Atris
If you’re an Old School powder skier who pushes off his tails at the bottom of the turn, the Black Crows Atris is going to feel like home. Of course its double rockered baseline – “double beaked” in Crow-speak – can smear a turn to correct line or shed speed, but the Atris is essentially a directional ski that surfs as a hobby.
There’s a trick to skiing crud: it’s called, “speed.” A powder ski that wilts under pressure discourages the requisite acceleration. The extra support the Atris delivers derives from its classic, cambered baseline underfoot and a tail meant for driving forward, not swiveling sideward. The Atris is a cool combination of youthful, Big Mountain attitude paired with the calm, focused aggression of the experienced pilot.
Cloud Nine
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.
Redster Doubledeck 3.0 SL
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.
