The new Blizzard Firebird Competition proves a proposition often presented in these pages, that it’s easier to make a ski with a small meter-radius measurement carve a long turn than it is to make a ski with a long turn radius to carve a small one. All it takes is a less aggressive edge angle and a full menu of turn options are at the pilot’s disposal.

“It wasn’t locked into one turn shape, you could make a bigger radius and the ski didn’t fight you,” notes insightful tester named Eric. He describes the Firebird Comp as a “solid carver and a super stable, damp ride. Not overly hard to turn. Good cruiser. A nice groomer ski. Also a nice looking, clean ski.” Eric’s favorable mention of the Firebird Comp’s bold, black-and-red appearance is echoed in other test cards, which doesn’t happen often when men are rating race-caliber skis.

The fact that the Firebird Comp can be coaxed into a long arc doesn’t mean it doesn’t prefer to zip in and out of turns to a faster beat. Its carvilicious tip likes to pull into a new turn more than its relatively narrow tail likes to hold onto it, so the Comp behaves like a turn-seeking missile. Mike from Granite Chief portrays his experience on the Firebird as “popping between turns like a pogo stick, yet it still held its own at speed,” Mike marvels.

“Quick turning, great, lively performance,” concurs another tester, who feels the Firebird shouldn’t be pigeonholed as just for experts. “You can put intermediate skiers on this ski. A nice blend of forgiveness and performance,” he opines. But most testers felt the Firebird Comp was better suited to experts capable of keeping up with its appetite for short turns. “Very snappy and responsive,” pens another Firebird fan. “I liked this one the most out of the Firebird series. “You gotta ski it, but a nice feel for that serious carving person. Rad!!”