Anyone who’s spent a lot of time in winter knows what new snowfall sounds like. Quiet, but loud enough to ignite some sort of residual adrenaline from storm days past and present. Atomic’s media trip was, coincidentally, slated to kick off during a massive storm across the American West; one that marked the first real start of winter for the 23-24 season. Our first night at Monument Ranch I didn’t sleep. I was too excited for the next day; listening to what felt loud.
Atomic athletes and industry movers and shakers gather around a fire. Photo Cam McLeod
Just two weeks ago, Atomic gathered writers and contributors from across the media spectrum to gather for their 24-25 product launch: a of bunch of new ski product in their Maven, Maverick, Bent and Backland lines as well as a slew of fresh goggles, helmets, and boots. As a mix of athletes, PR, brand, and media; we comprised 21 people in total - folks who know that sound of snow fall all too well. The coincidental timing of weather and our trip dates really did feel like one giant kickoff party to the start of winter, despite its late arrival this year.
That new new! Photo: Cam McLeod
It's nice to see large brands investing in the thoughts and needs of those that represent them best. We were fortunate enough to have Daron Rahlves, Chris Benchetler, and Chris Rubens join us on for this trip; all of whom had their hand in the research and development of new product for 2024-2025. Learning about their products was great, but the real magic of it all was simply spending time with them – genuinely humble people who felt more like friends on a yurt trip than notable athletes. We had a chance to ask them about their role in the R&D of the new products; specifically the skis we were all there to test and try.
Atomic's new Backland felt right at home on the skin track. Photo Cam McLeod
The Backland: Chris Rubens’ had a ton of input on the new design of the Backlands. “As I was testing all these skis, I realized that this type of ski doesn’t really exist. The philosophy behind it was to make a directional ski that is fun and playful on the snow, but still has that tail that helps to support in mixed and variable conditions. In my opinion, we kinda nailed it.” Rubens and the Atomic team spent the majority of last winter going back and forth, testing different prototypes until they dialed it in. It seems like one of the most notable differences between older models the 2024 product is the tail shape, which aids in mixed and variable conditions. “It’s a very lightweight ski, but it doesn’t totally ski like a lightweight ski,” Rubens explained to us. “Similarly to an enduro bike, you’re looking for weight savings if you can, but you never want to compromise the down. The down is still the most important part – I think we nailed that ratio.”
Photo: Cam McLeod
Many of us spent that first morning on some quick tour laps with Rubens on the 109s, and I couldn’t agree more with the design changes and notes he gave later that night. On a larger, more holistic note, the new construction of the Backlands cut back on emissions by almost 26%, which Rubens touched on as being an important factor for him as an athlete and brand representative.
The Maverick / Maven: Former World Cup racer Daron Rahlves helped to develop the new Maverick and Mavens (the women’s version). “I like making big, wide turns, and I like a really strong, durable ski that can really eat up the chop and not kick around. It’s gotta have some fight in it.” I hadn’t had a chance to ski on the Mavericks yet at this point, but the next day really lived up to their hype. The skis enter turns super clean, while also being able to get away with swiveling it through stacked trees and early season shwack that we saw a bit of throughout our trip. “One thing that’s surprising is how lively it is in the tip and tail,” Rahlves explained. “These skis feel almost supple to some extent. They’re just fun to ski, and that was the whole point.” You can tell the Mavericks have some hard charging DNA in their core while still being an incredibly approachable ski for a daily driver. Similarly to the Backlands, the Mavericks also cut emissions in their new construction.
The Bent 120 remains a deep snow favorite. Photo Cam McLeod
The Bents: “We’re constantly trying to make this ski as good as it can be – this ski has always been an extension of my feet and myself,” Benchetler explained when talking about his namesake product. Having undergone a design overhaul this year, the Bent 120s lived up to their hype in the deep, soft snow we found just hours before. I was especially curious about the intersection of Benchetler’s artistic side and the new topsheets for this year: “By virtue of some personal life matters, I’ve been spending so much time in my studio this year, using it almost like a journal. I don’t totally know what I paint or draw most of the time, but I let whatever comes through me run its’ course. The more time I spend mastering that part of my craft is what’s most important. I don’t approach the skis as a canvas – I try to come at it from an artists perspective, not a design perspective. I want to create art that’s an extension of me, just like the skiing. And then we figure out a way to put it on the ski. Atomic has been super open as I experiment with my artistry, and it’s been so great to have that as an outlet of expression.” I’ll say that the new Bents are as aesthetically pleasing as they are to ski: surfy, fun, versatile and more than anything, playful.
Playful is the Bent's middle name. Photo: Cam McLeod
Products aside, there was a moment we had on our second day at Powder Mountain: party skiing down a wide, low angle run, with new friends to my left, professional skiers to my right, and rooster tail clouds of low density snow momentarily blocking any sort of vision. With all the literature written about the magic of skiing powder or surfing waves, I’ve always thought what’s most special about it is a literal and metaphorical disconnect from the ground: an easy way to transcend moment into memory.
Cheers to the two planks beneath our feet for making it possible, and Atomic Skis for making it easy.
What's a yurt trip without fireworks? Photo: Cam McLeod
About The Author
stash member Jenna Mahaffie
Jackson transplant with East Coast reflexes. I freelance for TGR sometimes, but mostly I just throw rocks at the office windows and hope someone will notice one day...