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PTO Review
We skied them. Here's how they stack up.
These skis span 2 categories (All-Mountain, Carving). Scores reflect each ski's intended use — direct comparison across all dimensions may be misleading.
Sheeva 9 — intermediate-to-expert women, and lighter-build skiers generally, whose home snow is firm, mixed or variable - groomers, hardpack, trees and the odd soft day - and who want one lively, quick-turning 96mm with genuine firm-snow grip. Octo — intermediate-to-advanced skiers who love carving groomers and want something lighter and more playful than traditional metal carving skis. Check the radar chart below to see where each one wins.
Each row compares all skis on one dimension. 🏆 marks the highest score.
| Dimension | Sheeva 9 | Octo |
|---|---|---|
| Carving | 7 | 8🏆 |
| Park | 2🏆 | 2🏆 |
| Playfulness | 8🏆 | 7 |
| Forgiveness | 6🏆 | 6🏆 |
| Stability | 6🏆 | 6🏆 |
| Powder | 3🏆 | 2 |
Intermediate-to-expert women, and lighter-build skiers generally, whose home snow is firm, mixed or variable - groomers, hardpack, trees and the odd soft day - and who want one lively, quick-turning 96mm with genuine firm-snow grip. It also suits a skier moving up who wants a ski forgiving enough not to punish, with room to grow into.
Powder hounds and anyone who skis a lot of deep snow: at 96mm the tips submerge, and the wider Sheeva 10 or 11 is the tool for soft days. Skiers who want to plow through heavy, tracked-out crud at speed should look to a heavier metal ski - the Sheeva 9 lacks the mass. Mogul-focused skiers should be warned the strong rebound divides testers in bumps, and anyone who prefers long, damp, planted GS arcs will find it would rather turn than track. True beginners should look elsewhere: the official rating starts at Intermediate and it wants a confident parallel turn.
Intermediate-to-advanced skiers who love carving groomers and want something lighter and more playful than traditional metal carving skis.
Ice coast carvers who need maximum edge hold. High-speed chargers. Anyone who ventures off-piste.
The Sheeva 9 is best for intermediate-to-expert women, and lighter-build skiers generally, whose home snow is firm, mixed or variable -. The Octo is best for intermediate-to-advanced skiers who love carving groomers and want something lighter and more playful than traditional. The right choice depends on your primary terrain, ability level, and riding style.
The Blizzard Sheeva 9 scores highest in Stability at 6/10, making it the strongest all-mountain option. It handles groomers, chop, and variable conditions without losing composure, so it's the best single-ski choice for skiers who want one pair for the whole mountain.
The Black Crows Octo leads in Carving with a PTO score of 8/10. Its edge grip on hard snow and groomed runs is the strongest in this comparison.
The Blizzard Sheeva 9 is the most forgiving option with a Forgiveness score of 6/10. It doesn't punish imperfect technique, making it the easiest ski to progress on among these.
Not sure? Ask us.
