Powder and Soft Chop
I have little to add to what Jason has already said about the Peacemaker in powder, so I’ll just refer you to his review too read about that.
I do want to underscore that a wider ski like the Rocker2 108 will provide an easier, more floaty ride in soft, fresh conditions, but that the Peacemaker still does quite well in up to a foot of fresh snow. I recently spent a day on the ski at Taos, skiing 6-8” of untracked pow and soft, lightly chopped conditions on Reforma and Winston, and was very happy with how the Peacemaker handled. Though the ski’s shovels were often submerged, I was surprised to find that I never felt like I needed to lean back much at all to keep the tips from diving or tracking cleanly. In 12” of snow of less, (unless we’re talking about really heavy, wet, mank, where a wider, heavier ski would be preferable), you can have a lot of fun on either the PB&J or Peacemaker.
When the snow got more chopped up and consolidated into firmer, denser piles, I had to think more about picking my route down each run, paying more attention to what I could blast through and what I needed to ski around or over. I was still skiing pretty fast, I just couldn’t bomb down the run, steamrolling over bumps and piles in the same way that you can on a more directional ski.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve skied the PB&J in similar, choppy conditions, but I remember it being very similar to the Peacemaker. You’ve still got to put some thought into picking your line through terrain and ski a little more dynamically than you would on a more supportive, directional ski, but the PB&J and Peacemaker are more amenable to aggressive, fall-line skiing than other lighter and softer skis in the class.
Freestyle Performance
To me, the biggest difference between the Peacemaker and the PB&J has to do with the flex profile of each ski as it affects their freestyle and jib performance (I’ve already said a little about this above).
If you like a playful, tip and tail rockered ski simply because of the more smeary, looser feel it provides, then I can’t say the PB&J is clearly better than the Peacemaker, or vice versa. Both skis have nearly identical rocker profiles, they seem equally willing to pivot and smear, and when each has a good tune, their edge hold feels virtually the same to me.
But I personally like tip and tail rockered skis like these because of the more freestyle-friendly approach to the mountain that they allow; they’re easier to pivot and smear, and that makes them easier and more fun to butter, press, spin, and ski switch.
Like the PB&J, I find that the Peacemaker is plenty playful enough to spin, slash, and smear easily. It’s also stiff enough to ski relatively hard in chunky snow, but it’s also soft enough in the tips and tails that I can bend and press the ski and get a nice amount snap and rebound out of it.
While the PB&J feels equally as playful (smeary, slashy, etc) and provides effectively the same level of stability, I don’t find that I, at about 160 lbs, am able to load up and pop the tails of the ski while ollie-ing over a knoll, or bend the shovels during a nose butter much at all. The extremities of the PB&J feel pretty rigid and dead to me, so its playful camber / rocker profile isn’t as interesting, or as useful as the Peacemaker’s.
However, someone heavier than me may like the PB&J for the same reasons and in the same ways that I like the Peacemaker, and won’t find its tips and tails too stiff. I can’t say for sure, but it wouldn’t surprise me if that were the case.
Mount Location
With respect to mount location on the Peacemaker, Jason said:
“If I were mounting these skis up for myself as an all-mountain tool, I’d probably aim for 2.5cm in front of the recommended line (-3.5 from center). Here, I still found the skis provided enough float in 10-12” of new snow, I felt comfortable motoring through crud, and the skis were still playful—they felt good in the air, and I could nose and tail press with approximately the same amount of effort in either direction.
For anyone who is more freestyle-oriented and thinking they’d like to go further forward toward center, all I can say is that at +2.5 I definitely didn’t feel like I had reached the limit (besides that of the binding adjustment), so take that for what it’s worth.
I wouldn’t recommend that anyone mount much behind +2 from recommended. (If you are looking for a directional ski to charge on and want to mount the Peacemaker a mile behind center, you are looking at the wrong ski…”
Ok, some thoughts on this:
Let it be known that Jason Hutchins is the most balanced skier I (and many of us at Blister) know, and he’s not usually a fan of skis with more traditional mount points. (He once spent a whole season skiing Taos only on a pair of K2 Hellbents, with no poles. That isn’t going to be fun if you’re accustomed to and prefer to just drive skis with a forward, traditional stance.)
I’ve been skiing the Peacemaker at 2.5 cm in front of the recommended line, too, and I generally agree with what Jason says about it’s performance at that mount point. At +2.5cms, the Peacemaker feels very balanced in the air, nose butters and tail presses feel snappy and easy, and the ski still feels pretty good in bumped up, cruddy conditions. So if you are looking to throw a lot of tricks on the Peacemaker, then I think +2.5cms from the factory line works well. The ski still feels nice in cruddy, variable conditions, but it’s also very easy to set a spin or butter on when mounted at that point.
However, at +2.5, if I wasn’t skiing with a nice, balanced stance, I found that the shovels of the skis could start to feel overly twitchy and skittish in variable snow, and it was pretty easy to get too far over them and wash out the Peacemaker’s tails.
SO, if you’re not really, truly planning on throwing a LOT of spins & butters, or skiing switch often on the Peacemaker, but you still like a ski with a looser feel – mounting at +1.5cm from the recommended line makes more sense. That will let you take advantage of its playful design more easily (than when mounting on the factory line) without losing too much inherent stability. At that point, the Peacemaker isn’t optimized for spinning and tricking, but it’s still very playful while being a little more supportive when you get forward on the ski, pressuring the shovels in variable snow.
And to be clear, this isn’t to say that the Peacemaker skis badly on the factory line. If you’re notably a heavier, taller skier than I am (in which case the ski would feel quicker & more nimble to you than me in the first place) or you just want to get as much stability out of this otherwise playful / maneuverable ski as you can, there’s nothing wrong with mounting on the factory line.
Bottom Line
I can thread the Blizzard Peacemaker through bumps, throw spins and tricks on it, cruise around in powder and chop, and still ski relatively hard in chunky, variable conditions. Heavier skiers than myself, or those of a similar weight who like a ski with stiffer tips and tails, may prefer Moment PB&J. But of all the skis I’ve been on, the Peacemaker offers me the best balance of dampness, stability, and genuine playfulness in this all-mountain, freestyle-oriented class.
Next Page: Rocker Profile Pics
Excellent review as always, I ride the 188 PB&J’s as my everyday ski here in Tahoe, and I can assure you that those stiffer nose and tail come in quite handy in the sierra cement after a storm, when it turns to chop. Thanks again for the great reviews.
I’m roughly the same size as the reviewer and I agree with him 100% about the stiffness of the 188 PB&J tips and tails. I am a reasonalby strong skiier but at my size and weight these things feel closer to a big mountain ski than a playful jib ski. Having moved back to NH I only really take them out in the spring or for above tree line bc stuff. They are a fun ski but there are much better choices for icy bumps, groomers, and for tight trees with not much snow. Just my two cents. In this length and at my size this is not the one ski quiver I found it to be in the west. I never skiied the peace makers but i’d have to guess the same could be said for them.
Great review Will. I have a couple questions.
I’ve been skiing a Line Prophet 115 for the last 4 years and have been wanting something narrower underfoot with a rocker at the tips and tails. I’m looking to get a little quicker and more nimble in the trees & bumps. After demoing the Moment PB&J’s for a few days last year I’ve been hellbent on getting myself a pair. I’ve recently found last year’s Peacemakers for significantly less than the 2015 PB&J’s so I am now considering this ski. I ski most of my time at Vail in the back bowls and Blue Sky Basin.
My concern is that I’m much bigger than you, 6′ about 215 Lbs. In this review you only really mention the difference in the skis being the stiffness of the tips/tails when it comes to presses, jibbing, etc… I ski aggressively, forward and fast 85% of the time. This leads me to believe I wouldn’t need to be too concerned with your comments regarding the tips/tails, playfulness. Would you say that’s accurate?
In addition, I’ve always mounted skis on the factory line. Given our size differences and the fact that I’ll be skiing these mostly forward would you still recommend +1.5 of the factory line?
Hey Don,
Really sorry I’ve missed your questions until now. You may have made a decision by now, but one question I would ask was if you noticed that the tips/tails of the PB&J’s felt stout, or not particularly stiff when you skied them. I think you’d probably be happy on the Peacemaker, given that it is quite similar to the PB&J, but I’d be curious to know if the stiffness of the PB&J’s tails was part of the reason you liked them so much. As you are heavier than me, I just wonder if you’d find the Peacemaker less stable than I do (or not stable enough). Hope I can still help!
Will
Hi Will,
I ended up with the PB&J’s as I couldn’t find the opportunity to demo the Peacemakers. I do find the tips/tails of the PB&J to be significantly more stout than other tip/tail rockered skis I’ve tried in the 95-105mm waist width. I find the PB&J’s to be very stable at any speed and very capable in most terrain and that’s exactly what I was looking for. For me, I’d say the PB&J’s are the closest thing to a true Colorado daily driver that I’ve been able to find.
Don
Hi Will,
I am going to be buying a pair of Peacemakers in the next couple of days (waiting to pick them up)
I currently ski Salomon Twenty Twelve with the bindings mounted centre as per Mike Douglas Advice for all mountain and park. I have no problem skiing them mounted centre.
I just wondered if you have skied the Peacemaker any more since your review and if you have tried the mounting point any further forward than your review?
I would like to know if you have experienced any loss of performance in powder or anywhere else by mounting them further forward and what is the maximum you would go with?
Many Thanks
Adam
Hey Adam,
I haven’t skied the Peacemaker any further forward than +2.5, unfortunately. Personally, because I ski in a lot of variable conditions in pretty steep terrain, I don’t think I’d want to go any further forward than that; I like having a little more ski in front of me than behind me when I’m skiing hard. If you were to more further forward than +2.5, I would expect the ski’s stability in choppy snow and powder would suffer some, but it would feel even quicker as a freestyle / jibby ski as a tradeoff. It’s really a matter of preference, but personally I wouldn’t go farther forward than +2.5 with this ski – I like having the mount a bit behind center to maintain some stability for when I’m not throwing tricks.
Hope this helps you!
Will
Hey Will, I have a question in regards to size choice. I’m am trying to decide between the 179 and 186. I’m 5’10” 165# and ski aggressively, mostly at Kicking Horse in BC (lots of chutes, 10-20 foot drops, etc.) I’m currently skiing Surface Drifters (aka live life’s aka daily’s) at 181 and I love them, however the are becoming my AT set-up and need some new sticks for daily driving. I would go for the 186’s, however am concerned about the swing weight. Do they feel cumbersome spinning or are they decent? I have big skis for powder days, so looking for something more playful (similar to the Surface’s but not as fat).
Thanks,
Bryce
Great review. I weigh 150 and own these in the 186. Skied them in a lot of heavy, wet, snow conditions in Tahoe this year. They performed admirably with minimal deflection and were fun even in slush. At my weight, I could also hold a really solid edge in firm snow with these and was able to ski spring morning steeps with good confidence. Took ’em to CO and skied pow also. As others have pointed out, a foot or so of pow is a sweet spot with these. Also very forgiving at speed. You can plow through that firm/soft snow boundary that you get a lot in Tahoe without cartwheeling. I compared them mainly with the Soul 7 at 188, which was a lot easier to turn and had better float, but also deflected more. I guess I would say that the Soul 7 was better in ideal conditions while the Peacemaker was better in average Tahoe conditions.
In need of help!
Will I am looking to get my 13 year old son some new skis. His park skis from this year will work next year but he needs a new all-mountain ski. He loves to play and throw tricks and he is an expert skier with 40+ days on the mountain each year. I am thinking by this winter he will be 5’6″ and 140 pounds. So I am trying to figure out if I should get him the 179 Peacemakers or the 178 Bacons. Keystone is his home mountain but he gets plenty of days at the rest of Summit County and Vail. Open to other suggestions as well.
Hey Jake,
My sincere apologies for not getting back to you sooner. We’ve tried very hard for the past four years to reply to all questions on the site, but it’s become impossible to get replies back to everyone in a timely manner. (We are now guaranteeing quick replies to Blister members, however.)
With that said, if you’re still looking for some input, between the Peacemakers and the 15/16 Bacon, I think the Peacemaker might serve as a more versatile all-mountain ski. The Bacon will be easier to flick around in the air, but seeing as your son already has a dedicated park ski, he might appreciate the Peacemaker’s increased stability in chunky, off-piste conditions. (Whereas if he were looking for one, do-it-all wider ski to take in the park and everywhere else, then the Bacon would make more sense.) The Peacemaker is heavier than the Bacon in the air, but is definitely still a ski you can spin and trick on.
I hope this helps,
Will B
I am looking to add a fourth ski to my closet and thinking of the Peacemaker. I currently have the 189 Scott Punisher a ski I love but it is sometimes a bit much in the bumps. I have a pair of 186 Moment Tahoe that I am not sure how much I love them at this point even after several days on them. I also have a pair of Megawatts that I enjoy on deep days. I am looking for ski that will be easier to ski in tight places and the bumps and thinking the Blizzard Peacemaker might fit the bill. At 6’4″ and 230 pounds and a excellent skier will I over whelm the Peacemaker? Need help with finding a ski for 1 to 6 inches of powder and chop without getting bucked around and one I can ski the bumps. Something in the 102 to 106 range with shovels that are not to big.
Thanks!!!!
Will, I’m also a bigger fella at 6’5″ and 235, so like the poster above I’m wondering if the Peacemaker might not be up to a heavier skier in NH junk. I’m an advanced intermediate but like to bang around when the going gets rough. Your thoughts?
Hey Dana,
As you’ve got about 70 lbs and a couple inches on me, it’s pretty touch for me to know if you’d find the Peacemaker insubstantial. It does have a heavily tip / tail rockered profile that compromises stability in crap snow in gaining some playfulness, and the ski’s tip and tail are not especially stiff. So if you are definitely interested in a more playful, tip and tail rockered ski, but want to get the most stability out of it as possible, then I would say that the Moment PB&J is the best option I know of.
I hope this helps some,
Will B
Thanx Will for your feedback… you guys are the best. I’m looking more for in the 106-110. Would the Bibby be too much for a 6’5″ 235 lb advanced intermediate skiing all mountain Wildcat NH?
Hahaha I don’t know if the guys from blister have ever skiied wildcat…but I have and I can tell you that most skis even 110 underfoot wouldn’t be alot of fun to ski there 99% of the time. A lot of the best tree lines there are very tight and technical. A lot of the better skiiers there are still on skinny short tele skis for this reason. I’m smaller than you and usually ride something longer than 185 but find this to be to much for a good wildcat ski. While people talk about wildcat like it’s the Alta of the mount washington valley I dont think Alta is as icey.
Yes, Wildcat can be icey (been skiing there for over 55 years), but am not looking for a one-ski quiver. I don’t do many treelines anymore, and when it’s icey I’ll go with the Brahma or the Dynastar PT 89. But when the storms come in over the cornice at Tuckermans and drop 12-24 inches on Wildcat in a morning, it’d be kewl to have a mid-fat to tool down Lynx or Catapult in the afternoon.
Dana
I have the ski for you. The ski I am thinking of for you is the Scott Punisher in 189 CM. I have this ski and love it!
I live in Colorado and I am 6’4″ and 250 advanced skier who skis 50 days a year. The Punisher is my go to ski for A Basin, Breckenridge, and Vail. I have Moment Tahoe for hard pack and bump days and the bought some Megawatts for super deep days. I have purchased a pair of Peacemakers as my fourth ski in my quiver but have not mounted it and got it on the hill yet. I purchased the Peacemaker for Keystone and just because buying skis is fun.
The Scott Punisher has been a great ski for me in all conditions and does really well in Powder as well. It is easy to ski while not being to wimpy for bigger guys like us.
Idaho Water Sports has a one pair of 189 CM left for a great price. You need to call the Burley store and have them dig them up. I found this deal looking for a buddy of mine. I would jump on the price they have.
Burley Location
Idaho Water Sports
2165 Overland Ave
Burley, Idaho 83318
Telephone: 208.678.5869
Jake, are you referring to the 95 or the 110 Punisher?
The 110 Punisher. They have several reviews on Blister.
Jake, have you had an opportunity to ski the Moment PB&J?. Only a couple cms between them with similar rockers. Curious how the Scott Punisher compares to the PB&J for an advanced big (6’5″ 235 lbs) guy doing groomers in the morning with family, then getting a little crazy in the afternoon.
Dana
I have loved just about everything about the 110 Scott punisher. The only drawback is the shovels are big and if you really like to pound the bumps there are better skis just from a size perspective. They do great in the trees, powder, and crud and unless you are really skiing fast and I mean really fast on really hard snow they are great on groomers which could be said of all twin tip skis. You always give up something with any ski so it just depends what you want to give up. This ski is easy to ski for me but I don’t over whelm them and I ski hard and I am 6′ 4″ 250 pounds. Good luck
Will
Mount location for this ski.
I am 6’4″ and 250 pounds. I am a advanced skier with a traditional/forward skier stance and the Peacemaker will be my ski for trees and powder bumps. I have some Scott Punisher, Moment Tahoe, and some Megawatts as well.
So should I go with +1.5 CM of recommended line or the recommended line.
Thank you,
Jake in Colorado
Hey Jake,
The fact that you ski with a more traditional / forward means I’d dissuade you from going any further forward than +1.5 from the factory line, for sure.
But I’m also thinking about the fact that you’re heavier and taller than I am by about 80 lbs and 2″. Just by virtue of having a bigger build / higher center of gravity, it seems fair to say you’ll drive the ski harder than I do through any given turn. As such, you’re going to find the ski even quicker and more nimble at +1.5 than I do, so I’m actually inclined to suggest you go with the factory line. The ski is still going to be quicker in bumps than your Tahoe (the Peacemaker is no slug mounted at the factory line, to be clear), and if you simply like the sound of the ski’s playful-yet-more-damp feel in general, then I wouldn’t think you’d find much to complain about w/ it mounted on the line.
I hope I’m helping here and not confusing things – I’m just a little hesitant to give to “go ahead” on the +1.5 mount point considering our height / weight differences, and the fact that you probably ski with a more traditional stance, more often than I do.
Best,
Will
I have skied the Peacemaker for several days from groomers, bumps, crud, and powder. I have the ski mounted on the recommended line. I am 6’4″ and 250 pounds and an advanced skier. I took the ski to Breckenridge and skied the entire top of the mountain from imperial chair all the way over to hiking to the top of Peak 6 for those of you who don’t know this is steep above the tree line skiing. The ski performed OK in a bunch of different snow conditions and on Peak 6 I was able to get it in some old untracked snow. Granted I am big, The ski did OK without to much tip dive but I did have to really stay centered in the snow. I would have really preferred to have been skiing on my 189 Scott Punishers on all of the runs I took from Imperial to Peak 6. I then skied off the E Chair On Tom’s Baby, Tom’s Mom, Nuggets, and Devils Crouch. E Chair offers some steep narrow bump runs that are alleys through the trees. The skied performed OK but I found myself fighting often not to be thrown into the back seat. I have had a lot of trouble with this ski throwing me into the back seat in the bumps and when navigating steep off piste terrain. I would have preferred my narrower Moment Tahoe’s in the bumps and even my much larger Scott Punishers. I don’t find the ski to be any quicker than my Scott Punishers either. The Peacemaker definitely has a speed limit on and off Piste. Because the Peacemaker always wants to throw me into the back seat I will admit I have a hard time really pushing the ski with confidence. I really wanted to like Peacemaker so this past weekend I skied my Scott Punishers at Keystone with 9 inches of fresh snow and hit the bumps and the trees hard and had a great time. The next day with 6 more inches of fresh snow I skied the Peacemaker on the same runs and did not find the ski any quicker and was always getting thrown into the back seat in the bumps. Right now I am at a loss of what to do with the Peacemaker should I move the mount position forward? or just give up on them . I have a buddy in Crested Butte who has the Peacemaker mounted on the recommended line who is 6’2″ and 180 pounds who likes the ski but also has had issues with getting thrown in the back seat.
Jake- I am 6′ 200lbs, Colorado skier, prob have ten days on the Peacemaker over last couple of months. Mounted 1cm forward of line. It took awhile but am starting to like the ski more, but have same issue of ski throwing me in the back seat and getting away from me, mostly in bumps or steep off piste conditions as well. Not sure what to do…
If Im trying the ski as a PB&J-substitute, because I really just wanted a more narrow Bibby, what do you think about the mounting point? I ski the Bibby on the recommended line today. From this article I would go for +1 to +1,5 in front of the recommended. Is that correct?
Anyone have some old peacemakers they are willing to part with?? I’ve milked every ounce of fun from my 13/14’s and never want to ski anything else..
I might, if you are still interested and wouldn’t mind some shipping from Sweden…