The 2019 Atomic Vantage 107 Ti is a new offering this year, and it takes the Vantage line to the next level. This ski is a full-send, top-speed, big turn type of ski that will please even the most demanding expert skiers. While it’s more freeride oriented than the typical “race ski on steroids” that we’ve seen over the past few years, it definitely likes to go really fast in wide open spaces. That’s not to say it doesn’t have a home in the tighter chutes and trees, but the meat and potatoes of the Vantage 107 Ti is found when you’re pinning the speedometer. Atomic has carved a canal through the middle portion of the Vantage series, putting more pressure and emphasis on the edges. Additionally, the material moved creates a lower swing weight, so a big ski like this feels and skis a bit lighter than its counterparts.
Hans von Bliesen tore it up on the 189 and found that it “allowed for versatile terrain choices and playful skiing.” We like this type of comment because it means that a big ski can do lots of different stuff—it’s not just locked into one discipline. He continued by saying that it’s a “true all-mountain ski. It wants to go strong and fast, making big turns in open terrain.” This affirms the ski’s true nature—to be ridden hard and fast and make big, fun turns. It’s worth noting that the ski is somewhat “limited by its width and length for ultimate all-mountain performance” meaning that at 107 mm underfoot you do lose some of the quickness from edge to edge, but that just means that the ski excels even better elsewhere.
Another freeride enthusiast, Jake Inger, said that at the 189 cm length, “this ski was able to do EVERYTHING I wanted it to. It was stiff in the middle and more forgiving on the tips and tails. This allowed for a strong edge hold but a lot of forgiveness.” We trust Jake when he says this, and it reinforces the fact that Atomic’s technological construction prowess comes to life when skied. Jake gave the skis high scores in every single category that we created, meaning that he will most likely get one for himself when they come out.
Marcus Shakun also skied the 189, found that it skied true to size, and gave high marks for stability, edge hold, and overall impression. Marcus skis a lot of different skis, so it’s nice to get such a reaction. While making high speed turns, he found the ski to be a “stiff ski for an aggressive skier that is committed to skiing hard!” We assume he included the exclamation point on purpose—letting potential skiers know that it’s happiest when pushed. Adding to that, he notes that the Vantage 107 Ti is “not forgiving for timid skiers. You need to be on it.” Message received, Marcus.
Freestyle oriented Noah Labow found himself testing the 174 cm length, and loved the flotation that the Vantage 107 Ti provided. Additionally, he loved the fact that “this ski ate up the groomers well for a fat ski.” He even went so far as to say that “I could ski this ski every day in the East.” A ringing endorsement, to be sure, Noah also found it to be “very light and maneuverable for a big ski. It’s clean in and out of the turn, lots of fun.” Noah definitely used the disclaimer “for a fat/big ski” more than once in his review, something that we take note of as we progress through the test.
As with any new ski in a product line, Atomic is taking aim at some serious competition. From Fischer’s Ranger 108 Ti to the Blizzard Cochise, the Vantage 107 Ti has some stiff competition, and will be a fantastic comparison.
