Atomic is expanding their Backland line of skis and boots for the 2016/17 ski season, and it was all available for us to oogle at during the Outdoor Retailer 2016 Winter Market. Highlights include the dissolution of the popular Automatic line of skis, a women’s verson of the Backland touring boot, and new Backland touring skis for dedicated backcountry rippers. Here’s a closer look:
BACKLAND FREERIDE COLLECTION
Say goodbye to the Atomic Automatic… but not really. Those award-winning skis are simply being rebranded as Backland. The Backland Freeride skis are the same platform as the Automatic but with some tweaks to make them backcountry (as well as resort) friendly.
The Backland Freeride 117 features a light, poplar wood core, with a full carbon backbone. It has step-down sidewall construction, Powder Rocker profile, and HRZN Tech. That is the spooned shape in the tip that looks like the hull of a ship whcih first premiered on the 2015 Bent Chetler skis.
The Backland Freeride 109 has the same construction but with a 109mm waist. It also has HRZN Tech, but a lighter version where they created a beveled profile for more floatation.
For the ladies, there is the Backland 109 Women’s. It’s also light weight with the poplar core and HRZN Tech in the tip for deep snow on tours and in-bounds.