Blizzard's Bushwacker sits on the borderline between all mountain and freeride, among a hefty line-up of powder-focussed skis, and parallel to the brilliant Rustler series. Blizzard seem to be very intentionally blurring freeride and all mountain in this category; rest assured the Bushwacker is not a piste ski in disguise.
The Bushwacker has a full carbon sheet where others in the range only have carbon tip and tail (although much of the range has a tapered titanal sheet, where the Bushwacker doesn't) - this is good news for anyone who enjoys the poppy playfulness of carbon over the stiff power of Ti.
The result is a ski which is much more my cup of tea; freeridey, fun all mountain but highly capable on piste as well. Carbon allows for a more mellow and malleable flex pattern with plenty of bounce, whereas the similarly dimensioned Brahma (with titanal) is much stiffer and more aggressive.
Piste performance is the notable element here - with surprising agility, quick edge to edge response, and instant grip in short turns, which is really impressive for a ski of these dimensions. That 88mm underfoot is effective off piste too.
The Bushwacker is a little expensive in the context of the whole range given the lack of titanal - but on the other hand the fact it's a little toned down from the stiffer models should attract a different type of skier.
