The Maven is right at home charging variable resort snow. Photo: Max Ritter
TGR Tested: Atomic Maven 103 CTi
If you spend most of your skiing time ripping around inbounds at a Western ski area, you’ll know that there is such a thing as too fat of a ski for everyday use. Nobody likes achy knees or a ski that’s just too heavy and big to maneuver through variable snow conditions. However, go too skinny (we’re not on the East Coast here), and you’ll have trouble keeping up when things do get deep. Atomic just released the all-new Maven 103 CTi, and where the new unisex Maverick 115 CTi is the big-mountain deep-snow expert, the Maven 103 CTi takes over for all things inbounds freeriding for ladies. The entire Maverick/Maven line of skis is about all-mountain versatility, and the new Maven 103 might just be the most user-friendly and versatile of the bunch. The ski of choice for Atomic and TGR Athlete Amie Engerbretson, it’s an approachable directional freeride ski that can handle everything the mountain throws at you, with superior edge hold, a damp and stable character that’s still playful, and enough tip and tail rocker to float and slash through pow. One ski quiver, anyone?
Photo: Atomic Skis
The Tech:
The 2024 Maven 103 CTi is a design evolution and a bit of a departure from the older Maverick/Maven models. Where the older models tended to be overly stiff and aggressive, the new Maven 103 CTi smooths out the ride and with more pronounced tip and tail rocker, allows for easier turn initiation and release in soft snow.
It’s a directional ski with dramatic tip rocker and taper lines, a more centered mount point on a 103mm waist with a relatively short, size-specific turn radius (16-18m depending on size), and a low-profile rockered and stiff tail. The tip features Atomic’s re-designed HRZN 3D tip, with the three-dimensional boat-hull shape extending further back along the tips, much closer to the taper point than older models.
Inside, there’s Atomic’s CTi construction found across much of the Maven line. That takes advantage of a sheet of Titanal and a few carbon stringers to stiffen the ski underfoot and add some much-needed damping properties. That’s wrapped around a core made of ash and poplar wood, known for its dampening properties without giving up any pop.
On the stiffness spectrum, the shovels are fairly stiff (7/10), with the ski getting progressively stiffer underfoot (8-9/10), and remaining that way through the powerful tail (7.5-8/10). While stiff, the ski flexes very smoothly and roundly (a nice change from the older Mavens that feel “peaky”). The metal/carbon construction definitely adds a bit of heft to smooth out and dampen the ride when things get chopped up. In other words, it’s stiff enough to punch through weird snow but not chattery when things get really firm and uneven.
Photo: Max Ritter
The Maven 103 Cti comes in a wide size range, including 156cm, 162cm, 170cm, and 178cm.
Atomic’s entire lineup of skis switched over to a more eco-friendly construction last year, and the new Maven 103 CTi does too. The new more eco-friendly construction doesn't change how the ski rides, but it’s now made with low-carbon raw materials, and less material overall, to reduce environmental impact of manufacturing and cut CO2 emissions.
The Ride:
The 2023-2024 season has been one of feast and famine in the Tetons, with a really rough start to the year followed by intermittent storm cycles and some very warm temperatures. Inbounds has largely been a mix of either really deep snow that gets chopped up very quickly or hardpack - honestly the perfect conditions for the Maven 103 CTi.
While many would probably pick a fatter ski for the really deep days or when venturing out the gates into the backcountry, our testers loved the 103mm waist and really damp ride feel for pretty much any other conditions. The Mavens eat up chopped up snow, and make it quite comfortable to rip turns on uneven surfaces at high speeds, thanks to the stable and damp wood core. Testers were really impressed with how quiet the ski feels, akin to it having built-in suspension that takes the edge of moguls, landings, and tracked-out snow.
Photo: Max Ritter
The slightly more forward mount point also gives the ski a more playful side - you don’t need to be fully forcing turns through the front of your boot all day long to get it to respond. Relax a little, stand up a bit straighter, and the tails will slash and smear through tight trees, bumps, and narrow chutes.
On hardpack, like many of the other Maverick/Maven skis, the Maven 103CTi seems to prefer long turns that belie its short 18m radius - it’s really fun to find wide-open groomers and lay down long high-speed turns. The stiffer tails and solid edges feel very powerful and adds confidence at high speeds, especially when things get really firm.
The Maven inspires confidence for a smooth ride wherever you take it. Photo: Max Ritter
The Bottom Line:
Atomic’s new Maven 103 CTi might be one of the most versatile all-mountain freeride resort skis we’ve ever ridden. The ski’s intentions are clear - skiing fast inbounds in all conditions - but it’s still incredibly fun when you’re just cruising around. If you’ve enjoyed the quiet ride of skis like Salomon’s QST Stella, the Fischer Ranger 108, or the older Atomic Mavens, this builds on those options by adding a little more soft-snow versatility and a fun, poppy freestyle element.
About The Author
stash member Max Ritter
I manage digital content here at TGR, run our gear testing program, and am stoked to be living the dream in the Tetons.