The Redster Q9 is an interesting ski, and a very fun ski too. The Redster collection is home to some of the most powerful and precise race and carving skis in the world. The Redster Q collection, however, is intended to be a bit more versatile and user-friendly. Things get interesting with this ski in particular, as it’s quite narrow, almost race ski narrow, and uses a relatively strong build. If anything in the Redster Q line feels like it could belong in, or at least keep up with, that range of race carvers, it’s the Q9. Still, it has a touch of forgiveness and more of an easy-going nature than skis like the Redster G9 or X9S. It does that without giving up too much of its top end, however, and still remains a very precise ski in itself.

It’s built using Atomic’s Power Woodcore, a dense, powerful, and precise core that’s found in even some World Cup skis. Then we get all the other high end technology Atomic has to offer. Revoshock S, Titanal laminates, Ultrawall sidewalls, a Structured Topsheet, and a World Cup base grind. When you add up all those elements, you get a strong, powerful, and highly capable ski. Atomic works in a bit of user-friendliness through shape elements as well as control over the flex pattern. While the construction is basically the same on paper, the Q9 does have a slightly softer flex pattern than the G9. We use the word slight because it truly is a small difference between them, but something you can notice if you test the skis back to back.

Shape is where Atomic can get a bit more creative. We’re75 mm underfoot with the Redster Q9, which is a nice place to be for a carving ski. It’s not as narrow as a race ski, but far quicker edge to edge than even its wider sibling, the Q9.8. This gives it a highly rewarding feel when linking carving turns. It’s very precise and very easy to make those transitions from one turn to the next. There’s no rocker in the shape of the Q9, but Atomic does include just a little bit of early taper. That does a couple things. One, it makes turn initiation a little bit less harsh. Of course, if you were racing, that would mean you’re losing milliseconds out there, but again, this isn’t intended to be a race ski. The benefit is smoother, easier, and more gradual entries into a carving turn. The other thing it does is allow for more manipulation once you’re in that turn. It’s easier to release the tail edge and break free from a carve, giving you a lot of control and confidence as a skier. Turn radius is great for a ski like this. It’s quite short in the 152 cm length at just 12.3 m, but the 176 cm goes up to 14.2. We’d venture a guess that most people considering this ski will end up on the 168 or 176, which have a very quick, responsive radius without feeling too demanding. Keep in mind, if choosing one of the shorter lengths, you’re practically buying a wide slalom ski, and should be ready to make a lot of turns. The difference in skiing experience between 12.3 m and 13.5 is, interestingly enough, quite noticeable.

Skiers looking for a dedicated carving ski that also want a touch of forgiveness and versatility in their turn shapes should take a hard look at the Redster Q9. We wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as a race ski, but we could see it working well in a local recreational race league. Probably not quite enough for a high school racer, but maybe worth a consideration for someone just getting their feet wet in the sport. Its highlight, undoubtedly, is how much fun it makes a simple groomer. You don’t need to go fast either. That shorter turn radius gives the ski a rewarding, responsive feel even when going slower and/or on more moderate pitches.