Chris Benchetler Celebrates 10 Years of the Atomic Bent Chetler Ski

There are few skiers in the industry that have been as influential as the soft-spoken, pow-slaying, ski design mastermind that is Chris Benchetler. 10 years ago, he was first presented with the opportunity to design and build a pro-model ski for Atomic. Since then the ski has taken on several new forms, but the basic design (a fat, playful twintip pow ski inspired by Benchetler’s desire to surf and butter down mountains) has never changed.

The action sports world is full of parallels, and the ski that Benchetler, Tim Durtschi, and Nick McNutt ride on the daily is influenced by forces far beyond skiing. With characters like surfer and designer Rob Machado inspiring Benchetler, it’s no surprise that the ski takes cues from surfboard design, with features like HRZN tech.

Step inside Benchetler’s design philosophy, and see what each iteration of the skis has meant to him over the years, and how they have allowed him to become the skier he is today. 

Stay tuned for more from Benchetler and TGR, dropping 2019.