Like the Kore 93 and Enforcer 93, the new Rustler 9 from Blizzard is the narrowest incarnation from a family of fat, emphatically off-trail skis. Its signature feature, Dynamic Release Technology (D.R.T.), consists of a Titanal plate that’s edge-to-edge in the mid-section and quickly tapers to blunt tongues, freeing the extremities to twist as needed in choppy terrain. The relatively loose tip and tail conform readily to the abrupt contours of today’s moguls and generally facilitate direction change using less than textbook turns.

“Light feel and ease in directional change and quickness,” notes the ever perspicacious Bob Gleason from Boot Doctors. “Does a delightful dance through the bumps and tight places. [Gleason is so accustomed to bumps he doesn’t actually notice them. – Ed.] Best for the intermediate to lower level advanced,” he concludes.

Gleason’s suggestion that the Rustler 9 is well suited to skiers whose off-trail skills are a work in progress is apt: it’s softer flex allow the tip and tail to automatically ride high, while the metal underfoot creates a confidence-inspiring platform that can be either foot-steered or carved.

Scott from Aspen Ski and Board sketched the Rustler 9 profile as “light, with perfect playfulness/stability ratio. Also, rocker is not over done, good loft with minimal tip vibrations.” The Rustler 9 moves from drift to carve with just a dash of edge angle, so it doesn’t require any particular precision to ski comfortably. Another tester found the Rustler 9 to be “easy to ski, quick edge to edge and poppier than the flat-tailed Blizzards.” With less metal to muffle the rebound in its glass/carbon laminates, the Rustler 9 has the energy of a toddler on a sugar high.

Because it’s an easy-going all-terrain implement that holds well at a modest edge angle, we confer upon the Rustler 9 our Silver Skier Selection.