With almost exactly the same dimensions as the Rossi Super 7, the Automatic 117 shares several other similarities with its French competitor, including a disdain for short turns, but at the end of the day the two skis don’t feel all that alike.

That both are in their heaven in three feet of fresh goes without saying, but while the Rossi wants to porpoise downhill with a lively disengagement between each arc, the Atomic wants to hunker down in the turn and blast a trench through whatever you position in front of it.  While this Atomic does indeed make navigating off-piste conditions automatic, the level of facility one feels does depend on the pilot’s proficiency.

Which is a fancy way of saying the better the skier, the more probable it is he’ll appreciate what the Automatic delivers. Tapered tips and tails mean the Automatic 117 skis shorter than its dimensions, a sensation seconded by a long front rocker that keeps the tip from ever twitching into a turn. Surprisingly secure once one commits to the turn  – it earned high marks for continuous carving despite the stain of a low grade for always being late to the edge – the Automatic is ever ready to smear, you guessed it, automatically.