Review: 2027 Blizzard Rustler 11

For the last three years, Blizzard’s engineers have looked at the Rustler 11, which got updated back in 2024, and said “you can’t fix it if it ain’t broke.” I can actually confirm this happened as I watched it at a Blizzard product meeting in Austria last year, although it might have been a bit more nuanced.

While Blizzard has been busy focusing on new skis like the Canvas line and the Decoy boot, the Rustler line has remained their tried and true, burly, freeride ski. In a day and age where everything seems to be all about the new technology or latest whatever, the Rustler 11 feels like an old friend you can count on. Blizzard hasn’t come out of nowhere and changed one of the most excellent freeride skis on the market for those who love a burly ski, just for the sake of changing it, and there’s a lot to be said for that. 

This ski remains a great option for advanced skiers that will make you want to channel your inner FWT champion–it welcomes high speeds in unpredictable snow, provides a solid platform for stomping big airs, and can pivot and slash its way through the soft stuff. 

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2027 Blizzard Rustler 11 Specs

• Sizes skied: 174cm, 180cm, 186cm
• Lengths available: 168cm, 174cm, 180cm, 186cm, 192cm 
• Sidecut: 140mm – 112mm – 130mm
• Radius: 19m (180cm)
• Profile: Rocker-camber-rocker
• Weight: 2000g (180cm)

Shape, Flex, and Construction

For anyone who loves to nerd out about ski technology, the Rustler has some exceptionally fun bits and pieces to it. For one, Blizzard uses a technology they’ve coined the Trueblend Free Woodcore, which has 10-20mm wide stringers of beech, poplar, ash, and paulownia that are milled together. The stiffest woods are placed directly underneath the binding and work with the ski’s high cut to provide flex and stability when a turn is initiated. The length of these stringers are also adjusted to the specific ski length, so rather than just using the same construction for a 162cm ski and a 192cm ski, the flex profile is adjusted to each length. 

The Trueblend core is then layered with Titanal plates, however, rather than one solid sheet, these plates are segmented into side pieces and a center piece with the smallest offset in between to allow the ski to have torsional flexion throughout a turn. The result of this construction is a ski that has a progressive flex from tip to tail that’s tailored to the specific length and is super stable with the right amount of torsional flexion through a turn. 

The Rustler 11 still features the same general freeride-friendly shape and profile as the older version and three previous years, with generous tip and tail rocker and a good amount of taper both front and back. The Rustler 11 has a decently long turn radius, although a fairly standard one in the realm of freeride skis. Notably though, the amount of camber and tip rocker in the ski means they don’t ski too long and have excellent edge grip. 

Additionally, the ski comes in a 112mm underfoot width in sizes from 168cm to 180cm, and gets widened to 114mm underfoot in the longer 186cm and 192cm lengths.  

On Snow Performance

With nearly three seasons under my belt skiing the Rustler 11 pretty frequently at a handful of mountains, in a handful of sizes, I can confidently say that every time I get on the ski, I ski the way I feel like I should be able to as a lifelong skier. Despite being a 112mm-underfoot ski, the Rustler 11 carves unbelievably well due to the amount of torsional flexion in the ski and the damping properties of Titanal. Those things also mean that the Rustler 11 busts through crud, weird refrozen bits, and chopped up snow remarkably well (although perhaps not quite as well as the Rustler 10). Effectively, it’s the confidence inspiring nature in the Rustler 11 that makes it so fun.

Although the Rustler no doubt holds its own on hardpack, it is a powder ski and was the widest in Blizzard’s lineup until recently. The shovel-shaped tip and wide underfoot width means this ski has no problem cutting through deep snow. With its long turn radius, the Rustler 11 thrives in wide open terrain and fresh snow, even more so than it does in variable conditions. “When you’re getting after it, it’s there asking you to give it even more. This ski begs to be skied hard and is very playful while doing it,” said one tester. 

All that being said, the Rustler 11 is an aggressive, metal ski. Those who prefer something poppier or smearier might not like its stiffness. Additionally, some testers at our Grand Targhee ski test found that the early rise in the tip meant that they’d lose the tip of the ski or wash out on hardpack. There’s no doubt the Rustler 11 isn’t for the faint of heart (or forward stance) and while those who love it, love it, the aggressive nature of it is not everyone’s cup of tea.

Comparisons

You could easily compare the Rustler 11 to other aggressive hard-charging skis like the Rossignol Sender Free 110, Nordica Unleashed 120, and Dynastar M-Free 112. Testers found the Rustler 11 to be a bit more dynamic and playful but equally stable to the Dynastar M-Free 112. While it might not be quite as stable as the Sender Free 110, the difference is only marginal and what it lacks in confidence inspiring stompage, the Rustler 11 makes up for in versatility and balance. The most similar of the bunch, the Unleashed 120 showed a preference for shorter, poppier turns whereas the Rustler 11 felt more neutral.

When put against a similar ski with a bit more freestyle influence, the Armada Antimatter 114, the Rustler definitely takes a backseat in terms of playfulness. Both the Rustler 11 and Antimatter 114 are aggressive, confidence inspiring, and made to charge. Those who come from a race background might pick the Rustler 11 over the Antimatter 114, whereas skiers who enjoy a surfier feel would trend towards the latter.

What type of skier is the Blizzard Rustler 11 best for?

Blizzard’s Rustler 11 remains the ultimate companion for lift-access backcountry and inbounds big-mountain skiing. If you’re the type of skier chasing Hollywood lines under the chair, big cliffs and high speeds in steep, dicey terrain, the Rustler 11 will not disappoint. At mountains like Jackson Hole, Sunshine Village, Alta, Palisades, or Whistler Blackcomb, the Rustler 11 is a do-it all ski for just about every condition that will unlock the best terrain you can find.