2026 Atomic Maverick 88 CTI Ski Review

Super quick and sharp as a tack, the new 2026 Atomic Maverick 88 CTI is a cool customer when it comes to energetic turns. With a new construction and a shape that leans more to softer snow in the shovel, this ski has been opened up and unlocked for greater accessibility and versatility. It’s not like the Maverick 88 Ti needed any real updates—it is awesome the way that it is, but with the advent of the Maverick 105 and 115 CTI, it only stands to reason that the same build changes will filter into the narrower skis as well. We’ve recently covered the new Maverick 96 CTI, and many of those alterations of attributes carry into this 88 as well, but with a narrower and more front-side oriented footprint.

The construction updates start with the core. As opposed to a full poplar core in the 88 Ti, the CTI uses a blend of poplar and ash. This denser ash wood is found more often in race skis, thus adding dampness and power to the mix of the core. The CTI moniker alludes to the use of carbon infused into the fiberglass and a titanal laminate underfoot. The carbon adds zip and energy to the mix while the titanal holds the underfoot zone firmly in place on hardpack, ice, and other challenging snow conditions. The outgoing Ti version used a very thin core and thin layers of metal, allowing it to have that longer sword-like character. This new one feels more like a fine-tuned chef’s knife—very sharp and precise, but not quite as smooth, stable, or powerful at higher speeds. Light weight has always been a hallmark quality of the Maverick line, and this one is no different. Atomic states a weight of 1770 grams per ski in the 179, and that’s pretty darn close to our measured 1735 g/ski. At the end of the day, these are pretty light skis. This is right on par with the Ti's weight in the 176 cm length, so no real changes in weight to note. The flex is different, though, as the Ti version is consistently stiff from tip to tail with no real variances. The new CTI is more progressive, with a more flexible shovel and then stiffer underfoot and then a bit flexier in the tail. This aligns with the ski’s preference for softer snow and more interesting and adventurous terrain.

At a Glance:

2026 Atomic Maverick 88 CTI Skis

We’ll start the shape discussion with the new HRZN Tech 3D tip, as that aspect can go between build and shape. With more wood in the core, the sides of the HRZN tech are thinner and longer than in the previous generation. This is part of the process in making the shovels of the CTI floatier and more mobile than before. It’s not a big difference when it comes to rocker, as both skis state a split of 15/75/10 in the profile. It’s more of a change when we look at overall measurements and more notably, the increased taper shape of the CTI. The new 179 has sidecut measurements of 125/88.5/110, resulting in a 16.5-meter radius. The Ti version in the 176 is 124.5/88/109.5 with an 18.2-meter turn radius. While these don’t seem like big changes, when you put the skis back-to-back you can certainly feel a difference in the width. Wider tips, with increased taper, combined with slightly wider tails are going to decrease the turn radius. In this case, the drop is almost 2 meters, which is not insignificant and adds to the turnier nature of the new ski. The emphasis here is clearly a move to the more mobile, especially when the shape and profile are combined with the slightly more flexible shovels.

This is where the Chef’s Knife analogy comes in handy. On-piste, the shorter effective edge and slightly wider shovels are much easier to turn and carve than ever before. The 88 Ti was much more direct and instantaneous, while this CTI swings in quicker and easier. Granted, we (larger skiers) were mainly on the 179 over the 185, but it felt like a much shorter turn shape and style because of the flex and shape changes, even versus the 176 in the outgoing 88 Ti. In longer and more drawn out carves, the ski gets a bit nervous, but the script gets flipped when you shorten it up and make tighter turns. Carved or skidded, the ski does not care, but shorter turns, especially for heavier skiers, are preferable. There’s just not a lot of surface area for a lighter ski like this for not having two sheets of metal to stand up to really strong, aggressive, and powerful carving turns. This is a bit of a departure from the past. The improvements here are found mostly in the shorter carves, tighter arcs, and smoother overall feel. It’s more of a progressive flex and isn’t nearly as harsh as the older ski felt at times. We like how much easier it is to ski—imagine trying to cut up a nice filet with the proper knife versus a more cumbersome sword—this makes skiing just easier for more people.

Off-trail, we found that the new 88 CTI takes many of the attributes from the wider CTI versions in the Maverick line and applies them to the narrower ski. We saw this with the new 96 this year and it continues down into the 88. When it comes to soft snow, trees, bumps, and other adventurous activities, this is a big upgrade. The increased width and taper in the shovel is the number one culprit of these improvements as it allows the ski to steer and float way easier than the stiff and straight tips of the Ti version. When combined with a slightly more forgiving flex, this new shape and style really comes alive. It’s simply a more flowy ski. Whereas the 88 Ti felt like it wanted to be more connected to the bottom of whatever surface you were on, the new CTI’s shape and flex are floatier and more amenable to versatility. Since we’re dealing with skis in the ~88 mm range, versatility and well-roundedness are paramount qualities to have, and this new ski takes that to the next level. These are incredibly quick and mobile in the trees and bumps—it’s one of the better bump skis for 2026 in my mind—and in the woods, it’s incredibly easy to steer and maneuver around obstacles. Specifically, powder bumps are a total blast as the supportive tail is buoyed by the floaty tip—a great recipe for one of my favorite terrains. In crud and chop, the ski certainly prefers a more precise and calculated style versus a bulldozer or ramming speed type of skiing. The weight and flotation both fight against aggressiveness and speed in these scenarios. When you get to the wider 96, 105, and 115 CTI’s, it’s more evident that width and the corresponding weight help out here, leaving the 88 a bit behind. Overall, this is a more fun off-trail ski than its predecessor, but not necessarily a higher performing one.

While some skiers will miss the exactitude and power of the long-sword feel of the Maverick 88 Ti, most will prefer the new CTI’s blend of energy and forgiveness—it's a better tool for more jobs out there on the hill, hitting a larger percentage of applications. It doesn’t lose the Maverick feel or spirit, especially in the underfoot and tail sections but it certainly adds a freeride feel and softer snow preference in the front third. While not as precise or stiff as the 88 Ti, it’s more supple, smooth, and approachable. I always felt that the Maverick 88 Ti required a whole lot of focus and concentration. While you can push this new CTI to a high level for sure, it has a better low range as well, broadening appeal and attracting more skiers. If you’re in the ski selling business, this is definitely a good thing.