Gear Review: 2015 Atomic Bent Chetler skis...
--Product Information--
Product Name: 14/15
Bent Chetler
Product Brand: Atomic
Best Use: Powder/Big Mountain
Sizes Available / Specs:
-
Length: 178, 185 & 192 cm
-
Dimensions: 142/120/134 mm
-
Turning radius: 19 m
-
Weight: 2.19 KG
- 30% tip rocker - 40% camber - 30% tail rocker
- HRZN Tech - slight horizontal edge to edge rocker in tip and tail increasing surface area by 10% over previous model
- Lite Woodcore Carbon Sprocket Power Booster Inserts both in front and behind binding for edge hold, snap, & pop
- Step-down 2.0 ABS sidewalls
--Test Information--
Location of Test: Mission Ridge, WA
Duration: One of many skis tested over the course of 2 days
--Ratings--
Value Rating: 8
Durability Rating: 8
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review: Last spring, with an unbelievably light and fluffy dump of two feet of fresh powder over two days of industry product testing at Mission Ridge, the conditions were prime for testing chubby-waisted powder skis. The new 2014/15 Atomic Bent Chetler proved to be an incredibly fun and nimble powder slasher!
The ski is relatively lightweight, but I was still blown away by how quick and responsive it is under foot, both on and off the groomers. With a combination of 40% traditional camber under foot and "carbon sprocket power booster inserts," the ski performs like a true charger on hardpack and grabs edge with the best them. I also had an opportunity to hit a couple of nice roller/hits along treeline and a few good drops which was enough to verify the skis flight potential.
The ski is without a doubt most at home in the soft stuff though and is as quick, powerful, playful and buttery as any other ski I tested. What I enjoyed most though was the uniquely damp and muted dreamlike feeling the ski evokes when effortlessly floating on the surface of tracked and fresh lines alike. I attribute this unique feeling and the Bents' floatability in part to the signature HRZN-Tech horizontal edge to edge rocker in the skis tip and tail. As it turns out, it's no accident that the hull-shaped ABS bumpered tip and tail of the ski appear surf-inspired; the skis namesake crazy good Pow jibber Chris Bentchetler is also an aspiring surfer.
The graphics are toned down a bit from previous model years, but were impactful enough to inspire a number of other skis in Atomics all/big-mountain and powder line-up.
The test conditions over the two days were perfectly suited for testing pow skis and the Atomic Bent Chetler was without question my "best ski in test" in this category.
Rob in awe of the Atomic Bent Chetlers
The Good List: A versatile and "trixy" pow ski that is as comfortable in a few inches as it is in a few feet of freshies.
The Not so Good List: No complaints... This ski is all that and more!
The Bottom Line: If you're looking to add a pow ski to your quiver, you can't go wrong with the 2014/15 Bent Chetler. Go get Bent!
