2011 Blizzard G power FS IQ 174cm

Manufacturer Info:

Blizzard  USA

19 Technology Drive

West Lebanon,NH 03784

800-832-6422

blizzardsportsusa.com

Suggested Retail Price (MSRP): $ 1199.99

Usage Class:

Expert all mountain, front  side, groomed or ungroomed 

Your Rating (with comments): (1="get me off these things"->10="I have to own a pair") 10 

Summary:

Smooth as silk, do anything ski. Blizzard has hit it on the head with IQ full suspension.

The IQ full suspension booster is an innovative peice of engineering. It incorporates an integrated carbon rail suspension that runs almost tip to tail. Under foot is an oil filled piston. This"provides high speed performance,maximum vibration reduction,extreme stability, smooth damp feel and adds life and energy to the ski..." according to Blizzard.

It so works! Incredibly smooth, totally responsive and comfortable in the conditions I was skiing on. Loves the speed and was stable on the 6" of new on top of rain soaked,frozen boiler plate. This ski is a true, frontside carver that can handle it all. Push it hard and it carves like a race ski. Lay off and it just floats through the crud. Feels like a much wider ski under foot in the junk and then just pounds the hard snow when you put the pressure on.Enters and finish's the turn with complete confidence and strength and smooths out whatever is coming next.

You can feel Blizzard's race heritage in the G Power.

Technical Ski Data

Lengths : 167, 174, 181

Radius:  15.5@ 174cm

Binding: Blizzard / Marker IQ TP 12 Power,90mm brake

Technology: IQ -Power Full Suspension with piston oil dampening system

Pre-Skiing Impression:

Nice Graphics, hard core stealth look.Quality finishing on ski and Power Booster 

Nice structure on base, ready to go right out of the box!   

Test Conditions:

6" of new on frozen groomed rain soaked base

Test Results:

Great front side ski that will do anything. groomers, crud, hardpack or new snow.

Super smooth ride no matter the conditions. Did not get squirrely or unpredictable in the changeable conditions.

Does like to move along but was still very stable and predictable at slow speeds.Unbeleivably quiet with great edge hold.  IQ Power Booster really works.

After Skiing These, I Want To...

Own a pair.They are incredible

Self-Description of Skiing Style, Ability, Experience, Preferences (be honest): 

52 years old, skiing for 40 + years. Like to carve at high speeds but will jump into the woods when conditions are right. 30+ years in the ski business.