2023 Blizzard Sheeva 11 Review

This article was first published by SkiMag.com.

The Scores (out of 10)

• Overall Score: 7.81
• Rank: #2
• Flotation: 7.71
• Playfulness: 7.43
• Responsiveness: 8
• Quickness: 8.29
• Crud Performance: 8.43
• Stability at Speed: 8.29
• Forgiveness: 7.43
• Versatility: 7

The Specs

• Price: $750
• Lengths: 148, 156, 164, 172, 180
• Dimensions: 139-112-129 (172)
• Radius: 17.5m
• Level: Advanced, Expert

In a Nutshell

• Pros: Crud Performance (#1), Stability at Speed (#1)
• Cons: Playfulness (#4), Versatility (#5)

Buy Now

Hard-charging ladies have come to love the reliability and power of the Sheeva series, and Blizzard has (thankfully) let the success of this ski ride out without significant changes. The Sheeva 11 is the burly, powder-hungry big sister to the all-mountain Sheeva 9 and 10, with a 112mm waist that floats through morning freshies and plows through crud at the end of day. Who’s gonna like this one? “Any lady wanting to be unleashed to scamper all over big mountains on a powder day and still feel solid when she pops out on a groomer,” said tester Erika Northrop.

Related: These pro tips make skiing powder less exhausting and more fun

This ski topped the charts in the Crud Performance and Stability at Speed categories, and surprised testers with its solid edge to edge transitions on hardpack despite its girth. Blizzard’s signature Carbon Flipcore D.R.T, which features Titanal in the center of the ski and carbon in the tip and tail, reduces torsional strength fore and aft while creating bombproof stability underfoot. That makes the Sheeva 11 approachable and (relatively) easy to steer in soft snow, while still digging in and revving up when the going gets firm.

With a ski that packs heat like the Sheeva 11, forgiveness is always the question. “More than a powder ski, it plows through crud with stability and speed, inspiring confidence in variable snow,” said tester Lily Krass. “But despite its hard-charging nature it doesn’t feel challenging to drive and is forgiving towards the end of the day when you get tired.” That doesn’t necessarily mean this is the ski for a first-time powderchaser, but testers were satisfied with the Sheeva 11’s willingness to let off the gas when you’re looking to wiggle through your last few runs. That being said, if you’re looking to get playful and loose on the hill, this isn’t the ski. The Sheeva sacrifices smeary playfulness for a planted feel that allows you to keep your cool in varied terrain.

Read more: Learn about how the Blizzard Sheeva 11 stacked up against the competition

“Typically not my favorite in this category but I skied turns in lots of different styles and every one felt like I was still centered and slaying it,” added Northrop. “Do you ski in the back seat or the front seat? Doesn’t matter on this ski! Hop on and enjoy without having to make a plan for executing perfect turns. This ski is like a filter that makes every turn look and feel perfecto!”

Lily Krass is a freelance ski journalist based in Jackson, Wyoming with work featured in SKI Magazine, Powder Magazine, Freeskier, Teton Gravity Research, and Ascent Backcountry Snow Journal. She spends winters backcountry skiing in Grand Teton National Park and riding lifts at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, with the occasional trip to the Alps (for the food, obviously). While she’s been in ski boots since she learned to walk, Lily has been professionally writing about skiing, gear, and all things outdoors for the past seven years. In addition to an all-consuming addiction to powder skiing mixed with heavy doses of Type II fun, Lily takes snacking seriously, and when she’s not writing or sliding on snow, she’s likely deep into a baking project in her tiny kitchen. She is the co-author of Beyond Skid: A Cookbook For Ski Bums, a collection of dirtbag-friendly recipes inspired by life in a mountain town.