Atomic Vario Flex Ski Review

With the constant growth of the freeride market, many manufactures have focused on developing and improving new technology for off-trail skiing. And their is no denying that ski technology for wider skis has consistently improved over the last few years. As the progression of technology continues for freeride skis, your typical on-trail groomed condition ski has remained the same. Most of us can ski any manufacture's frontside carver and have the same experience. Great for shorter turns and hardpack conditions, and usually coming equipped with a narrow waist and aggressive sidecut. The formula hasn't changed, where's the frontside love? Have these manufactures forgotten about the hundreds of groomed trails that wind down every ski area? Has frontside carving technology truly flat lined?...

Luckily Atomic Skis has stepped up and created a concept to save the aggressive on-piste skier, from the depths of old ski tech hell. The creation of Atomic's Vario Flex Technology, has separated Atomic as the ski company with the best on-trail technology focus.

Atomic's Vario Flex allows one ski to float on top of another with an elastomer-mounted connection between the upper and lower ski. This gives Atomic the ability to design a ski that is equally proficient in short slalom turns, as well as long radius GS turns. The picture posted here is an example of what the Atomic Vario Flex core looks like, there are literally two skis held together to ski as one. 

The bottom ski is constructed to be much softer allowing for easy entry and exit out of every turn. If your desire is to make short radius turns on the side of the trail, the Vario Flex technology will assist you all-day long. You will be in and out of each turn effortlessly making you feel like Ted Ligety in the Olympic Winter Games. 

The top ski is constructed to be extremely stiff, which makes the Vario Flex more dynamic at higher speeds. When ripping long Giant Slalom arcs, the Vario Flex is incredibly stable and smooth. The flex builds up the harder you push the skis (view picture below), which increases the amount of rebound the ski is able to produce. When the ski is flexed it becomes progressively more stiff, and enables the skier to generate more power out of the turn.

By having the best of both worlds, Atomic has created a on-piste shredding machine! The Atomic Vario Flex 75 is an extremely powerful set-up that any front-side carver would love. The ski will hold on bullet proof conditions and has no speed limit. There is not other ski on the market  that is as easy to control at low speeds, while still providing powerful acceleration and superior edge grip at high speeds. The Atomic VF 75 will take the old mold of a one dimensional front-side carving ski and shred it into pieces. Click into a pair this season and your turn shapes will never be the same again.