Atomic Doubledecker, are they serious?!

I came across this model:
http://www.skipass.com/guide-matos/s...ker-vf-82.html
It seems like they upped the ante on "variable radius" gimmiky skis. The skis adjust the turn radius without the need of turning switches or changing arms. The dimensions look good and they probably ski well, but the claims seem weird\unfounded?

No....they are not really serious......yet.

SJ

that one skis pretty well actually....... not so sure about the vario cut version though

Rumor has it the "D2" double decker with the radical variable shape design (not the version cited above at SkiPass.com) has not really performed all that well on snow in its last incarnation...so they are still working on it....but it's an interesting concept worth pursuing..

Computer-generated promo vid can be seen here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8cYcxZt0KM

i have just decided that i entirely do not do enough drugs...

i tried both the variocut and varioflex last year. they were both terrifying. i am not a small guy and they were anything but confidence inspiring.

both felt like i was skiing on dead, lifeless plastic. with no edges

apparently theyve retooled the variocut and have been getting much better feedback on it. keep in mind it was an atomic rep that told me that though...hahaha

This is the "carbon fiber buggy whip" problem. They should be working on reverse camber designs...

Nice analogy.

Atomic are definitely barking up the wrong tree with that idea.

Found some more info and pics on the VarioCut...etc.

Looks like the vario cut model varies between 12 -> 18m radii and is available in 72 or 82mm waist widths.

at METROSNOW...

Atomic Web Site has some more info and pics prior to release.

Skieur Magazine has some info too...(French) with a little video showing a rack of the DoubleDeck skis, but no skiing action with them.

We'll see if we can get a ride on a pair in December and report what they feel like....Like BROAD did with his ride and report on on the previous versions on snow, ...I'll bet the first person at EpicSki to try a pair will post reviews ASAP....interesting idea...the first version may not be the best they can create, but it's a start at some innovation in ski designs...

Well Andrea Fischbacher got 3rd today on a doubledecker ski in the Soelden GS. (well that ski definitely had no variosidecut). She said in an afterrace interview that the doubledecker technology helps her to get over ruts, as the ski gets much damper, profiting especially skiers from the higher starting groups (she had startnuber 26 - drawing in the highest top 30 group). AFAIK she was the only Atomic athlete with a doubledecker ski, but than it's hard to see on tv what the skiers really are on.

I suppose on the raceski the doubledecker is simply the evolution of a plate from bootlength to longer length. This would of course make a ski even damper, but also less lively. The Variosidecut on the other hand seems to me just like another try to sell something that doesn't make sense.

I'm not sure wheter a double-titanal ski with a race-room plate needs to get any damper for non-racing though. I can't believe I'ld need even damper skis - Atomic race-skis are already to my liking too damp.

Has anyone got a link to a the raceroom version of the doubledecker? Andrea Fischbacher took a nonrace, non-doubledecker standard 2009 ski to the interviews/podium. They also didn't show any closeup of her ski on the start.

Today I could see that John Kucera was using a Doubledecker ski. It's not as prominent as on the public skis. The topsheet was above the construction. On the raceroom skis this is clearly just like a much longer plate, portruding about 40-50cm to the front of the forefoot, and 20cm to the back. Remembers a bit the old days of the Atomic Beta construction, it is clearly more centered however and not so wide.

By the end of the year most WC athletes on both Atomic and Salomon will be racing on double deck. It has a big advantage re. decreased vibration and chatter which allows the ski to carve more cleanly. In testing, WC skiers commented that they thought they were going slower simply because there was less 'noise' from the ski. Timing proved otherwise.

FYI, Beta is dead.

I agree with others that the vario sidecut will probably die an early death in the market, but this should not be confused with double-deck.

hehe

So, how Vario Flex works? Less force to bend less and more force to bend more?

Oh, so much like any other ski...

Wasnt that your favorite ski from last seasons intro????

I remember skiing on early versions of the double-deck ski (not vario) about eight or so years ago, back when it was a prototype design from the Fels brothers of the, now defunct, Fels ski company from Calgary.  It was an interesting idea, with most of the performance characteristics being dictated by the top cap, and the bottom section being easily interchangable, via bolts, to change side cut or swap off a damaged base.

 

Fels was subcontracting the manufacturing of their 'Trinetic' (1st generation) ski to Atomic, way back then, and when the company went under Atomic bought the rights to the double deck design that Fels had developed.  It was an eye opener for me to see the design finally hit the market after skiing on it so many years ago.

I skied the D2 Vario Flex at the retail demo at Snowbasin and was quite impressed.  Conditions were groomed and chalky packed/moguls.  I don't know how much of the ski's response was based on all the technological stuff, but it held a nice carve on the groomed, let me out the turn when I wanted, and although it didn't have a lot of snap, it had enough for me.  On the chalky stuff it was damp but lively enough in short turns to be fun.  Larger GS turns were quiet and stable, even in the cruddy edges off the groomers.  I'd say its forte seems to be a pretty good compromise between energy and stability, covering a rather wide spectrum between the two, making it a great "frontside" ski.

That ski looks like a sword.

I want a sword print on my ski's now.
*sigh*

they are serious - take a gander at UTUBE too. there are some demos and comments regarding the latest double decker technology from Atomic. should be here this fall in a serious way. comments so far appear to be very good underfoot and works as they say. i suspect we will see more manufacturers jumping on this tech as well...

Check out the following links...

 

 

Um, I think you mean they are *trying* to be serious. It must be hard to keep a straight face though.  As for others jumping on similar tech -- maybe in an "irrelevant technical sideshow" kind of way...

 

PS: GN, ya work for Atomic's marketing dept? For a post #1, it has that kind of feel...

 

 

Go to ebay and search for 'machete'

I haven't skied them, but FWIW, Atomic is using the tech on their FIS race skis (maybe even WC?), and the coaches I've talked to have raved about them.

 

I'm normally skeptical of any of the gimmicky stuff manufacturers put out (probably due to skiing Head for so many years - I get numb to names like Intelligence, LiquidMetal, etc), particularly stuff on top of the ski (Mutix anyone?), but maybe Atomic's legitimately found something worthwhile here. 

i don't work for atomic - though sometimes i wish...atomic is pumping the marketing on this and i think they are serious about selling this mass market.

yea - it may not be the specialist we want but i bet they will sell a lot of them...

All their race SLs and GSs will have D2 next year, and the guys in the shop in Boulder that gets us race stock stuff have skied on them and say the faster you go, the better they turn...I have a pair of GSs on order...

I own the Vario Cut D2,162 72mm. It is one of six different sets I own (Elan, Salmon etc) . Actually I find the D2 dissapointing.  The promise is a variabele radius. But it isn;t that extreme as they advertise. The Atomic SL series will give you more feedback under your feet, and a Salomon equipe 3v Race is even more variable. And the Metron B5 "tank" gives you more comfort at extreme carving. Maybe the comparison is not quite fair, but I had to ski the D2's quite firmly on its side to "read" their personality and to get value for the buck.
And on top of that after the first day of skiing one of it broke in the middle, at the point where is flexes the most and where it should be  the strongest you would say. But it isn;t, the D2, cannot handle the extremeness you can do with the B5, SL and 3V. It seems skilled skiers are not quite the match for the D2 Vario Cut technology, it is to sensitive and a very expensive all round ski..

I don't even really look at Atomic and Salomon as legitimate skis anymore....  Salomon has always been about gimmicks, and Atomic is getting more and more so.

Yup, and fewer and fewer people are skiing on them as well... I saw noticeably less Atomics in the start gate last season opposed to the season before.

Now, when I look on eBay it seems like 80% of the skis on the page are Atomics.