1 / 5Blizzard Anomaly 88 26/27
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PTO Verdict
“Four pieces of titanal make the Anomaly 88 a precise firm-snow tool, and its strong, flat tail makes it demanding from the backseat.”
Best for: Advanced to expert directional skiers who want one precise, damp all-mountain ski, if firm and shallow-snow days between storms make up most of your season - clean carves on hard groomers, then chalk, slush, crud and a few inches of new snow off-piste. Brahma 88 owners who liked that ski's strength will find the same character here with a little more give in bumps.
Not for: Intermediates who want a ski that turns for them: one tester describes a high floor, and the strong, flat tail punishes a backseat stance - Blizzard's rating starts at intermediate, but the independent tests start at advanced. Skiers who spend their days in steep, firm or low-visibility moguls should pick something softer and more rockered. Powder-first skiers should go wider, because the shovels start to dive past about 6 inches of soft snow. Park, switch and butter-focused skiers should pick a more playful ski than this directional one. And if you mostly make quick short turns on icy or low-angle groomers, a narrower piste ski is quicker edge to edge.
At a Glance
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Description
The Blizzard Anomaly 88 is an 88mm all-mountain ski for advanced to expert skiers who spend most days on firm snow and want precise, damp edge hold, with enough width for chalk, slush and light fresh snow. Independent reviewers treat it as the Brahma 88's replacement in Blizzard's Anomaly line, which also includes an 84, a 94 and a 102, all built on the same 2Ti FluxForm All Mountain metal.
Inside is a TrueBlend All Mountain woodcore wrapped in FluxForm, which Blizzard says uses four individual pieces of titanal. One independent review describes a full-width sheet below the core with segmented metal above it, crediting that full sheet with much of a solid laminate's grip and the split upper layer with some added maneuverability. The profile is early-rise rocker at both ends with 6 mm of camber underfoot. Independent tests find it carves very firm snow cleanly and stays quiet for its width. It sits on the heavy side for its class: Blizzard's catalog lists 2,100 g per ski on the 182cm.
Who should skip it: intermediates hoping the ski will do the turning for them. Blizzard rates the Anomaly 88 intermediate to expert, but independent testers place it at advanced to expert; we agree with the testers. The tail is strong and fairly flat, so steep, hard bump lines, bumps in flat light and a backseat stance get punished, and the shovels begin to dive in soft snow deeper than about 6 inches. Powder-first, park, switch, butter-focused and playful skiers should look elsewhere, and skiers who want snappy short turns on ice or gentle groomers will find a narrower piste ski quicker. In the line, the 84 is the narrower firm-snow choice, the wider, heavier 94 and 102 stay more composed in rough snow, and the women's Black Pearl 88, at the same waist, is lighter, though Blizzard quotes its weight at 170cm, not 182cm.
Lengths run 164 to 188cm, with turn radius growing from 14 to 19m. It is sold flat, so the binding is a separate purchase; we mount it and help you choose the length in-shop.
Specs
- Waist: 88 mm
- Dimensions: 127.5-88-109.5 mm (182 cm; other lengths not published)
- Turn radius: 18 m (182 cm); 14-19 m across 164-188 cm
- Profile: Rockered tip, camber underfoot, rockered tail
- Core: TrueBlend All Mountain woodcore
- Construction: 2Ti + FluxForm All Mountain
- Weight: ~2,100 g per ski (flat, single figure Blizzard publishes)
- Lengths: 164 / 170 / 176 / 182 / 188 cm
Details
- Type
- SKI
- Vendor
- Blizzard
- SKU
- 8A637400-001-170
- UPC / GTIN
- 194488141055
170
Blizzard Anomaly 88
By PTO Team, Based on the manufacturer’s published specs and published third-party testing
Spec analysis and published third-party testing · Analysis dated
These 10-point scores express PTO's editorial assessment of suitability for each use. They are not customer ratings or instrumented measurements; the analysis below explains the trade-offs.
The take
“Four pieces of titanal make the Anomaly 88 a precise firm-snow tool, and its strong, flat tail makes it demanding from the backseat.”
The Blizzard Anomaly 88 is a strong, damp, precise all-mountain ski, and its character starts with the metal. Blizzard's 2Ti FluxForm All Mountain layup uses four individual pieces of titanal around a TrueBlend All Mountain woodcore, and one independent review describes the arrangement as one full-width sheet under the core with segmented titanal on top. The same review credits the full lower sheet with much of the edge hold of full-width metal, and the segmented top layer with added maneuverability. Dense wood stringers keep the center stiff while the tip and tail stay softer, and the profile is mostly camber - 6 mm underfoot, per Blizzard - with early rise at both ends.
On firm snow the Anomaly 88 is at its best. Independent testers describe it carving clean turns on hard, wind-scoured snow and put its edge hold near the precise end of 88-ish all-mountain skis; in one nine-tester test, edge grip was the tightest score, with each tester rating it 8 or 9 out of 10. It holds a medium turn and stays calm when you open it into long cruising arcs. Two limits show up on groomers: beside a narrower piste ski it needs more speed and input to truly carve ice, and it is not exciting on low-angle slopes.
Off the groomers, the Anomaly 88 rewards a forward stance and punishes a lazy one. In firm, variable snow it is damp for its width, though less composed than the wider, heavier Anomaly 94 and 102, and from the backseat its tips get nervous. Moguls are the main caveat: the strong, fairly flat tail makes steep, firm or low-visibility bumps hard work, while softer bumps with a rhythm are easier. Up to about 4 inches of soft snow it is predictable and fun; past about 6 inches the shovels start to dive. Blizzard's own rating runs intermediate to expert, but the independent verdict lands on advanced to expert, and we side with the testers.
Within Blizzard's line, the Anomaly 88 sits between the narrower Anomaly 84 and the 94, with the wider 102 above them; all four use the 2Ti FluxForm All Mountain metal. Independent reviews call it the Brahma 88's successor; in our read it keeps that ski's strong, damp character, and one review finds it more forgiving in bumps. The women's Black Pearl 88 shares the 88mm waist but uses a W.S.D. FluxForm build without the 2Ti label; Blizzard lists it at 1,770 g per ski at 170cm, against 2,100 g per ski for the Anomaly at 182cm. Choose by weight and driving style, not the label.
The Anomaly 88 comes in 164, 170, 176, 182 and 188cm, with radius stepping from 14 to 19m; Blizzard publishes the sidecut only at 182cm (127.5-88-109.5mm). Shorter lengths turn tighter and are easier to manage in bumps; longer lengths add stability at speed if you can keep them driven from the front. Testers disagreed on sizing up; between lengths, mogul skiers should take the shorter one.
Bindings we'd pair with it
Mount point: Flat ski - binding is a separate purchase and needs mounting. Our pick: Griffon X 90 (Blizzard's suggested binding).
- Griffon X 90Blizzard-listed suggestion
Printed as the suggested binding on Blizzard's Anomaly 88 product page.
Blizzard lists the suggested binding as 'Griffon X 90'. We mount the binding in-shop, and release settings are set by a technician.
Common Questions
- Is the Blizzard Anomaly 88 good for intermediates?
- Blizzard rates it intermediate to expert, but independent tests place it at advanced to expert. Its strong, flat tail punishes a backseat stance, so intermediates who want a ski that turns for them should choose a softer all-mountain ski; a strong, aggressive intermediate can grow into it.
- What is the difference between the Anomaly 88 and the Anomaly 94?
- Both use the 2Ti FluxForm All Mountain metal. The 94 is 6mm wider and heavier in Blizzard's catalog flat-weight figures, and one independent review finds it more damp and composed in rough snow. The 88 is the firmer-snow, groomer-leaning choice.
- How does the Anomaly 88 compare with the women's Black Pearl 88?
- Same 88mm waist, different build. The Black Pearl 88 uses W.S.D. FluxForm without the 2Ti label and Blizzard lists it at 1,770 g per ski at 170cm against the Anomaly's 2,100 g per ski at 182cm. Pick by weight and driving style rather than by the label.
- Did the Anomaly 88 change for 26/27?
- Independent reviewers report it returns unchanged for 26/27 apart from new graphics, now Blue / Gold. Tests of the 24/25 and 25/26 ski describe the same ski.
- What size Blizzard Anomaly 88 should I get?
- It comes in 164, 170, 176, 182 and 188cm, with radius from 14 to 19m. Shorter is quicker and easier in bumps; longer is steadier at speed if you can drive it from the front. If you are between lengths and ski lots of moguls, go shorter.
- Does the Anomaly 88 come with bindings?
- No. It is sold flat, and Blizzard's product page lists "Griffon X 90" as the suggested binding. We mount the binding in-shop, and a technician sets release.
