Check out the 2015 Atomic Bent Chetlers on evo today!
The 2015 Atomic Bent Chetler is the ski’s 6th incarnation–part of a design lineage that turned Atomic into vastly more of a relevant brand when it came to performance-oriented big mountain and powder skis. Chris Benchetler’s signature creation has been known as a stable, fun, surfy twin-tipped pow ski that has since curried the favor of legions of skiers who may or may not ever have an interest in landing backwards in powder.
Boat Hull Tips & 2015 Bent Chetler Design
The 2015 iteration got thinned out a bit in the waist–from 123 mm to 120–while the big news (beyond some sweet sci-fi graphics) is the ski’s confusingly-named HRZN Tech tips. As you can see in the photos, the tips and tails basically got turned into boat hulls, with horizontal rocker akin to DPS’s Spoon ski, or the Surface LAB.
Atomic’s marketing folks said this added 10% more surface area in the tip and tail without increasing swing weight, and, as Chris himself said when we first previewed the ski last winter, “The HRZN Tech essentially allows the ski to move effortlessly across the fall line, through chop, and schmear turns, all while remaining in control.” Chris, who got the idea after seeing a board surfer Rob Machado had shaped, also said the ski tracked better and deflected less with the new tips.
Skiing The 2015 Bent Chetler
I spent a good half of last season skiing in Aspen and Jackson Hole on the new Bent Chetlers, and found them to be a great ski that had qualities of both firmer, stouter big-mountain skis and more playful, jibby designs, while still handling well on firm snow.
Before riding them, the Bent Chetlers, which weighed in at around 4200 grams per pair without bindings on my pair of 185 test skis, seemed to be unnecessarily heavy. Despite their burly size, the skis ride so much lighter and more playful than they look or feel. The weight of the ski does not pull you down in powder, and it was very easy to stay afloat and in control. Stability is reinforced with the tip and tail rocker, allowing the ski to make shorter and precise turns when sinking in the snow. The skis seldom feel locked into a turn and maneuver like a much shorter and lighter ski than they actually are, allowing for that schmeary, playful style that Chris and the rest of the Nimbus Independent crew have pioneered.
But the weight, and corresponding stability of the Bent Chetlers also handled well in choppy snow and crud. These dense skis do a great job plowing through the snow without knocking the skier off balance. The weight of these skis really help to keep them under your feet and in the direction you intend to go. Over the years, the flex on the Bent Chetlers has gotten stiffer, and the 2015 model is a stout platform that handles high speed runouts and choppy snow very well. Plus, the HRZN Tech tips had the feeling of being more dense and damp, which allowed them to plow through powder more easily than other pow skis I've spent time on.
Personally, for a bigger skier like me (6'2", 190 pounds), I was impressed how sturdy and responsive the Bent Chetlers felt. These skis have all the advantages of being a heavy, stiffer ski, but they really don't feel any different from other, lighter powder skis. I felt these were just as easy to maneuver and to get off the ground. Jibbing, jumping, and nose-butters all seemed pretty natural, and did not require as much effort as you would expect from a ski this size.
While I would certainly choose a different ski for a day full of terrain park laps, the Bent Chetlers are definitely fun for getting playful everywhere else on the mountain. With the considerable tail rocker on these skis, it took awhile to find the right balance while jumping or dropping cliffs. With a little practice, though, you will find that a centered stance, with your weight farther forward that you might otherwise be used to, will increase your balance both on the ground and in the air and squeeze the ideal performance out of these skis.
Check out evo's full selection of 2015 powder ski from 20 different brands s here.
Many other rockered powder skis tend to chatter and wobble out of control when bombing groomers or firm snow, but this was not as much of a concern while riding the Bent Chetlers. The skis maintain a good level of control and snap out of medium-radius turns easier than expected and with a good amount of energy. The shovels seem to support edging and control while making shorter, tighter turns, although you definitely need to press your weight into the shovels to get that tighter radius turn going.
The 2015 Atomic Bent Chetlers: The Bottom Line
While the Bent Chetlers are primarily a powder ski, their performance all over the mountain is surprising and impressive. Their sharp turns on hardpack and the even weight distribution made them feel more like an all-mountain ski once you left the pow than a ski with a 120 waist should. While I could understand the performance advantages of the HRZN Tech tips and tails, it was hard to tell if the stability and ease of control I felt on the Bent Chetlers was owed to the boat hull design, or just the design of the ski as a whole.
For anyone looking for a playful powder ski that can also handle well on more varied terrain, the Bent Chetler is definitely one to consider. It's doubtful the Bent Chetler will be your everyday ski, but you will be inspired to take them out for more than just powder days.
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ibtoaster
November 22nd, 2014
Where were you mounted on the Chetlers?
Curious as I felt the center mount was too far forward when I skied them last spring. I also have my current older chetlers mounted 4cm back from factory reccomended. Love the skis, they rip!
Thanks for the review!