2022 Atomic Cloud 12

The Atomic Cloud 12 returns unchanged for 2022, providing the same amazing edge grip and torsional stiffness, while keeping the ski accessible for advancing and progressing skiers who are looking to lay down some deep and round arcs on the snow. Ideally suited for groomed and firmer surfaces, these 70 mm underfooted skis have a ton of bite on the snow, and are about as quick as they come. In the 161 cm length, the skis generate a 13.9-meter turn radius, which is on the short side, and almost bordering on a slalom-style turn. As a result, skiers should expect to be on edge a whole lot, and not really riding a flat ski too much. With a bit lighter of a wood core than the pure race skis, the Cloud 12 still has a full-on servotec rod that keeps the skis on the intended line with endless power and stability. Thanks to Atomic’s racing heritage, skis like this make a lot of sense for advanced and expert skiers who are looking for a strong and precise ski to make some of the cleanest and roundest turns out there on the hill.

Nifer Hoehn skied the 161 and found it to be a good length for her. Nifer’s racing background comes into play for skis like this, as she’s able to tap into her former slalom roots and get a good feel for how this ski will perform for strong skiers all over the world. She gave the skis 5’s out of 5 for stability, quickness, maneuverability, edge hold, torsional stiffness, playfulness, and overall impression. This all means that this ski is right up Nifer’s alley. A low score of 3 out of 5 for flotation is not surprising, especially given the 70 mm waist width. Nifer states “Hot damn! These are awesome! Loved the playfulness—easy to turn and initiate, with great hold. Loved the power coming out of the turn and the stiffness. So easy to ski and so fun. Other than the graphic, these skis are a 10!” It’s very nice to see that these skis appeal to the high-end of the skier spectrum for sure.

Another top-flight skier on the 161, Kristi Brown noted that it was too short for her, but was still very strong and agile. Her scores all skirted the 4-5 range, with pure 5’s given for torsional stiffness, edge hold, and stability. Overall impression, quickness, and maneuverability all got 4’s with the rest of the categories bridging the line between 4 and 5. This type of high-end scores are not really typical of a 70 mm underfoot ski, and it’s great to see that other than flotation, these skis have a whole lot going for them. Kristi notes that “the Cloud 12 made me feel like a Bond Girl—sweet, sexy and slick. The Cloud 12 is a stealth performer and a good reason to get out of bed in the morning. Yes, it’s that good!” Pretty glowing review here from Kristi, and it sounds like all that Atomic technology really adds up and works well.

If you’re looking for a slim-waisted front side ski that has a lot of the attributes of a race ski, but isn’t as demanding or burly, the Atomic Cloud 12 is a fantastic choice. For laying down some mean carves on the groomers, these skis can hold their own with the best of them, and our testers seemed to be quite impressed with the overall performance and high-end feel of the Atomic Cloud 12.