely make us want to try a 190+ cm version to see if the Zero G can be the full high-speed big mountain weapon that its shape promises. The sidewall, base and edges are, as you would expect from the traditional Salzburg company from Mittersill, well made and look solid. As with most of Blizzard's top models, the bright orange color of the otherwise simply designed topsheet stands out. With the exception of the logo on the tips, the base is completely black, which means that the often unavoidable core shots after repairs are at least visually unnoticeable when freeriding.
Downhill performance
Whether you've made it to the starting point of the descent using muscle power or the lift, the Zero G can now show off its strengths. On the way down to the valley, it is the downhill-oriented freerider that the marketing texts promise. There is practically no sign of the lightweight construction. The ski runs smoothly and the edges hold. The tip rocker and tail merge smoothly into the camber, so that you don't feel the start of the rocker at the front and the tail forgives you for a long time even in the event of a technically unclean setback. In terms of downhill performance, the "Compound Sidewall" and the "Carbon Drive" layer seem to do a good job. The technology used in the sidewall is intended to improve the transfer of the skier's movements to the edge and create constant pressure over the entire length of the ski. To summarize: in practice, you have the feeling that you can make good use of the entire edge length and thus quickly build up confidence in the edge, which is not disappointed even in icy conditions. The special 3D geometry (unidirectional carbon fiber frame construction) of the "Carbon Drive" layer is designed to provide optimum flex and torsional rigidity and, according to the manufacturer, nothing less than "a level of stability and control never before achieved in the touring sector". On the descent, the Zero G is, to put it bluntly and without any fancy technical or marketing vocabulary: hard and smooth. And quite frankly, surprisingly hard and smooth for a ski of this weight. Skis with carbon construction can, despite (measured) the same flex values as the non-carbon versions of the same model, sometimes seem unstable (especially in the nose, there is a tendency to flutter); this is not the case with the Zero G and you feel very comfortable on the Zero G downhill.
Hard or unstable sections can be mastered with ease and even at high speeds, the ski hardly loses any smoothness. In steep gullies, you can rely on the ski, with the right technique (the Zero G wants to be skied from the ankle), thanks to the low sidecut and stiffness, even in harder conditions. In deep snow, the Zero G benefits from its medium width - but due to the low tip rocker, you have to be careful earlier than with comparable models so that the ski tips don't dive off. Jumps are easy to land thanks to the stiff tail, as you would expect from other freeride skis from Blizzard. If you occasionally like to turn 180 degrees during a jump, the Zero G requires caution and skill! The flat tail without tail rocker can really throw a spanner in the works here. Although the ski does switch, it is significantly less playful than freeriders with tail rocker. The shape generally makes the Zero G a less playful ski. The radius of 27 m, the short tip rocker and the stiff tail demand technique and precise skiing. Due to the low camber, the ski can quickly become a little sluggish, especially if you become too passive in your skiing style. In some situations you would like to have a bit of tip rocker, e.g. to let the tail smear around the turn in a chute. Sometimes you would also like a little more radius, e.g. to be able to press a few shorter turns into the snow when outrunning a line on the piste. If the turn on the piste takes a little longer, you will also notice the center width of 108 mm. The Zero G often behaves like a FIS racing ski compared to a high-quality race carver. The race ski delivers top performance in certain situations, but you have to "really get into it". The race carver will not come close to this performance, but often makes your (skiing) life a little easier.
The base and edges are robust in use and prove to be very resistant even when in contact with stones. The topsheet and sidewall, on the other hand, have been noticeably marked by use and appear significantly less robust. When asked, the manufacturer Blizzard also confirmed that the test model was a pre-series. Blizzard quote: "In series production, more robust and more abrasion-resistant topsheets were then used, without of course negatively affecting the weight
Ascent performance and skins
A weight of well under 2 kg per ski and a pin binding naturally make the ascent more pleasant than with a 16 mm frame binding and 2.5 kg powder slats. However, if you are not exactly an endurance champion, the low weight is usually also necessary to be able to enjoy the descent after long ascents. It's not for nothing that more and more freeriders are using carbon skis with pin bindings.
The Zero G is fully in line with this trend: with it, you don't have to be afraid of 1000+ meter tours. The low sidecut and the high touring stiffness are also positive on the ascent, giving you a very good grip on the edge and allowing you to master many crossings on hard ground without having to unpack crampons. The Blizzard skins also match the overall look of the high-quality freetourer. They are very light and feel a little thinner than comparable models from other manufacturers. They are easy to put on thanks to the strap at the front and the adjustable strap at the back. The skins provide good grip on the ascent and stick well to the ski. Only in very cold temperatures and if you put them on several times in one day, the adhesive wears off a little. The base of the skins seems a little harder and you get the impression that this creates creases when stowing away, which fill up with snow on the ascent and make the skin no longer stick so well.
Conclusion
The Blizzard Zero G 108 is a high-quality freetourer with very good downhill performance and low weight. Blizzard has taken a big step forward with this ski. However, it is not the promised revolution. Even if the downhill performance is outstanding, there are already skis on the market with a comparable weight/downhill performance ratio. However, this should in no way detract from the performance of the ski, because for fans of hard skis with a low sidecut and flat tail, the Zero G is now a ski to choose from where you hardly have to compromise on downhill performance for the low weight.
Advantages & disadvantages
+ Very low weight
+ Downhill performance: smooth, powerful
+ Durability
~ Sophisticated shape
- Price
Information
Lengths: 171-178-185 cm
Tail width: 136-108-122 mm
Radius: 27.0 m (185 cm)
Weight: 1,540g +/- 50g (171 cm); 0.79g/cm2
Construction: Sandwich Compound Sidewall; Carbon Drive Technology
Information from the manufacturer can be found here.
