Atomic Automatic 109 – Teton Tested

Tester Lee Lyon, fully barreled in Japan on the new Atomic Automatic 109 earlier this December. Patrick Fux/Powdermania.com photo.

Check out the Atomic Automatic 109 at evo.com right here.

For
the 2014-2015 season, Atomic has added two skinnier widths to their extremely
successful Automatic line, with a 102 and a 109-width model joining their original 117-waisted, powder-specific model. They still have that Automatic shape you
know and love–smeary, easy to ski, forgiving of mistakes, and floaty in powder–and
now you can choose the size that fits your style and the conditions you ski in
most often.

The
109 is the most versatile ski in the Automatic lineup. It's a great ski for any
and all snow conditions barring heavy, deep powder, and it is light enough to
be a good touring ski. It is fun and playful and can also carve, but it is not
stiff enough for heavier skiers who like to go fast.

I tested the Atomic Automatic 109 in the 189 length in a wide
variety of conditions over the course of 40 days at Nevados de Chillán in Chile
and Las Leñas and Cordón del Plata in Argentina this summer. If you want to see
more, here are trip reports of the Automatic 109 in action in Nevados de
Chillan and Las Leñas (LINK TO TR), and the Cordon del Plata (LINK TO TR).

MSRP: $600

Available Lengths: 175, 182, 189 cm (tested)

Turning Radius: 17.5, 18.5, and 19.5 m (respective to ski size)

Dimensions: 135-109-125

Weight: 2,100 grams per ski

If
you've skied past iterations of the Automatic, you probably already know that
Atomic may have discovered the perfect ski shape to crush in all conditions.The
109 has enough tip rocker, shovel, pintail, and overall V shape to float well
in powder and enough overall rocker to smear and slide easily, but still enough
camber under foot for decent edge hold on hard pack. With a 19.5m turn radius
(for the 189), this ski can rail GS carves on groomers, too.

Flex? Yeah, it's flexing down there somewhere... Lee Lyon flex testing in Japan early this winter. Patrick Fux/Powdermania.com photo.

I
would characterize the Automatic 109 has having a medium flex, but leaning
towards the softer side. This could be an advantage or disadvantage depending
on your body size and skiing style. I weigh 150 pounds and ski fairly fast, and
found the 109 to be a bit soft for my liking. When trying to make big, fast
turns in firmer snow or on afternoon groomers, the ski really begins to flap
wildly, to the point where it was difficult to maintain an edge.

On
the other hand, if you have a more laid back style, the softer flex can be an
advantage. You can easily flex the ski to change the size of your turn, they
are very forgiving to any mistakes, and absorb bumps and changes in the snow well
at slower speeds.

At 2100 grams a ski in the 189, the Automatic 109 could be a great touring ski. Mortiz Morlock photo.

At
2100 grams per ski in the 189, the Automatic 109 is a fairly light ski. I had them
mounted with Atomic Trackers, so my setup was not super light overall. If you
mounted these skis (especially in the 182 length) with a lighter tech binding,
I think they would make a great touring setup. This may be one of the more
interesting possibilities with the 109. It's a great size, weight and shape for
an all-conditions, lightweight, backcountry ski.

Las Leñas' legendary sharks gave the Automatic's thin bases a beating. Moritz Morlock photo.

My greatest concern with the Automatic 109 was
durability. The bases are fairly thin, and seem to get damaged easily. Granted,
the Andes are a rocky, ski-destroying mountain range, and Las Leñas produces
core shots like no other resort I've ever skied. That said, I probably put
about 10 core shots in these skis in my 40 days on them this summer. On the
bright side, even with all that wear and tear on the bases, the edges,
sidewalls, and core are still in perfect condition. So those are solid, at
least.

All powder but the deepest and heaviest bowed the the 109's solid float capabilities. Mortiz Morlock photo.

I was fortunate enough to ski the Automatic 109
in a wide variety of powder conditions: deep, shallow, heavy, light, and various
levels of wind-affected. They floated and performed well for a ski that is 109
underfoot. However, the difference compared to the Automatic 117 is noticeable
in deeper snow. If you plan on skiing powder more often than not, you should
probably get the 117 (or the Bent Chetler, for that matter). The vast majority
of the time, I was pleased with this ski's performance in powder. However, we
did have a couple days in Las Leñas with heavy, waist-deep snow, where I
struggled to keep the 109s afloat. Again, go wider if you plan on skiing
conditions like that on a regular basis.

These
skis can really rail on groomers. Their 19.5-meter turn radius and medium flex
allows them to make easy GS-sized turns, and with a bit of forward pressure on
the tips, you can flex them to the point where they’ll tighten up towards
slalom turns. As long as you aren't going too fast and the groomers don't get
too bumpy, they are a lot of fun. If things do get fast and bumpy, their softer
flex and their shorter edge contact (due to the rockered tip and tail) make
them tougher to control.

The 109 has a fun, versatile shape for variable
snow conditions. As long as you're not going too fast, they move through crud
well. They can make smooth, round turns with ease, and you can also release the
tail quickly and go sideways in a pinch. However, they are a little soft, and
have a little too much side cut for really charging fast in variable snow. They
begin to feel a little hooky and unstable as the speed increases.

Lee Lyon loving life on the 109 in Las Leñas. Moritz Morlock photo.

The Automatic 109 is a fun, versatile ski for almost
all conditions. If you are smaller or don't ski too fast, this ski will be
perfect. It is also quite light, and would make a great touring ski. The bases
are not very durable, so I wouldn't recommend them to someone who is very hard
on gear, the soft flex and medium-tight sidecut become overpowered at high
speeds, and the smaller waist size gives us noticeably less float in
heavy, deep snow than to the original Automatic 117. However, those who find themselves more in the crosshairs of the 109's favored conditions and ski style will love having the renowned Automatic feel and performance in a thinner, more versatile waist width.

Check out the Automatic 109 at evo by clicking here, and the rest of the Automatic line by clicking here. Happy Holidays and may your pow be deep and free of sharks!