2026 Atomic Redster X9S

This ski is a total blast. The 2026 Atomic Redster X9S is one of the more interesting and dynamic skis on the market today. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure, but if you’re interested in a narrow waist, a high-speed capacity, and a mid-range radius, this ski is for you. Even here in Vermont, there just aren’t that many days that have snow firm enough to fully handle the 65 mm sharpness of the X9S. Racers, former racers, and expert skiers are all in this ski’s intended audience, but the time that you can use it is sparce. It’s basically an inverse powder ski—amazing in its designed terrain and conditions, but not too versatile elsewhere.

Featuring more race-like construction than most skis in the world, the Redster X9S consists of their Ultra Power wood core made from beech and poplar. Atomic adds two layers of titanal to the mix, a sturdy sidewall material, and Revoshock steel plates to the mix. These steel plates are mounted to an elastomer laminate, and they function as a vibration reduction system. This is good news especially since most skiers are going to be going pretty quick on these skis, and mainly on firm snow. Tester Bob St.Pierre got to ski these skis at Waterville Valley in New Hampshire earlier this year and notes that “this is an otherworldly carving ski. I took it down the steepest and firmest trail I could find and there’s total confidence here. At the same time, I’m not good enough of a carver to be able to push this ski to its limit, but I certainly appreciate what it can do.”

In terms of shaping, the ski has a very narrow waist at 65.5 mm in the 175, and that’s about as narrow as it gets before getting into full-on race world. This can be off-putting for various skiers who need a bit more width underfoot for balance, but if you’re looking to make the most out of a firm groomer, this will take out all the guesswork. For turn shape, the 175 produces a mid-range radius of 15.2-meters and fits in the mid-zone of carving style. Once again, Bob notes that this ski is in a different planet: “Once I had the mid-range somewhat covered, I decided to open it up. You forget what a narrow ski can do after being on wider stuff most of the time. At straighter shapes and insanely high speeds, the X9S doesn’t feel like a short to medium-radius carver, this feels like a downhill ski. No issues with speed and stability whatsoever.”

As for ability and intended audience, it’s tough to put this thing in anything other than the expert category. Sure, and advanced skier could get down the mountain on it, but it’s kind of a waste of ski. You want to be an expert skier, and hopefully with a race background, to take full advantage of the available power and performance.