Atomic Blog Review

[TCK]

I haven't seen any reviews for these up yet, so I figured I would put in my two cents.

Me: 24, skiing for 21 years, aggressive skier. 5'9" 155.
Skis I own/like: Rossi S6, Praxis (Pow, Protest, and Mtn Jib), Rossi Scratch BC, Salomon Czar, etc
Skis: 185 Blog mounted at the traditional line (furthest back line) with dukes.
Location/conditions: Tignes and Val d'Isere. Everything from thigh deep to icy groomers.


The review:
I was super excited to ski these after I didn't get a chance to tour on them early season. The flex is pretty interesting. The tail is pretty soft, medium soft underfoot, and medium in the tip. I was pretty worried that the tails would wash out on harder snow due to their softness.

First day on them there had been no new snow in Tignes for ~2 weeks. Groomers were pretty icy, and everything off piste was super wind fucked. With a 19m turning radius they rail on groomers. Just like the JJ and S7, they ski much shorter than suggested. They like to make a GS style turn on hard snow. Super fun if there is no pow around. In the super wind and sun fucked snow they weren't great. In my opinion no ski handles funky slabby snow better than a Praxis Pow or Protest. It's no surprise these things weren't the best in those conditions.

The next day we got 50cm of new snow over night. These things are awesome in pow. With the little bit of reverse sidecut in the tips and tails they surf and slarve just like my Protests and Pows. They are not quite as surfy as the Praxis, but they do a pretty good job at it.

They plow through crud pretty well too. The little bit stiffer tip does a good job at not getting bounced around too much. As for speed limit, I didn't find it. The more you push them, the more they give back. Granted, they are not a pure pow ski, or a big mountain crusher, but they are super versatile.

Mount point: I went with the furthest back line, which is about 7cm back from true center. In soft snow sometimes it feels a little too center mounted. I think you could go 1cm back, and it would be perfect for deep pow.

Overall: I really like this ski. It is super lively and snappy on hard snow, and it surfs really well in pow. I think that it's super versatile, a perfect ski for Europe where the snow is super variable. I got it as a touring ski, and I think it will fill that niche quite well. I think it would make a killer ski mounted with dynafits, or even mounted alpine as an everyday ski. Just like the JJ and S7 (and similar in shape), it's a jack of all trades. It doesn't quite excel at anything, but it is really good at everything.

[fat yeti]

Great review can't wait to get mine. We joke at the shop that will this be the next Pocket Rocket, what I mean it is will be a more people on rockerd skis like the pocket rocket did for a fat ski back in the day. We sold out of this ski and the bentchetler first I think its a good sign for Atomic.

[butterscotch]

Thanks for the review.

How does it compare to the czar?

[camplemur]

Nice review. Good to hear it skis as well as it looks.

[teosickrider]

Thanks for the review....i might think on gettin a pair since you can find them pretty cheap...cool!

[TCK]

Hmmmm. I would say that the Blog has a bit more of the surfy/slarvy feeling than the Czar. The Blog is definitely a lot more lively. It doesn't have the super damp feeling of the Czar. I think they both make wicked everyday/touring skis, but they are different. The Czar skis more like a traditional ski, with the addition of tip rocker, where the Blog skis more like a fun shape ski. On hardpack the Blog rips GS turns, and the Czar makes huuuge sweeping trenches. Haven't had a chance to take my Blogs off anything over 10 feet yet, but I think the Czar will stomp better with a stiffer, non-rockered tail. I think the Blog would win in a battle of versatility. I really wanted to, but haven't skied the 190 Czar yet. Either way, they are both awesome skis.

[Beastiality]

Anyone tried the Coax?

[corn dog]

Got a weight?

[TCK]

On a crappy bathroom scale I think it was either 9.2 or 9.4 pounds. I can't remember for sure though.

[butterscotch]

Hmmmm. I would say that the Blog has a bit more of the surfy/slarvy feeling than the Czar. The Blog is definitely a lot more lively. It doesn't have the super damp feeling of the Czar. I think they both make wicked everyday/touring skis, but they are different. The Czar skis more like a traditional ski, with the addition of tip rocker, where the Blog skis more like a fun shape ski. On hardpack the Blog rips GS turns, and the Czar makes huuuge sweeping trenches. Haven't had a chance to take my Blogs off anything over 10 feet yet, but I think the Czar will stomp better with a stiffer, non-rockered tail. I think the Blog would win in a battle of versatility. I really wanted to, but haven't skied the 190 Czar yet. Either way, they are both awesome skis.

Thanks. Great comparison.

[TCK]

Now that I've had about 20 days on the Blogs, I thought I would post a couple thoughts.

1. I originally had them mounted at the farthest back line. I thought that was about -7cm from true center. After having some tip dive issues, I figured I would give them a remount a bit further back. Turns out the farthest back line is only ~5.5cm back from center. Now they are remounted to -8cm from center, and they ski WAY better in soft snow. No tip dive anymore.

2. The tail on the Blog is too soft. I don't really get the flex. Medium tip, medium underfoot, and soft tail. It surfs well, but I want more authority in the tails. If they came in a 190 with a medium tip and stiff underfoot/tail they would be the most killer daily driver. Just cause of the soft tail the Blogs have been relegated to touring only, and my Praxis Mtn Jib has become my daily driver. Just my $0.02.

[bmonsensen]

I pretty much have it narrowed down to trying to chose between the atomic blog and bent chetlers. I have mostly skied park and usually stick to rails and jibbing. I do have some powder experience though. I am looking for a fun powder ski that is good for jibbing, can handle groomers, will work for backcountry skiing and backcountry jumps and switch landings. I am 6'4 and 190 pounds. Any suggestions or input to what i should choose would be great.

[The SnowShow]

I pretty much have it narrowed down to trying to chose between the atomic blog and bent chetlers. I have mostly skied park and usually stick to rails and jibbing. I do have some powder experience though. I am looking for a fun powder ski that is good for jibbing, can handle groomers, will work for backcountry skiing and backcountry jumps and switch landings. I am 6'4 and 190 pounds. Any suggestions or input to what i should choose would be great.

answers provided in the ski forum....

[Poop~Ghost]

2009 185 Atomic Blog
134 / 110 / 126mm - mounted at back line with dynafit.

I managed to pick up this pair used on the cheap from Craigslist at the end of last season. I have put about 15 days on them now - touring and inbounds and would say that it's definitely a nice touring option. Resort skiing - it's a little too soft for my tastes on groomers - and it definitely feels squirrelly at times until you get them up on edge with some speed and no fun on ice (shocker).

It comes alive in soft snow - where loading it up in the turns lets the wood core shine. I definitely would have mounted back another 3cm from the back line - I've gone over the handle bars substantially more than normal in deep snow.

The feeling I get is that either you're on top of the snow and making turns or under completely and staying under. If you try to bury a turn while on top, they feel like they are slowing up under you and no amount of powering through is going to get them to plane up. I tend to ski them much more neutral in deep snow, and if I want to slut up a deep turn - I'll stay way back on the ski - then back to neutral. Driving the tips through a deep turn is a recipe for over the bars in anything less than blower.

In soft chop - they get tossed around a bit - but it's to be expected with a fairly light wood core ski. They are AMAZING to throw around in mandatory bob-sled run type run outs - when you may have to scrub speed in tight spots.

If you are looking for a nice do-it-all back country touring ski I give a thumbs up to this fella (with the exception of the possibly worst name for ski I've ever heard).

[camlax]

I've got about 50 or 60 days on mine between last season and this year. Last year i used it as my Utah daily driver. This year I'm on the 190 bibby but still ski the blog when I want to play more. Blogs mounted on the farthest back line with fks

Biggest complaint on the blog is the soft tail. Skis powder well and is amazingly nimble. At speed or through crud, the soft tail didn't do it for me. Everybody gets knocked a little backseat on occasion. With the soft tail, the ski does a wheelie and can be a pain to recover from.
Other than that, its a great one-ski quiver for utah.

[NWskibum]

Are the Blogs that much more playful than the Bibbys? I've been skiing the Blog and considering the 190 Bibby or 191 Caylor because they've both been described as super playful as well as having a bit more substantial of a tail.

Hoping to get a couple days on both before I buy but I really love how easy I can throw the Blogs sideways to cut speed and how they pop off everything and hope to keep those same qualities in a slightly bigger ski with a stiffer tail.

[camlax]

Are the Blogs that much more playful than the Bibbys? .

yes and no. the blogs love to pop off anything, spin, and whip around in the air fast. Bibbys want to play off drops and spin smooth and slow. it definitely needs a larger jump than the blogs.

as much of a bibby fan as i am, i'd say for you to go the caylor route

[Travisadkison]

If my 2012 blogs are mounted plus 2cm from team line will I get bad tip dive

[54-46]

Of you want a ski that's playful with a substantial tail, then Caylors would work well. Had a pair of 191s and enjoyed them. Definitely more solid than Blogs. Can't speak to Bibbys.