Blizzard Titan Argos Skis w/ IQ 5.14 Bindings - 2009
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SKU:
Weight: 13 lbs 4 ozs
As I write this on the evening of 12-24-08 the Argos is (for my criteria), the most versatile ski in this width range that I've been on so far. More details...Price:
List Price: $1,175.00 You Save: $695.01 |
Color:
N/A
Size:
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Product Details
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| Dimensions | 132-101-118 |
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| Radius | 24.5m @ 173
26.5m @ 180 |
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| Waist Width | 101mm |
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| Included Bindings | Blizzard IQ 5.14 |
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| Din Range | 5-14 |
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My target for the Argos was for it to be the middle ski in my three ski quiver and thus it is to be my daily driver. I have recently liked a mid eighties to low nineties ski in my middle spot to go along with a Volkl Gotama as my widest ski. This year I decided to move the wide ski in my quiver from 105 up to 115 (Huge Trouble and S7). This was to be an experiment with a wider ski for everyday use and also a long term meet and greet with Blizzard which is a brand that I haven't worked with very much. Although my Mantra 184 or my Gotama 183 might serve this purpose for some, neither of those is quite what I am looking for. I chose the Argos in a 180 for my test vehicle and set up the 5:14 binding in the rear mounting hole for starters.
My first date with the Argos was Thursday and Friday last week (12-18-08, 12-19-08) at Sugar Bowl. The storm of a few days earlier had deposited 2-3 feet of new. Unfortunately for most of the mountain, the base had been dirt and rocks. However, anyplace there was snowmaking, coverage was pretty good and the obstacles could be dodged. I even found an ungroomed patch where there were about 20-30 chowder turns to be had without much risk of ski damage. Conditions were not perfect but were better than expected and skiing was grand.
My first six runs were exploratory to check out conditions, formulate my test criteria, and get my legs going for a first day out. The groomers were firm and fast with a mix of a snowmaking base, some natural over the top, and then more snowmaking over the top of that. The little crud patch was on a previously groomed trail of moderate pitch that had not yet been rolled after the storm.
Baseline: (Refresher runs on my two Volkls)
When engaged on a high edge, the Mantra pulls well from the tip and exhibits solid edge grip on the steeper pitches of manmade. This is of course one of its strong suits. On the other hand, The Mantra feels stiff in the tail and punchy rather than floaty in the fluffier crud. It also takes some muscle to bend it when the snow is light. The Mantra generally seems to want to run the show according to its own agenda. The Gotama has a very different feel than the Mantra. It is more damp (no annoying CLANK on rough snow) and much more compliant. The Goat is more the floater than the puncher and comes around with less effort. Areas where I want improvement over the Gotama are fairly minimal. Better grip would be nice if it wasn't overdone and I'd like the Goat to be a bit more nimble feeling. Areas where I want improvement over the Mantra are better dampening, easier turn release and generally more versatility and less of an 'agenda' from the ski.
Blind date with the Argos:
My first few runs on a new ski involve feeling out the skis capabilities in grip and stability and also its flexibility in turn shape. From the start, the Argos was easy-going, light feeling and nimble. As I switched from shorter turns into longer ones and back again, the Argos was more compliant than the Mantra and more nimble than the Goat. As speeds picked up, the stability became evident along with the grip on the firm patches. The Argos is grippier than the Gotama and very, very close in that regard to the Mantra. The Argos was very solid throughout the turn on the hard snow. At the end of the turn, a subtle loosening of the outside ankle was enough to release the ski into the transition. By this time (halfway through the day) I knew where I could ski in the little off trail patch. I took the Argos into the area of 12'-18' deep fairly light chowder and in this area, the Argos distinctly outperformed the Mantra by being as stable, but easier to initiate and finish turns. The Argos was also easier to break off the turn than the Mantra. These conditions (or deeper) are where the Gotama excels and I have to say the Argos was just as good as my old favorite in these broken snow conditions. I would classify the Argos as about an even split between 'punch' and 'float' and an even split between hard and soft snow bias.
Conclusions to date:
For me, the Argos is a better daily driver than either of my two Volkls. This ski is the 'tweener' between the Gotama on the soft snow side and the Mantra on the hard snow side. While it is possible to find something that the Mantra is better at and something that the Goat is better at, neither of those two skis provides the mix of capabilities and versatility of the Argos. As I write this on the evening of 12-24-08 the Argos is (for my criteria), the most versatile ski in this width range that I've been on so far.
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