In its prior life as the Century 102, the Backland FR 102 W offered the best cost/value relationship in the genre; for 2017, Atomic sweetened the deal. The addition of the Carbon Backbone adds more muscle and pop without any negative side effects. The Backland with a Backbone is still a superior choice for the lighter weight woman, such as a teenager getting her first off-trail ski.
What’s really strange about the Bent Chetler is how weird it isn’t. It takes about two runs to adapt to life à la Chetler, rotating around the multi-axis tip to start a turn, riding the solid midsection for a touch of directional influence and spinning to a conclusion. When it can’t be in the powder that it’s natural habitat, the Chetler keeps its composure where it’s cambered underfoot, so you can ride it comfortably on just a sliver of edge.