2019-2020 Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat

Ski: 2019-2020 Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, 184 cm

Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 181.6 cm

Stated Weight per Ski: 2030 grams

Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2013 & 2099 grams

Stated Dimensions: 141-116-131 mm

Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 142.5-115.8-133.4 mm

Stated Sidecut Radius (184 cm): 25 meters

Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 74 mm / 74 mm

Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 4-5 mm

Core: Aspen/Pine + Carbon Stringers + Fiberglass Laminate

Base: 4001 Durasurf

Factory Recommended Mount Point: -5.9 cm from center; 84.9 cm from tail

Boots / Bindings: Nordica Strider 120; Dalbello Lupo SP I.D. / Tyrolia AAAttack 13 

Test Location: Crested Butte, CO

Days Skied: ~20

Ski: 2019-2020 Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, 190 cm

Available Lengths: 174, 184, 190 cm

Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 187.7 cm

Stated Weight per Ski: 2130 grams

Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2174 & 2187 grams

Stated Dimensions: 143-118-133 mm

Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 142.5-117.3-133.3 mm

Stated Sidecut Radius (190 cm): 27 meters

Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 70 mm / 72 mm

Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: ~5 mm

Core: Aspen/Pine + Carbon Stringers + Fiberglass Laminate

Base: 4001 Durasurf

Factory Recommended Mount Point: -5.65 cm from center; 88.2 cm from tail

Boots / Bindings: Head Raptor 140 RS; Nordica Strider 120 / Tyrolia AAAttack2 13 AT

Test Location: Crested Butte, CO

Days Skied: 10

[Note: Our review was conducted on the 18/19 Blister Pro / Wildcat, which returns unchanged for 19/20, apart from graphics.]

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Moment Blister Pro

Intro

While it’s now been available under a few names (Bibby Pro, Bibby, Blister Pro, Wildcat), the Moment Bibby / Blister Pro / Wildcat has been one of the most talked about and referenced skis here at Blister — since even before Blister existed.

To read the whole history of the ski, check out this article.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Jonathan Ellsworth on the 19/20 Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

But the Blister Pro / Wildcat (as it’s currently called) has undergone some construction changes, with the primary difference being that the ski is now coming in lighter than it had before. So we’re posting this review with three of our reviewers’ thoughts on the current 184 cm and 190 cm Blister Pro / Wildcat to provide a fresh perspective on the ski.

Important Note — Please Read This!

The current Blister Pro and Wildcat are the exact same ski, just with different names and topsheets. We’ll be using those two names interchangeably in this review. So please do not ask us whether the Blister Pro is the same as the Wildcat. Because it is. It is the same. Samesies. Not different. So now if you do ask us … it is evidence that you are stupid and / or illiterate you are probably just tired and maybe should take a nap.

[Editor’s note: Luke Koppa would not let Jonathan Ellsworth write that crossed-out part, so it has been redacted.]

Shape / Rocker Profile

The shape of this ski hasn’t changed since the OG Bibby was released over a decade ago. I.e., the current Blister Pro / Wildcat has the same shape as the original and, as we’ll discuss below, we think that’s a very, very, very, very, very good thing.

The Wildcat has a bit of early taper at the tips and tails but, compared to many modern skis this wide, the Wildcat’s taper now seems much more subtle than it did when the original ski was released. To be more specific, the Wildcat has notably less tip and tail taper than a lot of the other skis that we’d classify as “playful pow skis,” and its degree of taper falls more in line with more traditional, directional skis.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Sam Shaheen on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

But unlike many of those more directional skis, the Wildcat has a lot of tip and tail rocker, and a twinned tail with a high amount of tail splay.

Nowadays, the Wildcat’s combination of subtle tip and tail taper and a significant amount of tip and tail rocker seems to stand out more than ever. And those characteristics are probably a big part of why the ski itself stands out when you get it on snow.

Flex Pattern

Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the 184 cm Blister Pro / Wildcat:

Tips: 6.5
Shovels: 7-8.5
In Front of Toe Piece: 9-10
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 10-8.5
Tails: 7-6

And here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the 190 cm Blister Pro / Wildcat:

Tips: 6.5
Shovels: 7-8.5
In Front of Toe Piece: 9-10
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 10-8.5
Tails: 7-6

After hand-flexing them against each other, the 184 cm and 190 cm Blister Pro’s flex patterns are basically identical. And after hand-flexing them against the original 14/15 Blister Pro and the 11/12 Bibby Pro, it is clear that Moment has kept the flex pattern of the ski very similar from year to year.

The current Blister Pro is a touch stiffer in the tips and a touch softer between the heel piece and tail. But those differences wouldn’t be more than a half point on our scale, and overall, the various generations of this ski all have incredibly similar flex patterns.

The Blister Pro / Wildcat is a strong ski, especially compared to other skis with freestyle-oriented shapes and rocker profiles. The Blister Pro is fairly soft at the very ends of the ski (last ~10 cm of the tip and tail), but is quite stiff everywhere else.

Weight

The 11/12 Bibby came in at around 2190 grams per ski for the 184 cm version, and 2284 grams per ski for the 190 cm version.

The 1st gen (14/15) all-black Blister Pro came in at 2372 & 2393 grams. 

The current 184 cm Blister Pro / Wildcat is coming in at an average weight of 2056 grams per ski, and the current 190 cm model is coming in at around 2180 grams per ski.

Moment says this drop in weight is due to several factors, all of which were manufacturing related, rather than deliberate decisions to decrease the weight of the ski.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Luke Koppa on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

Most notably, this included the move to a semi-cap construction (rather than the old Moment skis’ full-sidewall construction) and an ability to use less sidewall material and more wood in the core.

Given the construction changes, the current Blister Pro now sits on the lighter end of the spectrum for a ski of its width, whereas the older version was on the heavier end.

The current Blister Pro isn’t nearly as crazy light as skis like the Atomic Bent Chetler 120 or Scott Scrapper 115, but it is notably lighter than it used to be.

For reference, here are a number of our measured weights (per ski in grams) for some notable skis. Keep in mind the length differences to try to keep things apples-to-apples.

1710 & 1744 Atomic Bent Chetler 120, 184 cm (18/19–19/20)
1808 & 1809 Line Pescado, 180 cm (17/18–19/20)
1910 & 1941 Scott Scrapper 115, 189 cm (17/18–18/19)
1931 & 1959 Volkl BMT 122, 186 cm (17/18–18/19)
2013 & 2099 Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro, 184 cm (18/19–19/20)
2019 & 2051 K2 Mindbender 116C, 186 cm (19/20)
2024 & 2031 Line Outline, 186 cm (19/20)
2034 & 2052 Blizzard Rustler 11, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
2043 & 2046 4FRNT Inthayne, 188 cm (18/19-19/20)
2102 & 2137 Line Sick Day 114, 190 cm (17/18–19/20)
2126 & 2173 Rossignol Super 7 RD, 190 cm (17/18–19/20)
2130 & 2213 Faction Candide 4.0, 188 cm (19/20)
2133 & 2133 Salomon QST 118, 192 cm (17/18–18/19)
2174 & 2187 Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro, 190 cm (18/19–19/20)
2183 & 2190 Black Crows Anima, 188.4 cm (17/18–19/20)
2196 & 2199 Icelantic Nomad 115, 191 cm (17/18–18/19)
2220 & 2252 Faction Prodigy 4.0, 186 cm (17/18–19/20)
2212 & 2215 Armada ARV 116 JJ, 185 cm (17/18–19/20)
2222 & 2278 Prior CBC, 184 cm (17/18–19/20)
2228 & 2231 Blizzard Spur, 192 cm (17/18–19/20)
2230 & 2250 Black Diamond Boundary Pro 115, 185 cm (17/18–19/20)
2240 & 2250 Volkl Revolt 121, 184 cm (19/20)
2246 & 2265 Fischer Ranger 115 FR, 188 cm (17/18–18/19)
2267 & 2270 Whitedot Ragnarok 118, 190 cm (16/17–18/19)
2296 & 2309 Liberty Origin Pro, 192 cm (17/18–19/20)
2297 & 2317 K2 Catamaran, 184 cm (17/18–19/20)
2341 & 2357 Dynastar PR-OTO Factory, 189 cm (18/19–19/20)
2343 & 2360 J Skis Friend, 189 cm (18/19)
2346 & 2351 Nordica Enforcer Pro, 191 cm (17/18–19/20)
2382 & 2395 ON3P Billy Goat, 184 cm (17/18–18/19)
2408 & 2421 ON3P Kartel 116, 186 cm (17/18–19/20)
2429 & 2437 Kingswood SMB, 188 cm (16/17–18/19)
2438 & 2480 DPS Foundation Koala 119, 189 cm (19/20)
2438 & 2492 Rossignol Black Ops 118, 186 cm (16/17–19/20)
2490 & 2529 K2 Catamaran, 191 cm (17/18–19/20)

Now that we’ve covered the current Blister Pro’s design and specs, let’s talk about how it actually performs on snow. As we’ve been spending time on both the 184 cm and 190 cm versions, we’ve split this into two reviews, and have included the input from reviewers Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen.

FULL REVIEW: 184 cm Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat

Powder

Luke Koppa (5’8”, 155 lbs): Before I dive into my experience on the 184 cm Blister Pro / Wildcat, I first want to provide some context. I am one of a few people at Blister who never spent a considerable amount of time on the heavier Bibby or Blister Pro (I got one lap on the 190 cm version). So I was coming into this review with high expectations, but almost no first-hand knowledge of how the old version skied. But even with those high expectations … the current Blister Pro still pretty much blew me away.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Luke Koppa on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

Right from the start, the ski was super intuitive. Some skis I get on will feel weird at first, and take a while to get used to. Not so with the Blister Pro. I just clicked in, took a few turns, and then started hitting all of my favorite runs at Crested Butte. Fortunately, some of my first turns on the Blister Pro happened to be during one of the numerous deep days this season.

In up to around 2 feet of light, dry pow, the 184 cm Wildcat feels quick, easy, and maneuverable. I felt best on this ski in powder when skiing with a pretty centered stance, though I could drive the tips when needed. Quick slashes were very easy, so were larger turns, and overall, the ski just felt nice.

In the end, most skis this wide that I’ve been on are a lot of fun in clean, untouched pow. The Blister Pro isn’t the surfiest ski out there, and the 184 cm version is not the best option if you’re a bigger skier and / or love to drive the hell out of your tips in deep snow. But aside from those caveats, I can’t think of many people who wouldn’t get along well with this ski in fresh snow.

Sam Shaheen (5’10”, 145 lbs): Like Luke, one of my favorite things about the 184 cm Blister Pro is how instantly intuitive and natural it feels across a huge range of terrain and conditions. I just seem to click with this ski — and it’s clearly not just me. This is one of those skis that I can just forget about and think about nothing but the actual skiing and terrain in front of me. That’s a great feeling to have.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Sam Shaheen fully committing to get that face shot on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

I attribute this primarily to the shape, because even after the changes in construction this ski has seen, the ski is still incredibly intuitive, though it doesn’t have the same suspension or top end as the version with the heavier construction.

Anyway, let’s talk powder.

Again, like Luke, I was able to ski the 184 on some very deep days at Crested Butte, and came away very pleased. The Blister Pro’s versatile shape isn’t optimized for maximum flotation, but that really didn’t seem to affect its performance in powder (or perhaps how much fun I was having on it in powder). If I wanted maximum float for the deepest days or an extremely surfy platform to ski from a neutral stance and slash everything in sight, then I would probably look for something else. But aside from that, I can’t say the 184 Blister Pro leaves me wanting much more when it comes to powder.

And I’ll echo Luke some more: the 184 cm Blister Pro is happy being skied from both a rather neutral stance and being driven through the shovels. Which is great news for skiing powder at a mountain like Crested Butte, because the terrain can very quickly shift from wide-open mellow pow fields (neutral stance), to steep, exposed, technical chutes (driving stance).

Across a huge range of terrain and different types of fresh snow (up to about 2’), the 184 cm Blister Pro just feels good. It’s easy and intuitive while remaining strong enough to hold up to speed and be pushed hard.

Soft Chop

Luke: This is where the Wildcat starts to set itself apart from other pow skis I’ve been on.

The 184 cm Wildcat is one of my favorite skis for days where I spend most of my time skiing chop. That’s not because it’s some steamroller of a ski that blasts through everything (e.g., Rossignol Black Ops 118), but because of how well it balances being strong enough to ski fast, while still being light, poppy, and surfy enough to make skiing through chop with a playful style a ton of fun. Straight-lining chop is fun at times, but for me, slashing and spinning around in chop is more fun. And being able to do a bit of both is really fun.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Luke Koppa on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

I think a lot of this comes down to the Blister Pro’s shape and rocker profile. This shape just works really well. It’s straight enough and has enough effective edge (read: not super tapered tips) to not feel twitchy or hooky when making big turns, but is light enough and has plenty of rocker to make spins, slashes, and any sort of airtime easy and fun.

In soft chop, I didn’t really notice the Blister Pro’s low weight, apart from it being a plus when it came to throwing the ski around in the air. But when the chop firmed up and settled, it’s low weight does become more apparent.

Sam: Though I do agree with everything Luke is saying here, I will say that the latest version of the Blister Pro is definitely less stable in chop than the previous (heavier) version, no question.

That said, this latest iteration of the ski is much more in line with my personal skiing style, so I’m not upset.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Sam Shaheen on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

To me, the 184 cm Blister Pro is just plain fun in chop. It’s pretty light in the air, has a shape that almost never feels out of place, and is strong enough to be pushed very hard. I love being able to slarve a fast turn through a tracked out patch then pop off the tail into an untouched bit of pow, make a hard slash, then slarve through the next tracked out section — repeating as necessary. Again, the Blister Pro is just plain fun. It’s strong but not demanding; playful, but not overly loose / sloppy; light, but not all that twitchy.

Firm Chop / Crud

Luke: The 184 cm Blister Pro / Wildcat is a strong ski and I do think it is damp for its weight. But it’s still quite light, and most of the heavier skis in this class that I’ve been on feel more damp and offer more plush suspension when the snow gets really firm and rough.

The Blister Pro’s shape still works really well in firm chop / crud as it isn’t hooky and tracks well, but its low weight means that the Blister Pro gets knocked around when skiing fast through rough snow. Compared to other playful, freestyle-oriented skis in this class, I think the 184 cm Blister Pro is still near the top when it comes to stability in crud. But compared to much heavier skis, the 184 cm Blister Pro does not feel as composed and comfortable in crud.

As I’ll touch on in the review of the 190 cm Blister Pro, the longer version does feel more stable than the 184, and the 190 narrows the gap between it and some of the other heavier skis out there when it comes to stability. But if you primarily want a wide ski that’s going to feel super damp and smooth on firm, rough snow, you may prefer a heavier ski. But if you tend to dial things back a bit in crud and / or ski with an active, playful style, the 184 cm Blister Pro is still one of the better skis I’ve used in this category. It’s not ultra damp, but it is predictable.

Moguls, Bumps, and Tight Terrain

Luke: I love the 184 cm Blister Pro in any sort of tight terrain. For how wide it is, it feels very nimble. There are some easier, looser skis out there, but those skis can often feel insubstantial / not supportive enough when skiing hard in bumps, techy terrain, etc.

The strong flex pattern of the Blister Pro lets me ski hard and fast when I want to, while being forgiving enough to not buck me when I get backseat. I think the Blister Pro has a huge sweet spot which, combined with its looser / easy-to-pivot feel, equates to a ski that makes me want to ski faster and harder in tight terrain.

Easy to pivot, supportive yet forgiving, good edge hold — the Blister Pro has pretty much all of the qualities I look for in a wider ski when the terrain gets tight and techy.

Sam: I only really skied the 184 cm Blister Pro in deep pow, but I did get it into some tight terrain so I’ll comment on that here.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Sam Shaheen on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

Without beating a dead horse too much, I also love the Blister Pro in tight terrain. The shape combined with the low swing weight make quick turns very easy. The ski is very easy to pivot and slide at slow speeds but it is also strong enough to be skied quite hard.

The only other thing that I’d like to say is that if you’re coming from a ski with a more traditional mount point or haven’t skied many skis with a more freestyle/progressive/forward mount, the tails on the Blister Pro might feel a little long in tight terrain, deep moguls, etc. This is a feeling that can take a bit of time to get used to, and is probably only really noticeable in super tight spots, but just something to look out for.

Groomers

Luke: Remember how I said the Blister Pro’s shape works really well in chop? Well, that holds true on groomers, too. The Blister Pro offers surprisingly good edge hold for how wide it is, initiates turns predictably, and has a nice amount of energy / rebound coming out of a turn.

That said, I think it’s important to keep in mind the sidecut radius of the Blister Pro. The 184 cm version has a stated sidecut radius of 25 meters and, unlike some skis, it feels like it. Neither the 184 cm or 190 cm Blister Pro is great for making really tight turns. But if you’re cool with sticking to longer turns on groomers (GS or longer), the Blister Pro carves very well for a ski of its width.

Playfulness

Luke: As we’ve noted in other reviews, the “playfulness” of a ski is complicated. That term gets thrown around a lot, and it can refer to a lot of different things.

Overall, I’d say the 184 cm Blister Pro is a very “playful” ski. It’s very easy to slash and slarve around, it’s very poppy, and it feels very balanced and comfortable in the air. It shares those things in common with a lot of other playful skis, but I think the Blister Pro sets itself apart from most of those skis because it’s got the backbone and shape to handle the choppy snow before and after a jump, not just feel good once you’re in the air.

That does come at the cost of some “playfulness” in the sense that the Blister Pro isn’t the softest ski, and therefore isn’t the easiest ski to butter and press at slow speeds. But as long as your top priority isn’t slow-speed butters, I think most skiers will find the 184 cm Blister Pro to feel very playful.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Sam Shaheen on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

Sam: Yep, “playful” means different things to different people. I agree with Luke that the Blister Pro is a very playful ski. I would say, however, that the shape of the Blister Pro looks more playful than the ski feels on snow.

On paper, the Blister Pro looks pretty much like a freestyle powder ski, but on snow, it feels distinctly more directional and traditional than the shape alone suggests. It is very comfortable being driven through the shovels and, because of the stout flex, I think the Blister Pro is most at home being driven. Many freestyle pow skis have more accessible flex profiles and are less happy being driven. Just something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a true freestyle pow ski.

FULL REVIEW: 190 cm Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat

Powder

Luke Koppa (5’8”, 155 lbs): The 190 cm Blister Pro maintains most of the 184’s maneuverability in powder, while offering more flotation. I could drive the front of the 190 cm Blister Pro quite hard in deep snow (around two feet of light, dry pow) without the tips diving. As I noted above, I could still drive the tips of the 184 cm Blister Pro in pow, but I felt more comfortable skiing it centered, whereas I was equally comfortable skiing the 190 cm Blister Pro forward or neutral in pow (remember, I’m 5’8”, 155 lbs).

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Luke Koppa on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

Overall, the 184 and 190 Blister Pro feel pretty similar in pow, and I think the 190 makes more sense for bigger and / or more aggressive skiers, or those who just want a bit of extra float for really deep days and who are willing to give up a bit of slow-speed maneuverability.

Soft Chop

Luke: The 190 cm Blister Pro is a bit more of a chop-charger than the 184 cm version. The 190 cm gave me more ski to lean into when blasting through soft chop, and in exchange, felt a touch more sluggish when trying to make quick turns, slashes, or spins.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Jonathan Ellsworth on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

Because I like to pop and play around in chop more than I like to just go straight, I ended up preferring the quicker feel of the 184 cm Blister Pro over the slight bump up in stability that the 190 cm version provided.

Firm Chop / Crud

Luke: Much of what I said about the 184 cm Blister Pro applies here, with the caveat that the 190 cm version is a touch more damp and can be skied a bit harder when the snow gets firm and rough.

The 190 cm Blister Pro isn’t the most damp or stable ski in its class. It just doesn’t have that same super-smooth feel of much heavier skis. But if you’re willing to ski with a slightly more active / dynamic style, you can still ski quite hard on the 190 cm Blister Pro when conditions are not ideal for a 118mm-wide ski.

Moguls, Trees, and Tight Terrain

Luke: The 190 cm Blister Pro is still very easy to pivot around, it just requires a bit more effort to whip around than the 184 cm version.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Luke Koppa on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

And compared to many of the directional skis in this class (many of which have much less tail rocker), the 190 cm Blister Pro feels significantly quicker and more maneuverable in tight terrain. Despite being a pretty big ski, the 190 cm Blister Pro felt surprisingly easy when I needed to make lots of quick, small turns.

Groomers

Luke: Basically everything I said about the 184 applies here. The 190 cm Blister Pro is a lot of fun on groomers for how big it is, just don’t expect to be able to crank out slalom turns on it (and if you are expecting to be able to do that, please reevaluate your expectations).

Playfulness

Luke: The 190 cm Blister Pro, like the 184, is a playful ski in most regards. Due to its extra length and weight, the 190 cm version is less playful than the 184 in that the 190 has a slightly heavier swing weight and feels a bit more sluggish overall.

I think skiers bigger than myself will still find the 190 cm Blister Pro very playful, especially if you’re a bigger skier who’s coming from more directional, heavier, and / or less rockered skis. The 190 cm Blister Pro still maintains the 184’s relatively low weight, progressive mount point, and nearly symmetrical shape and rocker profile. So it still feels balanced in the air and nice on takeoffs and landings, there’s just a bit more ski for you to whip around.

Jonathan’s Take on the 190 cm Blister Pro

Jonathan Ellsworth (5’10”, ~175 lbs): As many of you know, I have quite a history with this ski. And the 190 cm version was my favorite ski back before Blister existed. But rather than reply section by section, I want to add my take to Sam and Luke’s really excellent notes.

First: It’s been really fun seeing how much Sam and Luke love this current iteration of the 184. This is important to me, because (1) my opinion certainly isn’t the only one that matters here, and so just because I’ve been in love with the 190 for about a decade, well, that’s just me. (Ok, not just me — it’s also hundreds or thousands of you reading this, from all around the world.)

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Jonathan Ellsworth on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

But while Julia Van Raalte and Will Brown wrote in years past about their love of the 184, it’s fair to say that a lot of our comments about the Bibby / Blister Pro over the years have had the 190 in mind. And again, a number of us loved that ski … but it was definitely more ski than a lot of skiers were looking for. So devoting more space here to the 184 than to the 190 feels like a restoration of balance.

Second: With respect to length: I personally had little interest in the 184 in the past, and now that these skis are lighter, I have even less interest in the 184. If there were times that the previous 190 felt a bit sluggish or heavy, well, it never feels that way to me now. Point is, for those who either knew or who simply worried that the 190 would be too much ski for them, well, I think the 190 is now in play for a lot more people. That said, Luke and Sam just wrote glowingly about the 184, and I am definitely not trying to talk people out of going with the 184. I’m just saying that the 190 is now quicker and requires less input than it used to. And there were days at Crested Butte this season when my legs were pretty shot by the afternoon, and when fatigued, I was not mad about the lighter weight.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, and Sam Shaheen review the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat for BLISTER
Jonathan Ellsworth on the Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, Crested Butte, CO.

Of course, the downside to this is that, for those of us who adored the crud and chop performance of the previous version, as Sam said, there is now less to adore. Is it still “good”? Yes. Would I say that the 190 has the same best-in-class suspension as the previous, heavier version? No. But again, this new ski is quicker and requires less physical strength. Tradeoffs. Some might be disappointed in this, but I think it’s a simple fact that there are more people out there who will like the changes rather than dislike these changes.

Third: Powder performance. In deep, light (or fairly light) powder, I would argue that the new ski floats better. The lighter weight + same shape makes the 190 feel like it stays on top of the snow a bit better. I wouldn’t call the difference huge, but if we were simply skiing very deep powder — and especially if we were skiing very deep, lower-angle powder (think Japan), the new Blister Pro will be easier to maneuver, quicker, and will float as well or better.

Fourth: The shape of this ski is still absolute money. And while Sam and Luke said this a bunch above and are smart enough to figure this out on their own, the fact is that I kept saying this to them over and over again, so I’m tempted to accuse them of stealing my thoughts here. Whatever. This shape is money. Even after all these years. Money. I feel like I’ve written a million words about this previously, and Luke just spelled it out well above. So I won’t do it all again. But this is a relatively straight, fairly wide ski with a short, blunt tapered tip … and with its rocker profile, it all just works together extremely well.

Who’s It For?

Luke: The Blister Pro / Wildcat is one of those skis that I feel like I could recommend to a really wide range of skiers. Are you a playful / freestyle-oriented skier who wants a ski that’s easy to spin but that doesn’t fall apart when skiing faster through chop? Are you a directional skier who wants a ski that’s easy to slide and pivot around but still capable of making big, powerful turns? Do you just want an intuitive ski for days with fresh snow? If you answered yes to any of those questions, check out the Blister Pro / Wildcat.

Bottom Line

Jonathan: Moment’s construction changes to the Blister Pro / Wildcat have resulted in some relatively subtle but certainly noticeable performance changes.

Some skiers — in particular, those who loved literally every single thing about the high top-end stability, chop performance, flotation and maneuverability in deep powder, and heavy weight of the 190 cm version — may not view these changes as improvements.

But more playful skiers and / or anyone who found the previous 190 (or 184) to be more ski than they wanted or needed now has new and extremely good reasons to check out the Wildcat / Blister Pro, and will likely prefer this latest iteration to the past heavier version.

Deep Dive Comparisons: Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat

Become a Blister Member or Deep Dive subscriber to check out our Deep Dive comparisons of the Blister Pro / Wildcat to see how it compares to the Rossignol Black Ops 118, Dynastar PR-OTO Factory, Prior CBC, Icelantic Nomad 115, Folsom Trophy Carbon, Blizzard Spur, Line Outline, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Nordica Enforcer Pro, Line Sick Day 114, Rossignol Super 7 RD, Rossignol Super 7 HD, and Blizzard Rustler 11.

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2019-2020 Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, BLISTER
2019-2020 Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat, BLISTER

54 comments on “2019-2020 Moment Blister Pro / Wildcat”

  1. How would you compare this to the line mordecai? It sounds very similar (assuming you move the mount point back a bit from the Eric’s Choice)

      • Any thoughts at Blister on asking Moment if they can make next year’s Blister Pro with the old construction, previous full sidewall construction? Or get a bit of the “heft” back into the Blister Pro version another way?

  2. For all the love of this ski around here… ( I bought the 190 tours specifically because of you guys and damn is it money ) How have you not reviewed the new wildcat 108 yet??? I want to order a set of these so bad as my resort ski but waiting for some feedback to see if this shape carries over well to a narrower width.

    • I have just a few corn runs on my 108s (not the tour 108s, but the newly released model), but I am very pleased. I have the first gen Blister Pros and Bibby tours, too. The 108 was immediately easy to ski and intuitive. I liked the skinnier waste on the corn, it made them feel a bit less cumbersome. They were just as confidence inspiring and stable. I am looking forward to more days and more variety on them. Set up with Shifts..

    • I’ve skied 2 days on my wildcat 108s (non-tour, the regular ones). I also own a 18/19 wildcat, which I love. I’ve only skied spring days on the 108, so it’s hard to give a complete comparison, but so far it feels exactly as advertised–a nimbler version of the OG wildcat that feels a bit more at home, precise, and easier to maneuver when the snow isn’t deep. Would highly recommend if the OG wildcat suits your fancy.

    • Third call for WC108 review. Want to know how different they are to OG Bibby/Wildcat. Are they more maneuverable for day-to-day skiing or should I drop all the way down to some Masterblasters.

    • Most people love the recommended -6 cm mount. Jibbier skiers go -5 or -4 sometimes. But you can drive the shovel plenty at -6 if you ask me..

      How tall / heavy are you?

  3. I think you guys are going to have to have a wildcat vs woodsman article at after you get some time on the woodsman. I am sure it is on your radar.

    • Thanks for the response. I’m 6’ 185lbs, I ski the Head A Stars in bounds and they have a similar mount point (they’re also a really similar ski, radius, widths, length and rocker start points). Was wondering about going back a bit because I am not a jibby skier. Love skiing fast and pushing the skis.

  4. this question is aimed mainly at Luke. Have you ever considered trying the 174cm version? I the same height and spent a few days on the 174 deathwish and had way more fun than i expected for a shorter ski.
    I was worried that 184 might be too much ski for me, but with the actual measured length being closer to 182, I even more interest in giving a go!

    • I think that depends on your experience level and the lengths of skis you’ve liked in the past. But for me, I have never been tempted to size down to the 174 (for reference, I tend to like skis in this class that are around 184-190 cm long). The Wildcat has a lot of rocker so it skis a bit shorter than you’d think based on its length. And if you’ll primarily be using it as a powder ski, I think you’d appreciate the extra length (and float) of the 184.

  5. I have the Nordica E-100 from first year back 4-5 years ago in a 185 and the 2nd version Blister Pro in a 190. When I ski the Beavers and Montezuma at A Basin in 3-5 day old snow the E-100 gets pushed around a bit shovel/tip. The Blisters kill it but feel like overkill at 118 underfoot. Thoughts on wildcat 108 or something else 100-108. Wondering that if the new wildcat skis lighter the 108 version will feel like the E-100’s Been skiing since 1968 and the Blister is my all time favorite ski in powder/chop!!

  6. Jonathan, what would be the burliest, hardest charging wide all mtn ski for 2020? I am trying to replace the 191 Head Monster 108. I want something over 2600g/ski and stiff as a plank.

    • Given your parameters (and staying within them) … I think Bredey (below) has given you some very good suggestions. But if you are serious about “stiff as a plank” (and just to be clear for various folks reading this, “stiff as a plank” is definitely not always a great characteristic in a ski), then you would want to go with the Folsom Hammer — I would keep the reverse camber design the more you want to use the thing in deep snow, and I would consider adding ~2 mm of camber underfoot if you care more about performance in very firm conditions. The Hammer is the only wider ski I’ve been on where the shovel stiffness (in particular) actually reminded me of the Monster 108 while skiing it. Sounds like a conversation with Mike McCabe at Folsom might be in order.

  7. You don’t have many options that are 2600 g + in that width class.. unless you go for the longest lengths, i.e. 192 cm +

    My thoughts are:

    If you like / want to retain some quickness in a ski that long and like full rocker and skiing from a more neutral stance: 4frnt Devastator in 194 cm or the Folsom Primary (Hammer Edition) in 192 cm or 195 cm

    If you want a ski that prefers a more forward / driving stance the 192 cm Blizzard Cochise will be a good option too. Should be around 2500 g per ski.

    The Prior Husume should be there too weight and stiffness wise, but I’m unsure how to locate it regarding skiing stance..

    If you’re willing to go a bit wider, the longest lengths of the Völkl Confession, Blizzard Bodacious and ON3P Wrenegade 114 are heavy and stiff chargers as well, that ski best from a forward stance.

    Curious to hear what Jonathan thinks..

  8. The more I think about it, 105-110mm is ideal. The Bodacious has the flex I’m looking for, but it’s a little too wide. I wont use it in powder, I use Wildcats in anything soft. I want a wide-ish all mtn ski for firm conditions, which was where the Monster 108 shined. Wren 108 was a good ski, but not enough edge grip and softer than I liked for firm snow. I will look into devastator and folsom hammer, but I liked the Monster for it’s (almost) full camber.

    I dont think they make skis like this anymore?

    • The Wren 108 TI has significantly better edge grip than the standard Wren 108 but it isn’t that much stiffer. Unless you have a trip to South America planned, it may be worth waiting for Blister to get a review out on it. You have plenty of time before next season starts.

      I got to ski it for half a day on Hood and liked it. Its shape is still soft snow biased and maybe not the best ski for skiing hardpack exclusively. I thought it was perfect for skiing mixed conditions. Think 3 inches over refrozen shit with windblown deeper pockets.

  9. Yeah Hammer and Devastator are going to feel a lot more newschool to you. Less shin driving, more centered skiing. If you’d drive them too hard in very firm snow, I think they’d probably wash out on you. You’d have to stay more centered over the sidecut to get grip in when it’s firm. Not enough grip if you think the Wren 108 didn’t give you enough..

    Maybe you should check out a custom Praxis Freeride or the Praxis Rx with -10 mm. They fit the profile, long effective edge because of pretty long camber, tip rocker, little tail rocker, minimal taper and a big radius. Maybe mount back 1 or 2 cm from the recommended -9.

    Not sure which layup the listed weight is for, but I’d guess the 194 Freeride with the heavy layup and #4 or #5 (out of 5) flex would be 2500 – 2600 g. They’ll be able to give you a guestimate if you shoot them an email.

    They even have a sale on customs too right now. I think it’s 40% off..

    Or the cambered Hammer that Jonathan recommended sounds pretty chargy too.

  10. I’m just going to keep my eye out for another 191 Monster 98 or 108 I guess. I can get another season out of my current pair, but I wanted to start gathering info. Thanks for all the info. I really thought that there would be some sort of replacement for those skis, maybe from Dynastar if not HEAD, but I guess not. Some of the reviews say the Atomic 107 ski is extremely fast, but then others say it’s middle of the road because it’s fairly light weight. What about the Nordica Enforcer Pro 110? The Monster 108 makes Wren 108/112 and Heavy Praxis Freerides feel like soft snow skis, and I feel like the Nordica Pro is like that too. I want a stiff plank for ripping firm crud as fast as possible, and long radius turn groomer zooming at race speeds. Basically a fat race ski.

    Where the hell is the Dynastar 105 Pro when I need it?

  11. Hi Blister Members – Moment is having a Memorial Day Sale – Over Monday !!!! All skis $575 in stock – Jake was really helpful and is available on line to address questions. I grabbed some skis and am really really happy – Moments do not go on sale very often so check it out. Be sure to chat with whomever is online as they may surprise you with certain models that are available but not showing :)

    Cant wait for winter – slush and corn for now

    Guy

  12. I love skiing pow in the trees on my 18/19 Bibby Pro 190s. Stiff enough to support me (I’m 6’5″, 225 lbs), but still incredibly maneuverable. They’re easy centered, on my heels or lightly driving the shovels — they’ve got a huge sweet spot.

    Velo – I’ve never tried Monster 108’s (I can’t find any) — but I’ve always lusted after a pair. I ski the 196 non-tapered Bodacious as my daily driver, and I love them on everything but ice — I find that I can carve the crap out of them on groomers or in chop — or slide/slarve turns with ease.

  13. Jonathan,
    Hi there, I have been a skier and patroller for many years and am looking for 2 things, maybe impossible but here they are. One: looking for a powder ski to ski out west (Utah) and was thinking the 19/20 wildcat in the 190cm. The problem is I am 6-5 320lbs and like to ski fast. Am I going to crush this ski? the other ski I had in mind was the Nordica pro?
    Question 2: Looking for something to fly down the hill with race type stiffness in a medium width ski. Would the Head monster 88 in longest length work or possible the Moment commander 98 188cm. I bought a pair of Blizzard Bahama’s this year and they get really unstable after about 50mph and I actually crashed a few times. Looking for something stable, wider than a slalom ski that I can ski 12″ or less, crud, and spring mash potatoes around home in Minnesota. I am open to any suggestions for skis.
    Thanks, and sorry for the lengthy posting.
    Brian

    • Hi, Brian – I don’t know if you’d crush a 190 Wildcat, but I would be inclined to steer you toward a heavier ski. Some that might be worth considering: 192 cm ON3P Woodsman 116; 196 cm Folsom Rapture – with something close to the ‘Blister Hammer’ construction; 196 cm Praxis Protest in a burly construction. The 191 cm Nordica Enforcer Pro might also be a good choice – and might be the best ski of the group if you are more concerned about slow-speed maneuverability than high-speed stability.

      As for your 2nd question: I’d say that the Monster 88 is probably pretty close to ideal. And the Commander 98 is less stable than a Brahma. The Monster 88 in its longest length will be far more stable than both. Or, if you happen to be able to find a Monster 98 in a 184 or 191, take it. Or the previous version of the Monster 88 in the same lengths, don’t hesitate.

      I wouldn’t call either of the Monsters great (or even good) in 12 inches of any type of snow … but when it hasn’t snowed in a while (or forever), or if there are only a couple inches of crud or mash potatoes on the ground … they ought to do the job better than most skis out there.

      Final thought: it’s neither a skinnier carver nor a fatter pow ski, but the new Volkl Mantra 102 in a 191 could be a good ski to keep on your radar if / when you need something around 100mm underfoot.

  14. Jonathan,

    Thanks for your input on the 190. Looking for some input on size. I am 5″10 220lb and would consider myself more on the playful side of the style spectrum. Due to my size, I am thinking the 190 would be the better fit even though the 184 is more on the playful side.

    For reference, my favorite ski has been The Metal (180) mounted with pivot 14s. I mainly ski A-Basin (Pallavicini / Steep Gullies), Breck (E/6 Chair), and Vail (Blue Sky / Back Bowls).

    Thanks for the input!

    • My strong instinct is to say 190. But then again, I would have *strongly* advised going with a 186 cm Metal, rather than the 180. And if you are getting along well with the 180 Metal … you might get along well with the 184 Blister Pro. Then again, the 180 Metal is a heavier ski than a 184 Blister Pro, and there is more reason to worry that you might find the 184 to be a bit too light / not as stable as you like. So … not the easiest call in the world. For Pally bumps, I bet you might prefer the 184 to the 190s. But outside of big bumps with deep troughs, I’d vote for the stability bump of the 190s.

      • Thanks, that lines up with what I was thinking.

        Not to through a wrench in this, but how would you compare the 190 Deathwish to the 190 Wildcat? My initial thoughts would be that the Deathwise would feel “looser” whereas the Wildcat would be more “locked-in?”

        • To add a bit more on my intended usage, these are going to be mounted up with the Shift and is primarily going to be used in the resort 70% of the time.

          Thanks

  15. I bought the blister pro last year and geneqrly thought it was a great ski BUT I did have an issue with ripping out both a toe piece and a heel piece. After initially ripping out the toe piece (while heli skiing) I had them remounted 2cm back by a completely different shop. Skiing in Austria in March I had the misfortune of ripping a heel piece out at high speed on a face with some consequences. Given neither incident happened on firm snow I can only conclude that the core wood is simply too soft. Despite Moment being completely awesome about it and sending me a new pair of skis I just cannot trust the ski anymore.

    Has anyone else had similar issues?

  16. Love the reviews . Would the wildcat 128 190cm be a option for a 6,2 230 skier ? Besides my touring skis and carving skis I currently use the Sgn 1184 and 2013 katana . Both in 191cm. Those are past their lifespan so have to do something for this season. Other options (so far ) is the volkl revolt 121 , black ops 118 and sgn tunnelvisjon 193cm . Ski in all conditions and mostly offpiste.
    Thanks

  17. Hi Jonathon,

    Another long winded length question for you. Brief history of my ski carrier as it probably pertains. Life long die hard skier grew up skiing bumps in the Midwest. Moved to CO (A-Basin) and Salt Lake City (Snowbird-Alta) to ski (avoided bumps out west) for 15 years, was out there when fat powder skis were born, but moved back to Minnesota in 2002 right before rocker came about. I’ve continued to ski moguls for something to do in MN (mainly stay in shape) but not really my cup of tea anymore. Long story short I’m at a place where I will be able to start spending a lot of time traveling to the old stomping grounds every winter…talking multiple trips every month and just really looking for advise on length. 48 years old 5’10 160 pounds. Classify my skiing as an expert, charging and playful. My heart is saying the 190, but the largest width I ever skied was the original K2 AK launcher 190 at somewhere around 80mm. Concerned the 190 may be to much ski not being a every day skier anymore. Everything I read steers me toward the 184, but will that feel to short for me having never skied a rocker ski? I like to haul ass when possible. Very excited to be getting back into skiing in a big way and very excited to try this ski after reading all your reviews.

    Just discovered Blister recently and all I say is you guys kick ass! Could of used a site like this back in the day!!

  18. Can anyone confirm what year Moment changed the Blister pro’s construction to make it lighter? You announce the changes in this 2019-2020 review but I’ve heard that it happened in 2018 and that the 2017-2018 model year started with the heavier ones and then they changed it sometime in 2018 so some of the same top sheets are different skis. I called Moment and they couldn’t remember when the change happened so I don’t know if a pair of 2017-2018 that I’m considering buying are OG or “Wildcat”.

  19. Hey guys – I’m 6 ft 1 inch and about 185 (no gear). I had a pair of kastle fx95s (non-HP) in 189 length. Great suspension and great on groomers but was too much ski for me and couldn’t handle them well in tighter spots like trees particularly with deeper snow. Also pretty rough to handle in powder in bowls – just too fatiguing.

    I now have kastle fx96 in 180 and Dps 100rp (alchemist) in 184. I love the shorter length of these skis compared to the 189 kastle and the lower weight and in general have found around 180 to be a good length in most skis (love the new enforcer 94 in 179) – really value maneuverability and lighter weight.

    Question is whether I’m making a mistake going with the 184 in this ski. Would use as a deep powder ski/all mountain ski when there’s snow to be found – like Jackson or vail where you can still find 1-2 feet in trees or getting dumped on. I would think 184 is the right size but frankly haven’t been on a ski this wide. I feel like the 190 will be a little too long. Any thoughts on sizing?

    • Hey Matt

      Im 6’0 220 and bought the 184 originally and realized that it wasn’t quite enough ski for me. Not considering myself an “expert skier” I think the 190 cm version of the Wildcat is a very easy ski to ski and it definitely skis shorter. I got 7 days on the 190 before the shutdown and have never had so much fun on a ski. I had so much fun that I bought this years 108 and then Fasa talked me into the Chipotle Banana in the 193.

      I don’t think you’d have a bad time on either the 184 or the 190 from last year… But with this years construction putting a bit more dampness/weight in the build. The 184 could fit be the ticket.

      I’m thinking if you can find the lighter build go 190 but if you’re going OG or this years snag a 184.

  20. I love the discussion about the playfulness. I’ve been skiing the 11/12 version for the last 8 years. And thats just it, the playful shape together with a really stiff construction makes the ski just amazing. The only issue is the lack of surfiness in pow. I’ve been looking at gopro-footage from skiing in moderately deep pow and my shovels are not floating at all. Its never been a problem with them diving but they do not float. Im neither a aggressive skier or that heavy but still its easy to push the shovels down under the surface. Im skiing the 190 and I weigh in at about 80kg and 188cm tall.

  21. Hey Jonathan, is there a ski that’s exactly like the old 184 Bibby, just with more float? I’m 6’0”, 190lb, and I mostly love the old Bibby, how versatile and stable it is, but it doesn’t float well enough for me. Last year we got 4’ of light snow in Tahoe (literally, small children disappeared into snow holes) on the day that lifts shut down and I had the 184 Bibby, and it actually was kind of a crap day because only the lower angle terrain opened up and I just got stuck repeatedly, the tips would dive and bury themselves under 100lb of snow, regardless of how much I tried to lean back or gather speed. I’d noticed similar behavior before in deep light tree snow where I actually preferred the float of my 186 J Skis Metal (which are narrower underfoot). On any snow that’s more substantial/less light, though, even if super deep, I love the 184 Bibby, they float great and offer stability and maneuverability better than anything else I have.

    So basically I want the old 184 Bibby, but with much, much more float in light, deep snow, and no tip dive. No more or less stability, I never needed more speed (if anything I’d want less top end speed, especially on firm snow where I end up skidding my way down because I don’t want to reach either the speed or edge angles I’d need to carve the 184 Bibby) but I wouldn’t want to lose any of the ability to mob through deep snow and just have the ski absorb the chop for me.

    I also don’t want anything playful in the sense of being more jibby than the 184 Bibby, I made the mistake of trying the original J Skis Friend in 180 (too short) and I hated how I’d try to plow through a small, soft bump and instead they’d launch me into the stratosphere.

    Thank you! Love the site as always.

    • Just realized I should clarify that I like to be able to drive my shovels, especially in deep snow. The 184 Bibby is great for that in substantial/not-light snow but I can’t get on the shovels at all in lighter deep snow without burying my tips and face-planting, which sucks because skiing them backseat does not feel good at all.

  22. Hey Blister + Blister Community,

    First off, Blister you are the bomb. I procrastinate my job by reading reviews for skis I’ll never buy. Helps me through the day!

    I’m looking for a ski recommendation.

    I (male, 5’8, 170 lbs, skiing Wasatch) ride the 184 cm 18-19 Bibby as a dedicated pow ski and absolutely love it. Combination of agility and playfulness with stability at speed is impeccable.

    My everyday ski has been Kestle FX 94 from a couple years back and I like it less and less every time I ski it. On days when I’m not on the Bibby I’m skiing trees and bumps, and the stiff straight trail on the FX 94 is the killing me. It’s great on hard snow and I can drive the shovels hard, but that’s generally not how I want to be spending my ski days.

    I’m looking for a replacement everyday ski that will mimic the Bibby/Wildcat’s playfulness and stability. I’m not the hardest charger blasting through crud all day but I do want something I can open up and ride on mixed snow when the feeling strikes. I also want to be able to jib around the mountain. I’m not throwing any crazy tricks, but I’m looking for something with pop that feels natural in the air.

    Should I be looking at the old PB&J / new Wildcat 101? Should I be looking somewhere else? No full review on either skis makes me hesitant, the rocker profile on both of those seems aggressive. Also hesitant b/c I can’t demo before buying the 101s.

    Also, do we think a review is coming soon on those bad boys?

    Any recommendations would be great!

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