Editor's Note, 27 September 2026: New review from our Whistler Blackcomb test week.
A playful, surfy ski that floats well for its width and smears on command. Size up one length if you like to go fast. It averages 82 out of 100 across our six ratings in our best all-mountain skis guide.
Best Powder Ski Under 100 mm
Blizzard Rustler 9
- Status: Carryover, following the 2025 redesign to perimeter FluxForm metal
- Weight: About 1,880 g per ski (180 cm)
- Construction: TrueBlend woodcore, FluxForm metal
- Best for: Freeriders who smear, surf and pop
- Sizes on Amazon: Listings are size-specific, check the length
Bottom Line : A playful, surfy ski that floats well for its width and smears on command. Size up one length if you like to go fast.
Pros
- Easy to smear and scrub speed
- Floats well for its width
- Grips well underfoot
Cons
- Soft tips at very high speed on ice
- Best sized up one length
At Whistler
Libby's favourite ski of the trip. The perimeter metal gives it grip underfoot, but the rockered tips are soft. In the steep bowls off Spanky's Ladder on Blackcomb, she found she could smear it sideways to dump speed before dropping into the powdery chutes of Ruby Bowl.
The Catch
The soft tips that make it so easy to smear do have a speed limit: on the icy pitch off the Peak Express, James felt them start to flutter above about 40 mph. Sizing up one length adds stability, and for most skiers it will never come up.
Who It Suits
Best for: freeriders who smear, surf and pop.
Compare With
- Armada Declivity 92 Ti: carvers on firm snow.
- DPS Kaizen 100: playful skiers in soft snow and trees.
- Fischer Ranger 96: intermediates and progressing skiers.
See all ten in our best all-mountain skis of 2026/2027 guide.
Our Testers
This review was edited by Sean Williams and tested at Whistler Blackcomb by our lead tester and ski crew.
- Sean Williams, Editor-in-Chief. Sean built the team of researchers and testers behind our reviews and edits every guide. His rule: we say what we actually found.
- Ryan Williams, Lead Tester. An aggressive, heavy charger who hunts for steep, punishing terrain. Ryan has led our field tests from Whistler Blackcomb to the shore of Lake Louise.
- James Warburton, Tester. On skis since he was 3 and an ex-racer, James drives gear hard and has no patience for anything that lets go. He also tested our fat bikes at Lake Tahoe.
- Libby Louise, Tester. An expert freerider with several seasons behind her, Libby would rather surf, smear and pop off features than straight-line. She also tested our fat bikes at Lake Tahoe.
- Tom, Tester. A strong advanced skier who loves bowls and glades.
- Amy, Tester. A progressing intermediate who wants gear that builds confidence without exhausting her legs.
- The wider crew. Intermediate resort skiers who give us the everyday-skier view.
