The Atomic Vantage X 83 CTI is the widest ski in Atomic’s Vantage X series of all mountain carving skis and while it leans towards use on groomed slopes, retains the ability to venture off trail from time to time. Atomic builds this ski using Carbon Tank Mesh, a layer of super-stiff, woven mesh that offers excellent strength at a light weight as well as their Titanium Backbone, a center strip of metal running through the ski. It’s lighter than a traditional carving ski, but still packs a punch. We had 5 total testers take out the Vantage X 83 CTI.
Joe Cutts made a very astute comment about the Vantage X 83 after testing the 182 cm length. He says that they’re “not the ‘highest performing’ ski in this category and that’s what made it so fun. (It’s) super fun/easy/playful, but loved to bend and hold in deep arcs.” We like that Joe pointed out that it’s not as burly as some other carving skis, but highlighted that as more of a strength than a weakness. Not everyone wants something that feels like a race-stock GS ski, although Joe certainly didn’t think it was a slouch of a ski, adding that it was “never chattery or flighty or nervous.” Joe gave the ski top scores for quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, as well as forgiveness, which says a lot about a high performance carving ski.
Mike Thomas echoed this reaction, again giving the ski 5 out of 5 for forgiveness. Mike is a big, powerful skier and seemed to feel very comfortable on the Vantage X 83 CTI in the 182 cm length. He comments that they are an “easy skiing ‘all mountain carver’ that feels stable, damp, and trustworthy.” Mike even sheds some insight on who he thinks the ski would be a great choice for by continuing with, “best for a bigger guy who is an improving advanced skier looking for frontside versatility.”
Jamie Bisbee certainly agreed that the ski is quite versatile for something that’s pegged as a “carving ski”. His reaction to the ski was that it is a “fantastic east coast ski.” Jamie gave the Vantage X 83 a 5 out of 5 for quickness and maneuverability saying that he could make “any turn shape on demand.” Jamie was skiing the 175 cm length. Going back to the idea that this ski is great for someone who spends most, but not all of their time on groomers, Jamie concluded his experience by noting that he would feel comfortable skiing them in “all conditions up to 6 inches of fresh (snow).”
Michael Rooney, arguably the least aggressive out of the 5 testers who took out the ski, doesn’t want skiers to come away from this ski test thinking the Vantage X 83 isn’t a powerful carving ski just because of its versatility and forgiveness. Michael skied the 175 cm length and he mentioned that the ski is “great for people who can really push it. When pushed it really responds.” This is a really nice response to the ski as it makes us realize that while someone like Mike Thomas might feel that it’s easy to ski, it still is a ski that’s geared towards advanced skiers who are comfortable driving a ski.
We think Jamie had a nice reaction to the ski by calling it a fantastic east coast ski. While we really don’t like to say a ski is better for the east or west, it does fall into a traditional east coast feel. The Vantage X 83 can handle just about all types of snow conditions here on the east, with the exception of really deep powder, and it does it all with a responsive, yet impressively forgiving feel.
