Atomic C 9.18 Alpine Ski w/ Device 412 Binding All Mountain

Atomic C 9.18 Alpine Ski w/ Device 412 Binding All Mountain 

DESCRIPTION

The Atomic C 9.18 is a great all-mountain, carving ski that is good off-piste and excellent on groomers. It comes with the Device 412, one of the lightest bindings in existence (3.5lbs), built right into the ski without drilling holes and therefore preserving the skis virgin form. This so called integrated system is the lightest on the market for men. Designed for high intermediate to low expert skiers looking primarily for a carving ski, the C 9.18 with Device 412 is extremely quick edge to edge and super stable. This ski and binding have received rave reviews in magazine tests and reflects Atomics leadership in cutting edge design.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-2 of 2  
[Nov 26, 2004]
MarkP
Skier

One look at the dimensions of these skis and you can see that they are groomed carvers that don't have the waist width to be truly all-mountain, so to try and take them in powder and off piste, expecting them to perform like fat twins is foolish. That said, reviewers lamenting this fact and blaming it on shifty salespeople obviously didn't have enough ski knowledge to make informed purchase decisions, and likely not proper performance reviews either. I had a 2002 pair of 9:18's and really liked them. On groomed trails they carve in beautifully, moving edge to edge with minimal effort and maximum fun. On ice and frozen hardpack they grip well, provided you keep the edges tuned and sharp, giving you the confidence to ski the icy blacks when conditions are less than ideal. It is true that these skis don't like chunky frozen crud, nor are they good in deep powder, which they were never designed for. In the spring when conditions get soft, they tend to sink (the narrow waists again) but they are still a lot of fun. You can take these skis into bumps and moguls and although they turn easily and you can power them through the bumps, they are a bit of a harsh ride. When blasting down a run straight and fast they also tend to chatter and lack the stability of other skis, particularly if you bought them shorter than usual. However if your thing is carving, whether fast or slow, long or short radius, feeling the edges bite and leaving perfect linked turn S tracks in hard snow you won't be disappointed at all. They are light and manoeuverable enough to ski switch (not as well as a twin tip but pretty well), transitioning easily from forward to backwards and around again without a problem. They can handle limited jumping and park/pipe use but they land pretty firmly and don't flex enough to really be good at it. If you get better results from rental skis than 9:18's or newer C9's, I would recommend spending some money and taking a few classes to develop skills and carving technique, then skiing these skis again. You won't be disappointed. Bottom line on these skis - they are fun, an excellent 90% solution for people that ski primarily on groomed runs, will really let your carving skills develop and grow with you as you improve. I also have never spoken to anyone else skiing these boards that didn't love them. Highly recommended.

Similar Products Used:

Head Cyber XP60 - A true "all mountain" ski, less good at carving and quick turns than the C9, better in softer snow, crud, powder and spring skiing (all-mountain use), more stable at warp speed than the Atomics, but heavier, needing more muscle to make it turn. Best solution - buy a set of C9 for hard and groomed, use these for off piste, powder and bumps, you can get decent pairs of each used for reasonable prices. Blizzard Firehawk X07: A higher level of performance than the Atomics, these feel like you are on rails planted in the snow. Firm, snappy, high energy yet more stable when you are going fast. When you first click into them after riding the Atomics you immediately notice how hard they feel underfoot, and they move like they just want to turn and burn. They do, very well, giving you a big smile during every run. Pricey, but you won't be disappointed with them - a good step upwards after a couple seasons on the C9.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Oct 17, 2004]
ecmcdougall
Skier

2002 Atomic 9.18.... I never thought I'd see them listed as an "all-mountain" ski. Whoever put them there was dreaming or had taken extra medication that day. The ONLY thing this ski does at all is groomed runs.... no bumps, no crud, and god forbid, no powder. Groomers it's ok at lower speeds - it becomes quite unstable and starts to clatter at higher speeds. Carves ok, nothing special though. They have the skiing characteristics of a pair of cinderblocks strapped to your feet if the soft stuff gets much deeper than 2". Bumps can be done if you have a death wish; you sure won't be able to turn. You'll have all of the grace of a dog trying to take a dump, to boot. Overall, they'll look great gathering dust in your garage or basement. I sure wish I'd never listened to that silver-tongued devil in the store. Avoid these skis unless you really don't like yourself.....

Customer Service

(unknown)

Similar Products Used:

Nothing as bad. I'm renting the cheapo skis at the hill - a LOT more fun.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
2
Showing 1-2 of 2  

(C) Copyright 1996-2018. All Rights Reserved.

outdoorreview.com and the ConsumerReview Network are business units of Invenda Corporation

Other Web Sites in the ConsumerReview Network:

mtbr.com | roadbikereview.com | carreview.com | photographyreview.com | audioreview.com