Ski gear can be simplified to its technical components and specs. It can exist as a tangible entity, but it is alive and characterized in its stories.
Like people, some gear has better stories than others.
The Atomic Tracker is one of those pieces. It was everywhere last season.
Daron Rahlves took the Tracker up five volcanoes in four days — Mt. Lassen, Mt. Shasta, Mt. McLoughlin, Mt. Theilsen, and Mt Bachelor.
“I can't put numbers up for the Tracker16,” said Rahlves, “but I skied a lot of days in pow, hard pack, and spring snow for nine months from August through May, only skipping the month of September.”
Sage Cattabriga-Alosa straps some Atomic Automatics, mounted with Atomic Tracker 16s, to his sled in Alaska. Photo by Adam Clark.
Todd Ligare sent the binding into its first 60-foot front flip in Jackson Hole. Sage Cattabriga-Alosa spent a season in Alaska with the Tracker at his feet — sidecountry missions near Alyeska, sled-skiing outside of Seward, shredding spines in Knik, and backcountry excursions on Turnagain Pass. Michelle Parker filmed in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia with the Tracker as her binding. Nose butters at Mammoth Mountain with Chris Bentchetler happened regularly. And Dana Flahr rallied Whistler pillow lines with the Tracker on his feet.
Dana Flahr had his most aggressive ski seasons to date while skiing in British Columbia on the Atomic Tracker 16. Photo by Adam Clark.
Sunrises from the peaks of Patagonia and New Zealand and watching the snow pour from Japanese skies are what it has seen. The Tracker has climbed from the sea to summits in Norway, found mini golf zones in Alaska, and floated through powder just outside the boundary of ski areas around the world.
What is its purpose? It is probably the same as yours.
Whether under the feet of a freeskiing icon, the ardent ski-bum living in the parking lot, or the backcountry keener hiking all of his lines, the Tracker seeks the same ski utopias: 40-degree couloirs, international summits, wind-lip kickers, powder-frosted spines, perfectly stacked pillows, and that familiar line outside the ski area in light, cold, and
deep snow. It wants to be
out there. Under your feet, the Atomic freeski team’s feet, or whoever else’s feet are going to take them there.
Chances are you will never have as much style on the slopes as Chris Benchetler, but you can sport the same bindings he has - the Atomic Tracker 16.
