Description
The Ski
The darling of the fast 'n light community gets an update, and we love the changes. The Blizzard Zero G 95 W Skis have been best-in-class in blending light weight with edgehold and security since their introduction, and the newest iteration treads the ground between the original version (which many thought were "too demanding" and the 2nd generation (which many felt were too "forgiving"). We have a feeling the 2023 model is just what Goldilocks had in mind. The design changes include Carbon Drive Technology 3.0 with a full length-wrapping Carbon Drive laminate, extra carbon fiber woven into the fiberglass, and extra carbon reinforcements in the binding mount area. Skiing-wise, the new Zero G 95 is back to its original hard carving self but without the slight hookiness people found in the first gen ski.
The Binding
The Alpinist binding is focused on weight, ski-ability, and a user-friendly nature that is robust and foolproof. The heel piece sits flush against the heel of your boot and uses a spring-loaded track to keep the release dialed regardless of the flex of a ski throughout a turn or hard landing. This is analogous to forward-pressure in an alpine setting but adapted to a race-weight tech binding (a first). The Alpinist 9 is an impressive offering in terms of downhill performance, weight, price, and uphill-capability. It’s backed by a German name (Marker) that is synonymous with ski bindings, so you know its a good one.
