Blizzard ZeroG 105 2019/2020. The relaxed 23 meter radius is obvious to the experienced eye.

When winter hit, I began skiing the slick new version of the Zero G 105, intending a quick review. But I could not get what I wanted out of these planks. After a few struggles in backcountry soft-snow conditions — trouble initiating turns — I realized it wasn’t the ski. It was me. Then I procrastinated, reaching for an authentic review of a ski that’s a fine ride for most of you, but is probably too much for yours truly.

This is where I depart from my old style of WildSnow.com blogging. Now with Manasseh and our incredible cadre of guest bloggers carrying the torch, I’ll be speaking more personally about the physical limitations — and triumphs — of skiers pushing past middle-age.

Let’s put it this way: A lot of guys and gals in their sixth decade or beyond enjoy ski touring. Especially in Europe. At the same time, most blogging, gear reviewing and the like, not to mention advertising, is geared to skiing the steeps, dealing with radical avalanche terrain — youth-oriented stuff. I was there once, and still am at heart. But you’ll see a shift in my content. Where it’s appropriate and makes sense (e.g., skis, boots), I’ll now review gear from the view of a guy in his sixties, who’s a little beat up but still going uphill, and skiing down.

With that out of the way: my “mature” take on the Blizzard Zero G 105, in 180 centimeters.