The Atomic Bent Chetler has been around for a few years. So why write a review about it now? Because the new, 2015 model is basically an entirely different ski. This will be the 6th version of the iconic pro-model ski from Atomic athlete Chris Bentchetler. So what makes the new Bent Chetler so different? Mostly because Atomic has gone all spoony on us.
These skis feature what they call, “HRZN Tech” which takes traditional rocker, changes the technologies of ABS sidewall construction, and expands it horizontally across the ski. Yep… horizontal rocker. The company says this translates to 10% more surface area in the tip and tail. They’ve also added a “Carbon Sprocket Power Booster” which is a carbon insert laid directly onto the core in front of and behind the binding area. In addition, the traditional rocker profile is 30% in the tip, 40% camber and 30% tail.
Other features include:
- Sizes: 178, 185, 192
- Radius: 19m/185cm
- Waist Width: 120mm
- HRZN Tech
- Sprocket Power Booster (SPB)
- Powder rocker
- Step down sidewall 2.0
- Lite wood core
- MSRP: $800
Atomic released a limited number of new Bent Chetlers this season, and I was lucky enough to receive a pair. For the last two months I’ve skied on nothing but the Bent Chetlers while in-bounds at Alta. No matter the conditions – powder, hard pack, bumps, or spring corn, I rocked these sticks to measure up how they perform despite what the morning ski report says.
Groomers
My first day skiing the 2015 Bent Chetler was a sunny, packed powder day. To get a warm up and a feel for the ski, my first run at Alta was down a groomer under the Collins lift. The skis have a 120mm waist, so I was apprehensive at first, but quickly found that the skis perform reasonably well. While they did anything but carve, they were stable and surfy on corduroy, and the tips didn’t exhibit the slightest “rocker flap.” I’ve skied a lot of powder hogs on hardpack before, and the new Bent Chetler are among the easiest to handle when going from the pow off-trail back to the lift.
Packed Powder
That same day, I spent the rest of my time on a mission to link what shreds of powder was left. I mostly stayed on the Wildcat lift where packed powder and even a few turns on fluffy, untracked pillows could still be found. Here is where I got my first taste of what the new Bent Chetlers can do. Often in broken up snow conditions, skis get deflected going from powder to hardpack and back to powder again. But these sticks are like tanks that gobble up everything in their path. Although the tips and tails are beveled with HRZN Tech, and are therefore lighter than most, I never felt that they folded under pressure when the going got rough. Overall, in variable powder, the new Bent Chetlers are confidence inspiring.
Ice
While there was never a true hard pack or icy day at Alta during my test period, I did get a sense of what to expect from icy patches, especially in the wind blown upper sections of the mountain like on the High Traverse. Often these ice sections must be negotiated to access the goods below, and some ski edges can bite into it no problem. Not so with the Bent Chetlers. I slipped and slid on ice like never before and sometimes got seriously spooked when side-stepping over exposure. I’m used to skis with more camber, flatter tails and ample sidecut for times like these, so the Bent Chetler were not fun until I got into softer stuff. To be fair, these are powder-specific skis, so nobody can reasonably expect anything more from them while staring down a chute covered in wind-scoured styrofoam.
Powder
Ah, powder – the substance Bent Chetlers were born to shred. Despite a dry January and February this year, I got several deep days of classic Alta blower on the Bent Chetlers. I’m going to be honest here, I was disappointed at first. Why? Because I couldn’t figure these skis out! While skiing with edges engaged on packed powder, groomers or even hard pack, I knew how to drive them, but when the going got bottomless, things got weird. Every time I made a turn, those beveled, rockered tails would wash out, practically spinning me backwards. Now, I understand where Chris Bentchetler was coming from when he came up with these skis, because his videos show him tearing up big lines, skiing switch while buttering powder spines on his ski tips. I’m not that kind of skier.
I’m a bit more old-school, and am used to powder skis that are more directional. Twin tips or early-rise tails have been super good to me on other skis, but the Bent Chetler were a conundrum. Well, I kept at ’em and skied them every powder day despite feeling like I forgot how to ski entirely. After a while, I finally figured them out. Basically, I had to change the way I ski. With the bindings at a more center mount, I had to keep my stance far more forward than usual and really dig in with the tips to the point that I felt like I would tip head over heels. But those tips don’t dip with the HRZN Tech that acts like the hull of a boat. Also, rather than waiting for the tails to engage from turn to turn like on traditional skis, the playful, Bent Chetler tails have to be seduced into turning. I found I had to simply unweight them and ease into the turn, then transfer my weight into the next turn quickly before the tails keep going through the turn on their own. I’m sure this makes facing forward then quickly spinning to switch in powder very easy, but forces one to literally think on their feet otherwise.
Now that I figured out how to manage the rockered, beveled tails, I’m in love with the new Atomic Bent Chetlers. Those “spooned” tips and tails could probably scoop ice cream, and they love to make wide-sweeping turns on open faces, but also do well while tree skiing in the deep.
Plus, I really, really like the design of the new top sheet and find myself staring at them when riding the lift.
The Good: Skis powder like no other ski I’ve encountered, slays variable and packed powder terrain, awesome top sheets, HRZN Tech horizontal rocker eliminates drag in powder.
The Bad: Slippery for old-school skiers used to traditional ski shapes.
Final Word: The 2015 Atomic Bent Chetler are probably the most technologically-advanced powder skis ever made and are a huge upgrade from previous models. They’re playful, fun, and floaty powder sticks that will let you ski pretty much any way you want to, whether you go backward on your tips or prefer straight lining it on Backside at Alta. I wouldn’t be surprised if future powder skis will be forever changed, because the Bent Chetlers changed the game.
The 2015 Atomic Bent Chetler are available for the 2014/15 ski season. For more from Atomic, visit them on the web at www.atomic.com
To be taken with a grain, as a review from one who was gifted skis before the masses, is one to be subject to speculation.
Thinking about these for the upcoming season and just wanted your opinion. Do you think the issue with “grip” on areas like the HT at Alta limits this ski a lot? I’m just thinking about all the traversing that we do to get to the goods and I don’t want to have to miss areas I need to side step to get to. Any additional thoughts you have would be helpful.
Hi Steve,
I wouldn’t say you will be limited by these skis, but the High T is definitely where I noticed grip issues. When the upper sections of runs (like Stone Crusher etc) right off the traverse were wind blown, icy or styrofoam, that’s when I lost confidence and felt sketched. However, once beyond the exposed boilerplate up high and making turns in the softer snow below, the skis were just fine.
These are dedicated powder skis… they’ll get you to the goods, you just might need to use caution when side slipping on ice into tight lines. That being said, I never felt “limited” and skied everywhere I wanted to all season long.
Awesome! Thanks for the response. These will be my pow skis that I really only use on the deeper/fresh days. Looking forward to trying them out!
Which length did you ski?
185
Hey Jared, what’s your height/weight? After spending some time on the 185, would you consider bumping up to the 192?
Hi Colin.
I’m 5’10” and 160 lbs. The 185 has felt plenty long for me.