- Joined
- Mar 5, 2017
- Posts
- 1,202
Philpug: Like many of Blossoms other offerings the Pure 99 (formally the Namaste)’s numbers and specs are really pretty average when you look at them on paper. Nothing with the Pure 99 really stands out as special and definitely not progressive…even the name “Pure 99” does not get your blood a pumpin'. But we have come to learn with Blossom skis that we cannot judge their skis just on looks, numbers, and specs alone. It’s how Blossoms perform in the real world that we judge them.
This is the first time that we had a chance to ski Blossoms other than their frontside biased skis. The tactile feel of the Namaste has Blossoms typical balanced flex with a shape that is very traditional, bordering on dated in this category. The tip is rounded like the popular White Out and the tail seems right from the same mold…in fact, other than an ever so slight early rise and a tip shape that is also a bit more gradual than the other skis, the Namaste could easily be included in the Turbo series...if say there was a 90 mm do bridge the gap. Hint Blossom, hint.
On snow feel is what sets Blossoms apart from the other skis. Like the other Blossoms in our test fleet, the Namaste just flowed down the hill as if they are attached to the snow. I always come back to two words when I am skiing a Blossom: liquid mercury, and the Namaste no different. For some reason, Blossom does not publish the turn radius on the Namaste, or at least that I could find. All I could find from Google was “20m@178cm” which, after skiing the Namaste, feels about right.
These should be on your radar as a OSQ for any western skier.
This is the first time that we had a chance to ski Blossoms other than their frontside biased skis. The tactile feel of the Namaste has Blossoms typical balanced flex with a shape that is very traditional, bordering on dated in this category. The tip is rounded like the popular White Out and the tail seems right from the same mold…in fact, other than an ever so slight early rise and a tip shape that is also a bit more gradual than the other skis, the Namaste could easily be included in the Turbo series...if say there was a 90 mm do bridge the gap. Hint Blossom, hint.
On snow feel is what sets Blossoms apart from the other skis. Like the other Blossoms in our test fleet, the Namaste just flowed down the hill as if they are attached to the snow. I always come back to two words when I am skiing a Blossom: liquid mercury, and the Namaste no different. For some reason, Blossom does not publish the turn radius on the Namaste, or at least that I could find. All I could find from Google was “20m@178cm” which, after skiing the Namaste, feels about right.
Long term update: These are like an old friend in snow. If you have skied any of the narrower Blossoms and you like that feel, you will love these. There is no special gimics with the Namaste, just a simple shape and design proving again and again that there is rarely a substitute for quality.
I took these out at Squaw after a 3" dump and they did just as I would have expected and they passed the Steadfast Rule test, there was no ski I thought that I would have rather been on today. They did well on the groomers, in the bumps and were confidence inspiring when the visability was nill at at the top of Siberia.
Insider Tip:The Namaste skis it's full length and then some, the 178 could easily be a 180-181…but at the skier that normally skis a 178 cm will not be overwhelmed. With the Namaste’s 10 cm size increments means that you might fall between sizes, so err on the shorter of the two sizes.
BS Slarver: The Pure 99 (Namaste) is exceptionally built, with a classic smooth damp ride. The 178 length punches above its length and certainly above its price point. @Dougb, I have the SR as well as demoed the MX 98 and would trade either in a minute for the Namaste. From easy morning groomers they ripped effortless GS and smaller turn shapes on command. Firm bumps are not a problem and much less effort than the premium brands we are comparing them to. Loved how stable they moved through wind scorn and some left over avi debris and into chunky steeps off powder seeker. Got to open them up and they ate up the lower chaulky pitch offing free shit eating grins.These should be on your radar as a OSQ for any western skier.
- Awards
- Who is it for?
- Skiers who miss the original (pre 2014) Enforcer, welcome home. A great one ski quiver for Mammoth.
- Who is it not for?
- Those expecting a powder ski. Even at 99 mm underfoot, powder is not this skis forte.
- Skier ability
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- Advanced
- Expert
- Ski category
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- All Mountain
- Ski attributes
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- Groomers
- Moguls
- Off Piste
- Trees
- Segment
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- Men
- Women
Specifications
- Available sizes
- 168, 178, 188
- Dimensions
- 135-99-122
- Radius
- 20m@178cm
- Rocker profile
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- Camber with tip rocker
- Construction design
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- New graphics
- Binding options
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- Flat