By Alice Ivey
Atomic Redster q9i
Who it’s for and overall character
This is a serious on‑piste carver for advanced to expert skiers who spend most days on groomers. With a 75 mm waist and full camber, it feels direct, precise, and energetic. It prefers well-timed medium to longer arcs and rewards clean technique with strong edge hold and acceleration. At the same time, it damps vibration impressively, keeping composure in choppy afternoon snow. If you favor skidding or playful terrain, it can feel demanding; if you chase speed and clean lines, you get a confidence-inspiring scalpel.
Edge hold and carving performance
Full camber keeps continuous edge contact along the length, boosting grip on hard or icy snow. The narrow waist rolls quickly edge-to-edge, and Ultrawall sidewalls plus titanal laminates maintain torsional stiffness. That delivers notable security on steeps and through ruts. The multi-radius geometry (wider tip than tail with 12.3–14.2 m stated radii by length) makes both short, slalom-like snaps and longer GS arcs credible. It’s less forgiving when smeared: this ski wants to be tipped and guided, and it pays you back when you commit.
Construction and technology explained
Inside is a Power Woodcore (poplar/karuba) for low weight and liveliness, backed by TI Powered metal for damping and stability. Revoshock S—steel modules linked by elastomer—filters high-frequency chatter and returns stored energy at the turn finish. On snow that reads as calmness at speed and a palpable “kick” into the next edge. Ultrawall full sidewalls add precise power transfer. Together these layers produce a modern balance of smoothness and pop that suits high-tempo piste skiing.
Turn shapes, stability, and speed
The 75 mm waist keeps mass near the edge for quick transitions, while the tip/tail numbers (at 168: 125.5–75–109.5 mm) ease initiation and lock in a strong finish. Stated radii around 13.0–13.5 m in the popular lengths place it between short-turn tools and all-round GS vibes. At speed it stays notably quiet; Revoshock S suppresses flutter over hard ridges. Versus other 72–76 mm frontside carvers, it matches the metal-heavy options for stability while feeling a touch more compliant than pure race-derived boards.
Sizing, comparisons, and drawbacks
Size by stability needs and style: shorter (152–160) for lighter or short-turn skiers; 168 is the sweet spot for many; 176 for heavier or speed-focused riders. Compared with rocker-equipped 74–76 mm carvers, this is more precise but less forgiving in bumps and soft piles. Drawbacks: no tip/tail rocker means limited flotation and potential “hookiness” in cut-up snow if you get lazy. Published weights vary and may include bindings—expect roughly 3.08–3.12 kg per pair around 168 cm, but confirm specifics for your length and package.
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