The 2024 Atomic Cloud Q12 is a wider-bodied front side ski that loves to be used in a front side capacity. It uses a lot of technology to create its specific character, and it does a great jobby filtering in some of that tech from the race room and putting it in a more friendly format. As a result, the Q12 features a high-performance ceiling that is both exciting and accessible at the same time. Since most skiers spend most of their time on groomed terrain, it makes sense to have a ski that functions well in this capacity. If you’re looking for something that feels planted, confident, and grippy, the Atomic Cloud Q12 is a very strong option for many advanced skiers.

In terms of construction, Atomic uses a mix of lightweight materials and high-end technology to create a pleasing yet aggressive ski that can handle both speed and agility at the same time. Their Flite wood core is the culprit here, as the blend of supple and light woods in the core combine to create something that’s easy to maneuver while retaining excellent energy. This allows for all-day comfort and control as sometimes skis in this range can feel too heavy or demanding for long-term use. We also get a titanal layer that dampens the vibrations of the ski and keeps the torsional stiffness and edge grip at an absolute maximum. One of Atomic’s new and cool things is the use of Carbon Revoshock to further stabilize the ski, especially in the forebody. By placing carbon plates in an elastomer laminate, Atomic takes those unwanted vibrations and filters them right out. The plates can float in the elastomer, and that counteracts the chatter in an effective manner. Since they’re carbon, they don’t weigh a whole lot, adding agility to the mix.

While the ski is 83 mm underfoot, it’s still decidedly more of a front side shape. This is due to a few factors, the first being the ski’s fully cambered profile. With no rocker to speak of, the ski has a long effective edge and energy built in. The longer the running length, the smoother the feel, and that’s what you’re getting with this Q12. In the 159 cm length, the Q12 produces a 12.8-meter turn radius, which is very much on the short side of the spectrum. We don’t normally see skis this wide produce such a short arc, and that gives the Q12 a very unique spot and character within other front side skis.As a result of the dimensions, the ski ends up having a pretty wide shovel at 130 mm, and if you ever encounter softer snow or are looking for more adventure, this is a great place to be.

Skis like this are highly useful tools for pure groomer skiing. The wider bodied format allows for steeper edge angles in softer snow with no real loss of torsional stiffness. With a blend of high-end performance and accessibility for a wide range of skiers, this Q12 covers a lot of bases and checks a lot of boxes. Since most skiers spend a lot of time on the front side, this ski is very valuable for a large percentage of days. Sure, there are times when it snows and this ski will be somewhat overmatched by softer and deeper snow, but you still have some width to help out when push comes to shove.