Gear Review | Atomic Maven 103 CTI

First impression

The ski has a high-quality finish and comes in a simple yet stylish design. The color gradients from white to turquoise blue and brown/black are reminiscent of a mountain landscape with glaciers. The core is made of ash and poplar wood. The CTI in the name stands for the special core construction that combines carbon and Titanal - a proven technology by Atomic.

The Maven has a directional shape, an all-mountain rocker 20/65/16 and, like all models in the new Atomic Freeride series, the 3D shape typical of the brand. The specially shaped shovel is supposed to provide more stability and smoothness, adapt better to different snow conditions and guarantee proper floatation in powder.

I fitted the Atomic Shift 13, which gives each ski a weight of 2.5 kg - a more downhill-oriented setup.

Tester and test conditions

I ski on average around 40-80 days per winter and probably spend half of those days ski touring, and the trend is rising. Nevertheless, I would describe myself as more downhill-oriented skier. I am 165 cm tall and weight around 50 kilos, I am more of a lightweight. I tested the ski in length 170 cm and had the Maven with me the whole winter. There were a few, unfortunately far too rare, powder days, lots of tours with changeable conditions, a few fun days on the slopes, sometimes with ice and sometimes with slush, and the odd steeper, tighter section on skis was also included in the test conditions.

Conclusion

The Maven 103 CTI is a ski for anyone who likes to ski at speed and can build up good pressure on the edge. Those who are prepared to ski actively and put a lot of energy into their turns will be rewarded with great stability, strong edge hold and direct, smooth performance. The ski performs well on the piste, on hard surfaces and in fluffy powder. The base also looks extremely robust - despite a few stone contacts this winter, the ski still looks surprisingly good.

For light skiers or those who like to be playful and agile, however, it can be demanding - especially in narrow or icy terrain. I like to ride quickly, but I also like to slow down in challenging sections. In my case (at 52 kg and 165 cm tall), the shorter version (which the manufacturer actually recommends for me) would probably have been the better choice in order to gain a little more maneuverability in challenging sections. Friends who are a little taller and heavier confirm that it is then easier to handle.

All in all, however, a well thought-out, high-quality ski that can be used in all conditions and won't let you down.

Advantages and disadvantages

+ High-quality ski
+ Smooth running
+ Good edge hold
+ Stable even at higher speeds
+ Playful, direct response when initiating a turn

- Slightly sluggish when skiing slowly
( - requires active skiing)

Information

Price RRP: €799.99

Directional shape: Little to no rocker at the end of the ski for better edge contact and therefore more grip and stability.

High-gloss topsheet: High-gloss topsheet for a polished, glassy finish and a smooth, absolutely high-quality look.

All Mountain Rocker 20/65/16 for piste or powder: early flexing at the front or front and rear - for high versatility.

87° lateral edge angle - for intuitive handling, easy handling and better grip.

1.0° base-side edge angle for easy turning, excellent edge grip and top directional stability.

Here is the link to the Atomic website with more information. Here you can buy the ski from our partner store Sport Conrad.

The ski was provided to PowderGuide.com free of charge by the manufacturer. You can find out how we test it in our test statement.