The Pearl is the lighter weight option of these three. The Santa Ana's are a bit heftier and more stable, while the Pearl 94 has a lot more versatility and softer snow performance built in. The new rocker profile makes a big difference in soft snow while the Nordica's still rule on firm snow and groomers--both widths.
Build and shape. The Pearl uses full length sheets of metal while the Sheeva uses a frame technique. This, in conjunction with the shape, allow the Sheeva to be more playful and easier to bend, especially in softer snow. The Sheeva has fiberglass underfoot and metal arms along the sides in the forebody and through the tail. This puts emphasis on the edges for grip but leaves the middle of the ski more amenable to surfy and playful skiing. The Pearl is kind of the opposite, using a flatter overall shape to cut through the crud and grip on firm snow better. As such, the Pearl operates better on-trail and in groomers, while the softer the snow gets, the better the Sheeva will stand out.
They are slightly more playful than the outgoing models that had the flatter tail, so while the mass is about the same still, the new Pearls are more floaty so they prefer to stay on top rather than cut through to the bottom. More of a stylistic choice than anything.
I just checked our Brahma stock and I only see orange under the tips--you got some cool other Brahmas we don't know about yet? For Sheeva, we've found the differences to be more lateral--moving to the freeride realm more than all-mountain due to the wider waist and the implementation of metal along the edges. Trueblend was a nice boost as well, adding sophistication and central smoothness to the mix.
@SkiEssentials yep gotcha on the Sheeva thanks. LOL. My Brahma 88s are the 2022 model, orange top sheet etc. The orange parts on the bases are different lengths on each ski as in the tip and tail diagonal colours line up when the skis are together, so looks like a specific left and right ski really underneath. I reckon Blizzard are setting up to make a narrower Sheeva/Rustler 8 too more in the Enforcer/SA 88 space than Black Pearl. I have a couple of lady friends who ski Brahmas and Kenjas over the Black Pearl now as when they took the metal out a few iterations ago, they didn't like how 'girly' (their words), the BP got. I tried the newer BP too as my GF had a pair too, and can see what they meant. GF has now moved to a Santa Ana 88 and Reliance quiver instead too.
Happy New Year guys!
And sounds like Jeff will join the ranks of married men this year. 👍
Oh boy is this great❄️⛷
How would you compare the 2024 Santa Ana 98, SA93 and the 2025 Black Pearl 94?
The Pearl is the lighter weight option of these three. The Santa Ana's are a bit heftier and more stable, while the Pearl 94 has a lot more versatility and softer snow performance built in. The new rocker profile makes a big difference in soft snow while the Nordica's still rule on firm snow and groomers--both widths.
what would be the main differences between the 25' Black Pearl 94s and the Sheeva 10s?
Build and shape. The Pearl uses full length sheets of metal while the Sheeva uses a frame technique. This, in conjunction with the shape, allow the Sheeva to be more playful and easier to bend, especially in softer snow. The Sheeva has fiberglass underfoot and metal arms along the sides in the forebody and through the tail. This puts emphasis on the edges for grip but leaves the middle of the ski more amenable to surfy and playful skiing. The Pearl is kind of the opposite, using a flatter overall shape to cut through the crud and grip on firm snow better. As such, the Pearl operates better on-trail and in groomers, while the softer the snow gets, the better the Sheeva will stand out.
How do these do in crud after pow has been skied off? Enough mass or do they get knocked around?
They are slightly more playful than the outgoing models that had the flatter tail, so while the mass is about the same still, the new Pearls are more floaty so they prefer to stay on top rather than cut through to the bottom. More of a stylistic choice than anything.
I'm hearing the men's Brahma / Bonafide line is being discontinued.
We have news of that coming out very shortly!
Do you expect the same changes on the Brahma for 2025?
Can't say quite yet, but will release this information soon!
@@SkiEssentials cool! Also looking forward to whether you can comment on the fate of Bonafide and Cochise
appreciate the Dumb and Dumber reference. well played
We totally redeemed ourselves!
Are you suggesting the Sheeva is higher performing now guys?
My Brahmas have orange on the tips and tails underneath too Jeff?
I just checked our Brahma stock and I only see orange under the tips--you got some cool other Brahmas we don't know about yet?
For Sheeva, we've found the differences to be more lateral--moving to the freeride realm more than all-mountain due to the wider waist and the implementation of metal along the edges. Trueblend was a nice boost as well, adding sophistication and central smoothness to the mix.
@SkiEssentials yep gotcha on the Sheeva thanks.
LOL. My Brahma 88s are the 2022 model, orange top sheet etc. The orange parts on the bases are different lengths on each ski as in the tip and tail diagonal colours line up when the skis are together, so looks like a specific left and right ski really underneath.
I reckon Blizzard are setting up to make a narrower Sheeva/Rustler 8 too more in the Enforcer/SA 88 space than Black Pearl.
I have a couple of lady friends who ski Brahmas and Kenjas over the Black Pearl now as when they took the metal out a few iterations ago, they didn't like how 'girly' (their words), the BP got. I tried the newer BP too as my GF had a pair too, and can see what they meant. GF has now moved to a Santa Ana 88 and Reliance quiver instead too.