Our top Power pick for its genre last year, Atomic’s Cloud 9 underwent a significant transformation for 2018, mimicking the design concepts of Atomic’s new race series. The new Cloud 9 would certainly have kept its crown had we received enough feedback to qualify it for consideration; alas, the Cloud 9 was a casualty of our wretched test season last winter.
Two key developments make it likely that the new Cloud 9 is even better than highly rated 2017 Cloud Nine: Servotec Light and a new shape with a more fall-line orientation. Servotec Light lays elastomer in a channel running from the toe piece to the shovel to absorb shock and maintain snow contact. The new shape opens up the turn radius a tad and releases the turn a touch earlier to maintain momentum.
Women who abhor fussy cosmetics may find the elegant, black and white, textured topsheet of the Cloud 9 a classy complement to their ensemble.


