What to expect from my Atomic Vantage 90 CTI

[DanishRider]

Went for a one ski quiver this year, and had my eyes set on the Blizzard Brahma, but got a good deal on the Vantage 90 CTI, and since the reviews have been really good on this ski, and went for it since the dealer believed the ski would be more "fun" than the Brahma. Ended up getting the 184cm.

Stats: 6"2 and 92 kilos (don't know what the heck that is in pounds), spend maybe 65% on piste and the rest exploring the fluffy stuff! Do all pistes and most of the fluffy.

What to expect when i hit Val Thorens on November 27th?

I can help fell that i might should have hit on the Brahmas - Never had an Atomic before, and fear that the one (half!) sheet of metal won't be enough given my weight and height.

 

[Philpug]

Went for a one ski quiver this year, and had my eyes set on the Blizzard Brahma, but got a good deal on the Vantage 90 CTI, and since the reviews have been really good on this ski, and went for it since the dealer believed the ski would be more "fun" than the Brahma. Ended up getting the 184cm.

Stats: 6"2 and 92 kilos (don't know what the heck that is in pounds), spend maybe 65% on piste and the rest exploring the fluffy stuff! Do all pistes and most of the fluffy.

What to expect when i hit Val Thorens on November 27th?

I can help fell that i might should have hit on the Brahmas - Never had an Atomic before, and fear that the one (half!) sheet of metal won't be enough given my weight and height.

More fun? Fun has a different meaning to different people but the Atomic Vantage 90CTi is a more playful ski that the Brahma with it's lighter feel and more aggressive sidecut. For what you say you are looking for and where you will be skiing, it is a great option.

 

[dbostedo]

You're 2 inches taller and 10-15 pounds lighter than me, so probably a pretty good comp, though I'm an intermediate skier. I'm not an experienced ski tester, but have done some demo days and rentals and been on a decent amount of different skis.

I skied these for 4 days in Whistler last season and loved them for their versatility. They handled pretty much everything well, groomers, boot deep, heavy slush, bumps, drops, etc. They were easy to get on edge and worked pretty well in powder (I started the week on smaller, skinnier skis, and switched to the Vantage mainly to get a bit more of a powder ski). I ski relatively fast, and these were really stable and easy to control. They aren't super stiff compared to some other skis I've been on, so you might find them soft if that's what you're looking for. I haven't been on the Brahma to compare.

But I liked them enough that I bought a pair at the end of last season, and I'm looking forward to getting them on snow myself.

 

[DanishRider]

More fun? Fun has a different meaning to different people but the Atomic Vantage 90CTi is a more playful ski that the Brahma with it's lighter feel and more aggressive sidecut. For what you say you are looking for and where you will be skiing, it is a great option.

So for piste they dig in all but the pure ice, and they work well until you hit +5-7 inches of deep stuff - Is that fairly accurate (that is what i am looking for).

 

[DanishRider]

You're 2 inches taller and 10-15 pounds lighter than me, so probably a pretty good comp, though I'm an intermediate skier. I'm not an experienced ski tester, but have done some demo days and rentals and been on a decent amount of different skis.

I skied these for 4 days in Whistler last season and loved them for their versatility. They handled pretty much everything well, groomers, boot deep, heavy slush, bumps, drops, etc. They were easy to get on edge and worked pretty well in powder (I started the week on smaller, skinnier skis, and switched to the Vantage mainly to get a bit more of a powder ski). I ski relatively fast, and these were really stable and easy to control. They aren't super stiff compared to some other skis I've been on, so you might find them soft if that's what you're looking for. I haven't been on the Brahma to compare.

But I liked them enough that I bought a pair at the end of last season, and I'm looking forward to getting them on snow myself.

I have a pair of pure piste planks, so looking for something a little more soft and all-round. With the prices for bringing your ski on a plane here in Europe, i would love to have only one - It seems i made the right choice

 

[Jilly]

I demo'd them too in Whsitler. (they didn't have the women's version) Found them too stiff for me, so you should OK. 1Kg=2.2lb for conversion. So 92 Kg, you're just over 200lbs.

 

[MattD]

I own the Vantage 100 CTI, but have also demo'd the Vantage 90 CTI. I've described this ski in the past as fairly well "disappearing beneath my feet" and letting me do whatever I'm trying to. The construction makes the skis sound a bit "hollow" when you bump them together, but that strange sound does not appear to create any issues with performance. I think you've made a good selection for versatility.

 

[DanishRider]

I own the Vantage 100 CTI, but have also demo'd the Vantage 90 CTI. I've described this ski in the past as fairly well "disappearing beneath my feet" and letting me do whatever I'm trying to. The construction makes the skis sound a bit "hollow" when you bump them together, but that strange sound does not appear to create any issues with performance. I think you've made a good selection for versatility.

I am looking forward to that - always prefer a ski that becomes an extension of me

 

[Jim McDonald]

I'm 187cm, 75kg and liked the 194 90cti when I demo'd for a couple of days in Hokkaido except in 20+cm of dense and chopped up powder.
In lighter fluff higher up the mountain they were fine.

 

[Zrxman01]

They are a LOT of fun. Especially when the snow conditions are less than perfect and I am feeling hatred towards my race skis. They make for a great all day ski.

Enjoy.

 

[Philpug]

They are a LOT of fun. Especially when the snow conditions are less than perfect and I am feeling hatred towards my race skis. They make for a great all day ski.

Enjoy.

View attachment 32301

Looks like Killington, top of Superstar.

 

[DanishRider]

I am convinced - until further notice, i’ll stay on the Atomics. And pardon my English - second language and a Danish keyboard - messages slightly messed up

 

[DanishRider]

They are a LOT of fun. Especially when the snow conditions are less than perfect and I am feeling hatred towards my race skis. They make for a great all day ski.

Enjoy.

View attachment 32301

Rolling Hills of Vermont

 

[Wolfski]

The above comments fit this ski well, I've chosen the 90CTI in a 184 as well, same weight as you and just 6'
I skied these last year for a week out West and enjoyed the heck out of these skis. On the front they're great on the groomers and everything else, there might be a top end on these skis but they don't shy away when you're zoomin and as @MattD above stated, "they disappear under your feet and will do what you want. They also skied quite well on the hard pack/ ice here in the Midwest.
I haven't had the chance to ski them in fresh deep stuff but I highly doubt that they'll disappoint.

 

[dbostedo]

The above comments fit this ski well, I've chosen the 90CTI in a 184 as well, same weight as you and just 6'
I skied these last year for a week out West and enjoyed the heck out of these skis. On the front they're great on the groomers and everything else, there might be a top end on these skis but they don't shy away when you're zoomin and as @MattD above stated, "they disappear under your feet and will do what you want. They also skied quite well on the hard pack/ ice here in the Midwest.
I haven't had the chance to ski them in fresh deep stuff but I highly doubt that they'll disappoint.

My issue is that I DID have the chance to ski some fresh deep stuff (shin deep in places) but I don't have much of a frame of reference, since it was basically the first time I've done that! I did ski my Atomic Nomads (81 width, 174 length) through some of it, which is what made me switch to the Vantage... and the Vantage did seem much better.

 

[DanishRider]

To me this appears to be the perfect ski. For some reason it gets far more press in the US than in Europe, where it is hardly mentioned and the X-models get into the spotlight. This is kinda Strange to me, since Atomic is one of the more “European” companies, doing skiis alot different than let’s say K2?!?! So basically i am starting a new topic: is the American skiing less edge, and more midwaist than in Europe?
I do beleive that Europe is looking more towards the US when it comes to freeride, but also i see, from a Racing perspective, that the really edgy “knives” don’t catch on in the US. I am wondering - is down to snow quality?

 

[dbostedo]

Having never skied in Europe, I'd guess that it's partly snow quality, partly the percentage of people who stay on-piste, and partly the image and marketing of people going off-piste.

Again, this is a guess, but since resorts here are (generally) completely avalanche controlled within their boundaries, the ability to just ski wherever you want without worrying about it, without needing insurance, and without needing a guide, would likely be part of it too.

 

[Zrxman01]

Looks like Killington, top of Superstar.

Damn you are good!!!

 

[Philpug]

Damn you are good!!!

I get lucky

 

[DanishRider]

Okay - Had a couple of days off, and the snow in Europe right now is second to non at the moment, so hopped on a plain to Trois Vallee (Val Thorens France), and had 3 days on the vantage 90 CTI, so now it is time to report back. Her is a picture of the conditions (+20 centimeters of fresh every day!) :

Let's start with what this ski isn't:

* Not an iShape to roam the groomers, and carve into the hardest ice while trying to beat your ex-racer friends
* No racing-pedigree have derived straight from Atomic to this ski
* Not really the best in any SPECIFIC condition
* Not a carving machine

Here is what this ski is:
* A really good all-rounder!
* Great fun
* Versatile like h*ll
* Maybe a OSQ

The ski is a pretty lightweight plank to roam most of the mountain, and i do not find this ski either stiff or soft. It is pretty stable at speed, and do hold an edge pretty well. With tons of loose snow around on the piste, it shoots straight through it, and you barely notice it. Other places around on the internet, are stating that this ski skiis short, but i find it to be spot on, but not quite as nimble as stated elsewhere (it had the factory tune, and that might have beed off - Sending it to a specialist get a prober tune). The big surprise was when i entered the deeper stuff, and it had loads more lift than i expected, and a lot more than the 89mm i was running last year.

So where does this ski shine? It's the full package with this on, since it seems to work in pretty much ANY condition, apart from a windblown icy section in +3000 meters, where there is rock solid ice 365 days a year, and it is REALLY fun to be on. They joining me around the resort on their normal groomer-skiis, all had trouble in some conditions (1200 vertical meters will give you different types of snow and conditions), but all apart from the hardest ice were a swirl for me. This is a really fun ski, that you both can push, and ride along with the kids in their steady tempo.

I will recommend this ski anybody looking for:
* Versatilty
* FUN
* Stability at speed
* Nice and even flex, without it been double-metal-hard
* A OSQ
* A good ski in just about ANY condition

If i were to rate them, and probably give them 9/10 - But i also had extremely good snow conditions - Had it been different condition, i might have rated differently