2023 Atomic Bent 90
If you’re looking for a fun, versatile, and easy-going ski with a ton of upside, look no further than the 2023 Atomic Bent 90. There aren’t many limitations to this ski from an application perspective, and when you get it on the feet of the right skier, it all just makes sense. Built with a light wood core consisting of poplar stringers, the Bent 90 has a simple build—much like its wider cousin, the Bent 100. The 90 also has the same rocker profile as 100, with 70% camber underfoot, 20% tip rocker, and 10% tail rocker. This makes for a longer effective edge and a silky-smooth ride. They’re pretty light, coming in at 1600 grams per ski in the 175, and the swing weight feels even lighter with the combination of HRZN tips and tails as well as capped shovels and tails. It’s a pretty straight cut, with the 119mm tip and 109mm tail joining forces with the 90 mm waist to produce a 19-meter turn radius. That’s on the longer side of the spectrum, but makes for a great feel in the park, woods, or bumps.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
Dura Cap Sidewall
PREFERRED TERRAIN
All Mountain, Park, Groomers
On the 184, Bob St.Pierre notes that “it’ll have to do as that’s the longest length, but I’d sure like to see this thing come in a 188 like the 100 and 110.” Bob scored the Bent 90 5’s out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, forgiveness, versatility, and overall impression. He gave lower scores of 2 out of 5 for stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. “This is about as fun-loving and versatile a ski as you’ll find. I do wish it had a bit more juice to it, like adding the Carbon Backbone found in the 120 or Backland skis would go a long way in adding more snap and pop to the ski. That said, it’s about the best tree and mogul ski I’ve been on in quite some time. It absolutely is a blast in the trees—super easy to turn, but that comes with a cost on the firmer groomers and harder snow. I use it to ski with my kids all the time, and it makes my day so much easier and more fun.” Chris McClelland found his 175 cm to be a little short, and that’s not surprising given Chris’ height. He scored it 5’s out of 5 for overall impression and playfulness, with 4’s for versatility, torsional stiffness, edge hold, forgiveness, quickness, maneuverability, and flotation. Chris “really enjoyed the Bent 110 and the 90 was just as fun. They had a very forgiving tip in and felt really nimble when making quick pop turns. I really like how the tips feel and pivoting around them is a breeze. This is definitely a more off-piste focused ski and it showed. This ski was a blast in bumps and trees and felt very controlled the whole way down. I would recommend this for someone trying to get in the woods and off the piste more on the East Coast like here in Vermont.” Nice to see Chris and Bob agree that bumps and trees are a great place to be for the Bent 90.
Mike Aidala skied the 175, noting it was true to size. He scored it top marks of 5 out of 5 for overall impression, versatility, forgiveness, quickness, maneuverability, flotation, and playfulness. 4’s for stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold rounds out an impressive scorecard. Mike states that “The new Bent 90 skis are so much fun to ski, the skis are so light in weight and so stable. Literally you put the skis where you mentally want the skis and they are there with stability! The Bent 90 skis are a spring bump crusher!! Just so much fun to ski...” Mike even got a pair specifically for late-season mogul skiing, so that’s a pretty ringing endorsement. Hans von Briesen found the 175 to be short, and that’s not surprising for a taller, more aggressive skier like Hans. He scored it top marks of 4 out of 5 for versatility, forgiveness, playfulness, quickness, and maneuverability. The rest of his scores were 3’s. Hans notes that it’s a “Great versatile ski, easy to maneuver in varieties of conditions. Socks stayed on but I noticed that I was wearing socks.” Did you know that some skiers don’t wear socks at all when they ski?
We’re loving the new Bent 90 from Atomic. While it’s going to be enough ski for most skiers out there in the intermediate through advanced categories, some aggressive experts will want some more power, but that’s not really what this ski is all about. For bumps, trees, park, pipe, and all-mountain cruising, the Atomic Bent 90 is a newcomer to the class that’s going to rise to the top pretty easily.
Time to look up some older skiers who can give you the feel of how we feel about skis. I’m 77 and have been skiing for 70 of those year, 50 have been on the National Ski Patrol in up state NY. There are many in my age bracket that would like to have someone in our age bracket that still hits the slopes year in and year out. I’ve been a Mountain Ambassador for Atomic Skis for going on 20 years. I try all the new skis from them and others at a demo day that the local ski shop puts on each year that gives me a chance feel out the other ski company’s goods.
My legs aren’t what they use to be but I can still carve a great turn and nut now I take the moguls a bit on the easy side.
So look around and I know you’ll find those folks that would love to tell you what they like and don’t like about a ski.
Thanks for sending out some great information on the new skis and equipment.
Bob,
Nice review. I’m considering this ski amongst a couple of others (Captis, Ripstick 88, Shaggy Ahmeek 95. I’m particularly interested in what the following line from the review means, “but that comes with a cost on the firmer groomers and harder snow.” I’m far from a VT local but that’s usually where I end up about 15 out of 20 days of the season. Love the trees and bumps and if I luck into some boot-deep powder I’m a happy skier. Carving groomers is a blast but if I’m going to sacrifice some performance it’ll be on the groomers.
HI Rich!
The Bent just has more of a flexible and playful nature that is highlighted in bumps and trees, but certainly has a negative effect when it comes to carving turns on groomers. A ski like the Bent 90 that’s so incredibly good in the woods is just not going to hold as strong of an edge as something like the more directional Ripstick 88. If you love bumps, trees, and powder, I’d say the Bent 90 is right up there with the best of them. Have fun!
SE
Thank you for the quick reply!
Thank you for the quick reply!
How playful are they? Im looking for a killer ski that can ride all mountain but also put up with some damage doing nosebutters and tail butters. I knwo the rocker is great for that, but in terms of the flexibility and strength of the ski would they hold up? Im about 155lb and 5’10
9/10 Playful I’d say–very high in that regard. I’d go with that ski in the 175 all day. Have fun!
SE
Hey SkiEssentials
I’ve been wanting to get a pair of either bent 90 or bent 100. i think im leaning most towards the 90 for the agility. but should my height make me reconsider? im 193cm tall, and the longest model of the bent 90 is 184, where i can get the bent 100 at 188 cm instead.
Also, my main issue is, that the 90 is super hard to get hold of here in italy, but 1 store near me has the 100 right now.
I’m about 188 cm and I ski the 184 and it’s just fine. I suppose I wish they made a 188 in that ski like they do with the 100, but oh well. I also have the 100 in the 188 and love it, but the 90 is considerably more agile and quick. I don’t want to talk you into a ski that’s available that you don’t want as much. I’d keep an eye out for the 90 if you have the time.
SE