The position of the Black Pearl 78 in our test over the last two seasons has to be the most anomalous in the entire test. The Frontside category is supposed to the province of dedicated carvers, skis with extravagant sidecuts, shock-sucking interfaces and elevated binding systems. How did this flat, plain Jane with a shallow, off-trail shape and double rockered baseline not only end up in this den of carvers, but leading it in Power points?
One possible answer is the Black Pearl 78 actually is the best carving tool in the Frontside drawer. Its test scores, which admittedly can be misleading, lead the large field in early turn entry, continuous, accurate carving and short-radius turns. That’s a tough trifecta to simply dismiss as anecdotal. Hell, all scores are anecdotal, but we wouldn’t use them if they didn’t tend to accurately reflect behavior.
What makes the Black Pearl 78 a credible carver is its predisposition to curl into a turn the moment it’s tipped. The earlier the skier makes a move to the edge, the sooner the supple Pearl 78 can comply. The simplicity of its Women’s Specific Design (W.S.D.) belies its effectiveness. An all-wood core (poplar/beech) separates twin laminates of multi-directional glass in which are inlaid several carbon stringers. A unidirectional carbon frame on top provides the power and pop that propel the pilot from turn to turn.
One stat we don’t capture – because it doesn’t exist – is holding power per ounce, or grip per gram. The 1350g Black Pearl 78 would lap the field. Its relatively tiny, 78mm waist helps it move nimbly edge to edge whether it’s decorating groomers with twin rail tracks or threading through tortuous troughs, the skinniest Pearl in Blizzard’s oyster bed stands out for its ease and accessibility.
Please note that the Black Pearl 78’s Value Score is distorted, as it doesn’t come with its own binding, as many Frontside skis do. Even so, it’s a helluva deal. For the way it handles myriad Frontside conditions with aplomb, we again award the Black Pearl 78 a Silver Skier Selection.
