It is not news that my history with the Bonafide goes way back to the beginning. I received my first pair the spring that we arrived in Tahoe and in fact I actually still have them, complete with their "85mm" wrong graphics. Through the years I also have had every model including the recent carbon-infused ones. Fast forward to today, it is the first time we can say that the new Bonafide can be referred to as "all new."
People immediately started to ask me, What did they change? It is easier to reply with what is still the same, and that is the just the name, the 98mm waist width, and the lengths. Everything else has changed, we don't even see "Flipcore" on the graphics. So what is the difference? Let's start with the shape. Blizzard added a few millimeters to the shorter, more purposeful tip, which goes from 133 to 135 mm, and the tail, which goes from 118 to 119 mm. This does not sound like much, but it drops the turn radius from 21 to 18 m in the 180cm reference size (I still stand by the metric system being a subjective unit of measurement). It is not the widths only that enhance the turn feel but more that the ski is softer and bends with a more balanced flex, allowing the new Bonafide to turn better.
There were some initial concerns that "Oh, they shortened the turn radius, now it will be like a slalom ski" or "Oh, they softened the flex, now it will be wimpy." I will confidently say neither is the case; you can put the pitchforks and torches back into the closet and relax ... until the next manufacturer evolves your favorite iconic model. Yes, the Bonafide is an icon of a ski; when it was introduced, it immediately perched itself as the 98mm ski that all others were measured against. Where the armor of the Bonafide started getting tarnished and other models started taking away from the Bonafide's sales were not in the power side, but in easy and playfulness, the characteristics that the Bonafide was lacking. It has the power down in spades, but over the years the ski had gotten progressively more demanding and it wasn't where the sales were.
Reinventing a ski like the Bonafide is a risky endeavour. You want to make it better but you don't want to ignore or dismiss what brought it to the dance in the first place. Blizzard succeeded in that task with the Bonafide (and Brahma/Brahma CA). The new shape, flex, and profile were felt immediately when finally got the ski on snow. I recall that first time I skied the Bonafide in 2011 and how special it was but every year it seemed to get less and less special. I know Blizzard said they didn't mess with the anything but the ski felt like it got progressively stiffer and uncompromising as it got older, simply less fun and more work.
The new graphics...FINALLY. I have been clamoring for Blizzard to change the graphics so that even with an asymmetric motif, the skis can be switched left and right and still look good. With the new Bonafide, just drop the skis on the snow, click in, and ski away. You don't have to try to match the bull up or make sure the left ski is on the left foot, etc. We are all a bit vain, and this did matter with the previous skis.
I received new Bonafides over a week ago but I was not able to get on them until now. I didn't ski them at Copper or Snowbasin because I knew I had these waiting at home, and I needed to get on other skis that I didn't have 24/7 access to. Did you see the episode of The Big Bang Theory when Raj got a new iPhone and they savored every moment of opening the box and taking the plastic off? Well, I felt the same way with the new Bonafide; I knew that I wanted the experience to be special. I double-checked the measurements when I mounted them and put an extra coat of wax on. I should have sent them to @smoothrides but my schedule didn't allow it. Then ... the waiting.
Finally on snow. We had a lot of snow in the day or so before I skied the Bonafides. The groomers were perfect; although they are not the terrain that the Bonafide was designed for, they need to ski well anyway. I immediately noticed how much quicker the turn-in with the ski was -- the new shorter tip's mission was accomplished. Through the turn the new shape was evident, two for two. Finally, all of this was done on a blue trail under slower to medium speeds. Hat trick, mission accomplished. Blizzard made what the Bonafide was always known for available at a lower entry point. Now, how does the new Bonafide feel where you expect it to perform, off piste and at speed?
The snow that we received set up fast. While you were able to cut through it, it was not easy at all to ski; this is where the Bonafide excelled and was in its element. The 2018 Bonafide skied just as I expected it to, no fanfare nor fightback, the shorter turn radius didn't make the ski nervous and the softer flex didn't allow the ski to fold like a cheap card table. At speed it was still solid and unless I skied them back to back with the current model, I hesitate to be concerned that the top end might be lacking.
Will the new Bonafide be the game changer that the original one was when it was introduced six years ago? No, the landscape has changed and there are many more good options to choose from, but it is now a indeed a better Bonafide. It is still on the power side of the spectrum but that power is no longer required, merely suggested. It is neither dumbed down nor a caricature of itself; it is still a Bonafide and should be on a better skier's short list of skis to consider for next year.
There were some initial concerns that "Oh, they shortened the turn radius, now it will be like a slalom ski" or "Oh, they softened the flex, now it will be wimpy." I will confidently say neither is the case; you can put the pitchforks and torches back into the closet and relax ... until the next manufacturer evolves your favorite iconic model. Yes, the Bonafide is an icon of a ski; when it was introduced, it immediately perched itself as the 98mm ski that all others were measured against. Where the armor of the Bonafide started getting tarnished and other models started taking away from the Bonafide's sales were not in the power side, but in easy and playfulness, the characteristics that the Bonafide was lacking. It has the power down in spades, but over the years the ski had gotten progressively more demanding and it wasn't where the sales were.
The new graphics...FINALLY. I have been clamoring for Blizzard to change the graphics so that even with an asymmetric motif, the skis can be switched left and right and still look good. With the new Bonafide, just drop the skis on the snow, click in, and ski away. You don't have to try to match the bull up or make sure the left ski is on the left foot, etc. We are all a bit vain, and this did matter with the previous skis.
Finally on snow. We had a lot of snow in the day or so before I skied the Bonafides. The groomers were perfect; although they are not the terrain that the Bonafide was designed for, they need to ski well anyway. I immediately noticed how much quicker the turn-in with the ski was -- the new shorter tip's mission was accomplished. Through the turn the new shape was evident, two for two. Finally, all of this was done on a blue trail under slower to medium speeds. Hat trick, mission accomplished. Blizzard made what the Bonafide was always known for available at a lower entry point. Now, how does the new Bonafide feel where you expect it to perform, off piste and at speed?
The snow that we received set up fast. While you were able to cut through it, it was not easy at all to ski; this is where the Bonafide excelled and was in its element. The 2018 Bonafide skied just as I expected it to, no fanfare nor fightback, the shorter turn radius didn't make the ski nervous and the softer flex didn't allow the ski to fold like a cheap card table. At speed it was still solid and unless I skied them back to back with the current model, I hesitate to be concerned that the top end might be lacking.
Will the new Bonafide be the game changer that the original one was when it was introduced six years ago? No, the landscape has changed and there are many more good options to choose from, but it is now a indeed a better Bonafide. It is still on the power side of the spectrum but that power is no longer required, merely suggested. It is neither dumbed down nor a caricature of itself; it is still a Bonafide and should be on a better skier's short list of skis to consider for next year.
- Who is it for? Still for stronger, better skiers, but not as demanding; just more mature.
- Who is it not for? Lightweights; the ski still needs to be worked.
- Insider tip: No need to size up or down, whatever size you are skiing now, stay with it.
