The Atomic Cloud Nine earned its way to the top of our ladies’ Power Picks pile by staying focused on the Frontside. It doesn’t feign interest in off-trail pursuits so it can put all its talents to bear staying connected to the groom. Its tip has only a hint of early rise so it latches onto a carving edge much earlier in the turn than is the norm. The tail is all business, never quitting early but always hanging onto an etched arc until closing time.
Like everyone else, we have no idea why Michaela Shiffrin is so preternaturally talented and unflinchingly poised, but we’re pretty sure of one thing: her equipment isn’t holding her back.
As with the Head iSL RD, to ski the Atomic Redster Doubledeck 3.0 SL is to fall in love, hard. One tester felt a 10-point scale couldn’t do the Redster justice, awarding it 11’s for rebound and short-radius turns, two traits that epitomize what makes race slalom skis such a kick to cut loose on.