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Blizzard Titan Cronus

post #1 of 42
12/30/07 at 5:27pm
Thread Starter 
So I've got a good 20 days or so on my Blizzards now. These are the first pair of Blizzards I've ever owned or for that matter even skied on. I ordered mine with the Marker Dukes. My intended job for them was to be my go to teaching ski for Mt Mansfield. They have dimensions of 120/88/111 (I think) which in the 180cm length works out to a 19M radius. I was hoping that these skis would be a good replacement for my dearly departed 177 Volkl Karmas and my 185 Pocket Rockets. I teach a high end seasonal kids program so I do lots of tree skiing and wanted something wide enough to be fun for that.

The ski is great. It does everything I want it to do. VT has been having an amazing season so far, so I have skied it in everything from firm hardpack and a bit of ice to knee deep powder. It skis well in bumps and is suprisingly nimble. I won't go so far as to say that it makes slalom turns (that is to say you won't see me wearing these skis and shin guards at the same time), but it is very nice in short turns. I did actually ski some GS on them today and went at the first couple of gates tentatively, but they held and held and on the later runs I pushed them harder. They really skied fine in the GS. I might actually try them when I coach the race camp next week and see how they hold up when going for time. The only thing that would make them better IMHO is if they were a twin. I do miss the turned up tail when I am in the woods.

I have to also say that I LOVE the Dukes. I'm a Marker guy to begin with, but the Dukes have been especially nice. They have only 2mm Delta and I have to say that it is addictive. I am planning to Jesterize some of my other skis to get the same delta. You think tip and you have tip it really feels strange to go back to a ski with 5 or 6mm delta.

For reference sake, I've skied Whiterooms 187 Argos as well. Nice ski too, but I think the Cronus was the right ski for me. The Argos is more of a battleship to the cigarette boat of the Cronus.
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post #2 of 42
1/1/08 at 10:16pm

blizzard cronos

Epic,

How much do you weight and how tall are you?

Thx,
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post #3 of 42
1/2/08 at 3:16am
Thread Starter 
6' 200 lbs
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post #4 of 42
3/3/08 at 8:19am
Epic, read your review with great interest. I am a Maine skier looking for the kind of upper mid fat that you describe. I want to get something fatter than my Elan M666 (74mm waist). But I need something that is realistic for the hardpacked/icy conditions we normally live with. The Fischer Watea 84 has been on the top of the short list, until I read your review which suggests that the stiffness of the Blizzard would make it a more solid front side/hardpacked ride than the softer Fischer. Have you ever skied the Watea. Finally, the Blizzards come with dedicated bindings. You put Dukes on yours. Think big difference? Thanks in advance?
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post #5 of 42
3/3/08 at 8:27am
Thread Starter 
I've never skied the Wateas. That said, I never hesitate to pull out the Cronus because it may be icy. They do chatter some on steep icy bits, but not enough to deter me from taking them out when it might get slick. I thikthe Dukes are just great the standard binding is fine too, I'm sure, but I thought it was ugly, and for whatever reason, it sits in the tracks loosely compared to the Dukes. I don't know if that changes once you click in. I've still never toured on the Dukes. but I love thier on-piste performance. Enough in fact that I had my Gotamas remounted with Dukes as well.
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post #6 of 42
3/3/08 at 9:56am
Much obliged. I may have to get a pair of these for old times' sake. I last skied on a pair of Blizzards, the red ones, about forty years ago when I was ten. I suspect they have gotten better, and so have I. Thanks again. David
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post #7 of 42
3/3/08 at 12:04pm
Epic,

Been following this thread and thinking about getting a pair of Cronus' for my soft-snow ski. Skiing currently on Fischer Race SC in 170 which will be my main front side / hardpack ski. Looking for something nimble and capable in soft snow, cut up crud and mashed potatoes in the spring.

Your review focused a bit on the hard snow aspects of the Cronus (always good to know if you ski out East), but wondering if you could expand a bit on it's soft snow characteristics?

Thanks!!
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post #8 of 42
3/3/08 at 12:11pm
Thread Starter 
Um, they're good? Let's put it this way. This is the snowiest winter Stowe has had in my lifetime. I've only used my Gotamas 3 times. I skied them one day with Whiteroom and traded him for his DPS Lotus 120s, they didn't give up a lot to those behemoths. I'm not saying they are the be-all end-all, but they're pretty good.
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post #9 of 42
9/14/08 at 3:08pm
cronos vs. Argos? other than dims whats the diff\

specifically: powder a foot or more? advantages/disadvantages
piled snow after a nice 6-8" snow,
bumps
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post #10 of 42
9/14/08 at 5:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Finndog View Post
cronos vs. Argos? other than dims whats the diff\

specifically: powder a foot or more? advantages/disadvantages
piled snow after a nice 6-8" snow,
bumps

Finn,

Argos= big, solid, 2 layers of metal, sandwich wood core, feels almost as lively as a Fischer, fun/easy to ski.
Floats better than Gotama, carves hardpack better than Mantra, and one of the best crud skis on the planet, no speed limit anywhere .....a good 1-quiver ski for west coast...not really a good DEEP powder ski....and altho I haven't skied the Watea 94, I would think the Argos would perform like a beefier 94 in crud w/o giving up any hardpack performance....70/30 off/on

Cronus= no metal, sandwich wood core, lively, obviously at 88mm waist quicker turning on hardpack than Argos, 101mm waist..not nearly as good as Argos in 6-8" crud, but pretty good in that the tips float up but are a bit floppy at high speeds in crud...
Pretty good bump ski, much better than Argos, fun, easy to ski.....a good 1-quiver ski for the ice coast....50/50 off/on

My 2 cents..
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post #11 of 42
9/14/08 at 6:19pm
Haven't skied the Argos, but nfp158 has it about right for the Cronus, although found the tips only flop at fairly robust speeds. Weirdly good on ice given the lack of metal - think the carbon and the IQ interface help a lot there - and better in bumps than any similar sized ski except (maybe) the Mojo 90. For me, that includes iM88, Karma, original PR, MSP, Prophet 90. Like he said, a perfect 50/50 for the east. Not that great for float, though, even though I'm a light guy.

Truth, I'd probably go for the Argos because they've lowered the Duke interface, suspect they are now all around excellent in the way Goats have been, but stronger in stiff crud and higher speeds. (Goat's only weakness IMO). And gotta love the new Transylvania/crusade graphics. If I can swing it, I'm gonna buy a pair.
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post #12 of 42
9/15/08 at 6:43am
thanks, I am going to get the Argos, I aslo have the SS magnums. I am thinking I am covered well enough for all conditions. I was toying with the idea of picking up a 8.7 or a Cronus as a potential but it may be too much cross-over. ?
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post #13 of 42
9/15/08 at 6:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Finndog View Post
thanks, I am going to get the Argos, I aslo have the SS magnums. I am thinking I am covered well enough for all conditions. I was toying with the idea of picking up a 8.7 or a Cronus as a potential but it may be too much cross-over. ?
Cronos would be more of a crossover than a 8.7 or even 8.1. You have a big gap between 71 in the SS and 105 in the Argos. You need something in the 80's. Another IQ ski would fit perfect. . Then you can pack 2 pair of skis and just one binding. It just makes sense.
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post #14 of 42
9/15/08 at 7:05am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by beyond View Post
Haven't skied the Argos, but nfp158 has it about right for the Cronus, although found the tips only flop at fairly robust speeds. Weirdly good on ice given the lack of metal - think the carbon and the IQ interface help a lot there - and better in bumps than any similar sized ski except (maybe) the Mojo 90. For me, that includes iM88, Karma, original PR, MSP, Prophet 90. Like he said, a perfect 50/50 for the east. Not that great for float, though, even though I'm a light guy.

Truth, I'd probably go for the Argos because they've lowered the Duke interface, suspect they are now all around excellent in the way Goats have been, but stronger in stiff crud and higher speeds. (Goat's only weakness IMO). And gotta love the new Transylvania/crusade graphics. If I can swing it, I'm gonna buy a pair.
The Cronus was my go to ski last year. I had some chances to ski the Argos back to back, and I never found myself wishing that I had the Argos instead of the Cronus. Even in knee-deep powder. The skis have the same tip and tail dimensions, so inflating the waist of the Argos makes it pretty straight combine that with the added stiffness and you need to be moving at a pretty good clip for taht ski to arc a turn.
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post #15 of 42
9/15/08 at 7:07am
what lenghts?
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post #16 of 42
9/15/08 at 7:14am
Thread Starter 
I skied 180 Cronus and 187 Argos.
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post #17 of 42
9/15/08 at 7:17am
the 187 argos is a big diff?
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post #18 of 42
9/15/08 at 8:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Finndog View Post
thanks, I am going to get the Argos, I aslo have the SS magnums.
Wondering why you decided to part with the goats and get the argos.

FWIW I bought the Argos on 180 and I think I'm quite lighter than you (160lbs). I haven't skied them yet though.
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post #19 of 42
9/15/08 at 8:12am
overall decision was many of the reviews here. I also like the ability to swap out that binding and buy another pair flat. The 101 should be a bit more versitile and still provide float. Still not sure about too much gap between SS mag and Argos.
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post #20 of 42
9/15/08 at 8:15am
Finn,

Get rid of the SS, get the Blizzi 8.1 or 8.7 magnum, 174, and the argos 180, and you're covered....

The iQ binding system make these skis very responsive ....

Then you could sell both mid-season and revert to the SS and Gotama...
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post #21 of 42
9/15/08 at 8:21am
epic, where's whiteroom? I thought he skied the argos and cronus back to back with you.........perhaps he can lend some insight also?
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post #22 of 42
9/15/08 at 8:23am
Thread Starter 
Yep we have swapped a few times. He loves the Argos.
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post #23 of 42
9/15/08 at 8:39am
But Whiteroom is a LOT better skier than Finndog
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post #24 of 42
9/15/08 at 8:55am
no doubt, a mans gotta know his limits! I can't imagine the Argos is too much for me? I was plannng on using it as my foot or so pow ski, trees and day after ski. Looks like a strong ski without being overly Stiff; flexible enough for trees and such, skiing along edges, in/out of trees and piled crap, OB conditions. the 8.7 could be a good fit but i was thinking cronos but it seems too much cross-over
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post #25 of 42
9/15/08 at 9:08am
Gosh, its fun to see if I can make you squirm
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post #26 of 42
9/15/08 at 9:11am
The main ski on my quiver will still be the Mythic Rider which is 88mm underfoot. I don't think of it a much of a crossover with the Argos, as that one will come out only on deeper days. After I buy the Contact Ltd my quiver widths will be 72, 80, 88, and 101 which cover all I need for now.
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post #27 of 42
9/15/08 at 9:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Finndog View Post
no doubt, a mans gotta know his limits! I can't imagine the Argos is too much for me? I was plannng on using it as my foot or so pow ski, trees and day after ski. Looks like a strong ski without being overly Stiff; flexible enough for trees and such, skiing along edges, in/out of trees and piled crap, OB conditions. the 8.7 could be a good fit but i was thinking cronos but it seems too much cross-over
I bought the Argos (in 180 and I'm about 165#) last year for exactly these conditions/purposes. Worked great. I also took it to AK for a heli trip where we had 18-24" fresh and it was easy to ski in that too (although I have never been on a super fat or funshape ski, so I can't compare). When I had the Argos in UT for a week, I also skied some mid-80s 50/50 skis because we had very little fresh (how did I manage to find a week in UT last season w/out fresh?!) and I would say there is not too much overlap at all between Argos and something like a Fury or Crimson ti or Elan 82. In more packed snow or in slush or bumps, those mid-80s skis are just way quicker and more playful...at least for me.

My quiver this year will be Tigershark 10' ps for east harpack/ice; Argos for west w/ fresh or recent snow of 8" or more; and something like 82ti, Crimson ti, Fury, Jet Fuel/Afterburner or the like for west w/ little recent snow and east after some snow. Might add something really fat/funshape (Kuro?) if it looks like I'll get enough time in the right places to almost justify it.
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post #28 of 42
9/15/08 at 9:29am
Finn,

You need to demo the 8.7/8.1 magnums...

They are more front-side oriented than the Cronus, which could overlap with the Argos like you said...

The 8.7/8.1 may overlap with your SSs....

Decisions, decisions...
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post #29 of 42
9/15/08 at 9:34am
thanks to all. This really helps. No rush. I will demo in November at LL.
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post #30 of 42
9/15/08 at 12:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nfp158 View Post
The 8.7/8.1 may overlap with your SSs....
Nope. I own the SS's, as enthusiastic as I am about many of the newer high 80's skis, no way they fill the same niche as a 11-12m carver with a 66 waist. Actually see more overlap between high 80's and 100-ish skis these days. Think the ideal quiver (drumroll) these days would be mid 60's frontside carvers, high 80's - low 90's everyday ski, pow skis in the 110+ range...
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