Blizzard Titan Argos with Slider system.

[yooper]

These just arrived the other day and I thought I would follow up my [ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98431"]old thread[/ame] from a couple years ago. I posted that one when I got my first pair of Argos. I loved those skis, and decided to get another pair.

These are potentially quite improved. These are wider, and have zero camber. The IQ system has been changed as well. It has a wider footprint, which does a couple of things... first, it theoretically has better power transfer on wide skis. Same principle as the (supposedly) wider mounting pattern on Dukes.

The second advantage is that the channel is now wide enough to slide a blank plate into... Blizzard calls it the "Slider."



The slider plate mates perfectly with grooves that are built into the construction of the ski. It fits TIGHT too... ZERO slop.



The plate then attaches to the ski with a single screw between the toe and heel piece. The Slider also has multiple holes, so the entire binding assembly can be moved forward or backward on the ski for different performance.



The screw is a machine thread screw that goes into an insert built into the ski. This allows basically unlimited numbers of "remounts."



Here is a view of the part that slides into the grooves.






I see this type of system being great for quivers.... (although Blizzard-only quivers...) You could have a pair of Titan Atlas (94 waist, 20m radius), Titan Argos (105 waist, 29m radius) and a Titan Zeus (119 waist, 58m radius), with a single slider to switch between all of them.

You could also have a separate slider with an AT binding on it for your touring setup, and if you are a dirty hippy, you could even have a tele setup. It's pretty damn cool.

It's very fast to change too.... Check this out:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWST6jIE52E"]YouTube- P1060299[/ame]

[klauss]

I wanted to justify the current model with the improved slider system and the extra width, but price got me and I just picked up a pair of 2009 argos 187 w dukes. I assume nothing went wrong with the old system? I have broke a couple volkl goats in the last 3 years (both the white top sheet style) so am a bit paranoid that the integrated binding could be my next issue.

[coreyb]

geez. that's just super cool. here's hoping that's the future of skis/bindings but something tells me other companies won't pick it up... especially the ones that also make bindings

[axelkeitz]

i was fondeling a pair of these the other day.

could be a one ski quiver Candidate. fairly stiff, and light even with the bulky binding system.

[hoarhey]

Cradled a pair of Answers at the Chicago ski show
They've bumped up the dimensions from 105 waist to 110 mm.

I was impressed how light the ski was compared to its Nihongo predecessor, the Akira.

[XavierD]

The Argos is a great ski, supper damp, with good float and crud crushing abilities.

I prefered the Answer however.

[yooper]

I wanted to justify the current model with the improved slider system and the extra width, but price got me and I just picked up a pair of 2009 argos 187 w dukes. I assume nothing went wrong with the old system? I have broke a couple volkl goats in the last 3 years (both the white top sheet style) so am a bit paranoid that the integrated binding could be my next issue.

No... I don't think there was anything wrong with the old system. Mine held up fine.

[Flexon Phil]

That is one way of doing it..I went the other way...

Added IQ to a flat ski.

[El Chupacabra]

That is one way of doing it..I went the other way...

Added IQ to a flat ski.

What's that plate called? I can't find it on Blizzard's site.

Also, is that the IQ Max or the original IQ system?

Very interested in this...

[Flexon Phil]

What's that plate called? I can't find it on Blizzard's site.

Also, is that the IQ Max or the original IQ system?

Very interested in this...

It is not on Blizzards site. It is a regular IQ, not the Max. Find yourself an older pair of Blizzard Firebirds and take the plates off of them.

[adrenalated]

Skied the 09/10 Answer the other day and liked them quite a bit.
Definitely interested in the IQ system... it would mean that I could use the ski for both tele and alpine.
Anyone heard of any problems with shearing the screw off? Having only one screw in the ski kinda scares me. Can't imagine there'd be a ton of force on it, but still....

[BigLineSeeker]

Skied the 09/10 Answer the other day and liked them quite a bit.
Definitely interested in the IQ system... it would mean that I could use the ski for both tele and alpine.
Anyone heard of any problems with shearing the screw off? Having only one screw in the ski kinda scares me. Can't imagine there'd be a ton of force on it, but still....

What was the rocker profile like? I am thinking of replacing my 08/09 187 Argos with the 09/10 190 Answer when they go on sale at the end of the season.

[Flexon Phil]

Skied the 09/10 Answer the other day and liked them quite a bit.
Definitely interested in the IQ system... it would mean that I could use the ski for both tele and alpine.
Anyone heard of any problems with shearing the screw off? Having only one screw in the ski kinda scares me. Can't imagine there'd be a ton of force on it, but still....

I have used this all last year taking the bindings on and off repeatedly, and that was without the threaded insert they have this year. There is basically no force on the screw, so shearing is not a concern.

[El Chupacabra]

It is not on Blizzards site. It is a regular IQ, not the Max. Find yourself an older pair of Blizzard Firebirds and take the plates off of them.

Thanks Phil - doesn't sound very likely I can get my hands on a pile of those plates then... oh well.

[adrenalated]

What was the rocker profile like? I am thinking of replacing my 08/09 187 Argos with the 09/10 190 Answer when they go on sale at the end of the season.

Minimal. The website claims that there is tail rocker, but from what I remember there was a just a small amount of tip rocker only (I think that's what the rep told me too). Camber through most of the ski (but not much). Similar tip rise to a Katana.
I felt like it skis pretty much just like a traditional ski, but likely has juuuust enough rocker to make weird conditions (crust, windbuff, etc) a bit more friendly (which were pretty much my thoughts on the Katana). I skied it on hardpack, so I can't say for sure what other conditions will be like.