- Joined
- Aug 24, 2017
- Posts
- 364
Hi.
Some time ago I started a thread about looking for "beginner carving skis with a catch." Here's the link:
https://forum.pugski.com/threads/beginner-carving-skis-with-a-catch.6434/
Basically the community suggested that I was not really looking for beginner carving skis, but intermediate or maybe even high end carving skis.
I have been practicing a lot since then, and I have improved. I can consistently make carved turns of a variety of shapes. Small fast turns straight down the fall line have until now remained difficult. I can carve best on wide open runs that are not too steep, when the conditions are good. I can not carve consistently on ice, or on black runs, or steeper sections of easier runs. My carving technique is in its early stages, and could be greatly improved, but overall carving has opened up a whole new world for me.
I spend most of my time on wider all-mountain or off-piste skis, 88 to 110 underfoot. I have really only tried one other carving ski, an intermediate Elan carving ski (Elan Amphibio 14). So my impressions of the Atomic ski might just be because it is the first high end slalom ski I have ever tried. Also, when I tried the Elan ski, I was really just learning how to carve, whereas now I have better skills. So, again, my impressions of the Atomic ski might just be because I am better able to use the ski how it was designed to be used.
For those who are not familiar with this ski, the Atomic Redster S9 is a high end slalom ski, 68 mm underfoot, 171 length, with a 13 meter turning radius.
I rented these skis on a day with generally hard conditions. On piste there was a thin layer of fresh snow. Lower down it was icy in the morning. Higher the snow was light and dry. In the afternoon it was wet and slushy
My first slow turns felt really natural. I did not have to adjust or adapt in any way. I could ski normally. It was easy to slide to a stop. The ski felt balanced and controlled. When I started to carve the ski came alive.
It gave me several sensations that I have never felt before.
First, it was fast edge to edge. Now I understand what that means. I could very quickly shift from side to side. I spent almost no time on the bases.
Second, it was easy to make small fast turns facing straight down the fall line. I have never been able to make such rapid turns.
On wide open gradual piste I could carve when and how I wanted. Long gradual leaning curves. Fast sweeping curves with power. Big rounded C’s. I could also vary between turn shapes easily
One thing that impressed me was how smooth it felt. Smooth and controlled and predictable.
I know some people say that this ski is demanding. It did not feel that way to me. The only time I noticed that it required some familiarity was occasionally when I was making fast short turns, or making long gradual turns at speed. I thought the ski would slide, and instead the edge hooked up and it began to carve and turn. But it never felt abrupt or sharp or threw me off balance. It just required a quick adjustment. It stayed smooth and solid.
I did notice that when running bases flat in a straight line it was a little unstable. For example, tucking and going straight and fast, or just sliding along slowly on the bases. The ski would rotate and move side to side. It required some attention to keep it pointing in the right direction. But that makes sense. It's a short and narrow slalom ski, and it's not or riding bases flat.
I did take it off piste just to see how it would feel. It performed much as you might expect (not very well). In ankle deep light powder it was fine. In tracked and bumpy consolidated but not refrozen snow it got knocked around. It was not jarring but it was not controlled, and sometimes the edges caught and it wanted to start to turn. In heavy dense snow it sank down and wanted to go straight, and it was hard to steer. But again all that makes sense. This is not an off piste ski.
How does this ski compare to other carving skis? As above, I have really only tried one other carving ski, the Elan Amphibio 14, and at that time I was just learning how to carve. But if I had to guess, I think the Atomic carves better, is faster edge to edge, has more secure edge hold, and is smoother and more solid and predictable. The Elan is probably a little easier to carve at slower speeds, and is more stable in a straight line
Would I buy this ski? I think if I bought an Atomic ski I would go with the slightly longer and slightly larger turning radius Redster X9. I think this ski would be a little more stable in a straight line, and a little more versatile for me. Or I might drop down to the 7 series skis. These skis might carve more easily at lower speeds, although I have to say that I never really hard trouble making this ski carve, it just encouraged me to go fast, maybe too fast!
Overall, this ski was really amazing. It completely changed my experience carving on piste.
Some time ago I started a thread about looking for "beginner carving skis with a catch." Here's the link:
https://forum.pugski.com/threads/beginner-carving-skis-with-a-catch.6434/
Basically the community suggested that I was not really looking for beginner carving skis, but intermediate or maybe even high end carving skis.
I have been practicing a lot since then, and I have improved. I can consistently make carved turns of a variety of shapes. Small fast turns straight down the fall line have until now remained difficult. I can carve best on wide open runs that are not too steep, when the conditions are good. I can not carve consistently on ice, or on black runs, or steeper sections of easier runs. My carving technique is in its early stages, and could be greatly improved, but overall carving has opened up a whole new world for me.
I spend most of my time on wider all-mountain or off-piste skis, 88 to 110 underfoot. I have really only tried one other carving ski, an intermediate Elan carving ski (Elan Amphibio 14). So my impressions of the Atomic ski might just be because it is the first high end slalom ski I have ever tried. Also, when I tried the Elan ski, I was really just learning how to carve, whereas now I have better skills. So, again, my impressions of the Atomic ski might just be because I am better able to use the ski how it was designed to be used.
For those who are not familiar with this ski, the Atomic Redster S9 is a high end slalom ski, 68 mm underfoot, 171 length, with a 13 meter turning radius.
I rented these skis on a day with generally hard conditions. On piste there was a thin layer of fresh snow. Lower down it was icy in the morning. Higher the snow was light and dry. In the afternoon it was wet and slushy
My first slow turns felt really natural. I did not have to adjust or adapt in any way. I could ski normally. It was easy to slide to a stop. The ski felt balanced and controlled. When I started to carve the ski came alive.
It gave me several sensations that I have never felt before.
First, it was fast edge to edge. Now I understand what that means. I could very quickly shift from side to side. I spent almost no time on the bases.
Second, it was easy to make small fast turns facing straight down the fall line. I have never been able to make such rapid turns.
On wide open gradual piste I could carve when and how I wanted. Long gradual leaning curves. Fast sweeping curves with power. Big rounded C’s. I could also vary between turn shapes easily
One thing that impressed me was how smooth it felt. Smooth and controlled and predictable.
I know some people say that this ski is demanding. It did not feel that way to me. The only time I noticed that it required some familiarity was occasionally when I was making fast short turns, or making long gradual turns at speed. I thought the ski would slide, and instead the edge hooked up and it began to carve and turn. But it never felt abrupt or sharp or threw me off balance. It just required a quick adjustment. It stayed smooth and solid.
I did notice that when running bases flat in a straight line it was a little unstable. For example, tucking and going straight and fast, or just sliding along slowly on the bases. The ski would rotate and move side to side. It required some attention to keep it pointing in the right direction. But that makes sense. It's a short and narrow slalom ski, and it's not or riding bases flat.
I did take it off piste just to see how it would feel. It performed much as you might expect (not very well). In ankle deep light powder it was fine. In tracked and bumpy consolidated but not refrozen snow it got knocked around. It was not jarring but it was not controlled, and sometimes the edges caught and it wanted to start to turn. In heavy dense snow it sank down and wanted to go straight, and it was hard to steer. But again all that makes sense. This is not an off piste ski.
How does this ski compare to other carving skis? As above, I have really only tried one other carving ski, the Elan Amphibio 14, and at that time I was just learning how to carve. But if I had to guess, I think the Atomic carves better, is faster edge to edge, has more secure edge hold, and is smoother and more solid and predictable. The Elan is probably a little easier to carve at slower speeds, and is more stable in a straight line
Would I buy this ski? I think if I bought an Atomic ski I would go with the slightly longer and slightly larger turning radius Redster X9. I think this ski would be a little more stable in a straight line, and a little more versatile for me. Or I might drop down to the 7 series skis. These skis might carve more easily at lower speeds, although I have to say that I never really hard trouble making this ski carve, it just encouraged me to go fast, maybe too fast!
Overall, this ski was really amazing. It completely changed my experience carving on piste.
.
