Atomic SX B5 (2007)

JG

Heavy ski this…. I have 2006 SXB5s (the lime green and orange ones). If you ski like a wimp, it becomes an absolute hell of a ski. Ski it like you stole it and it is AMAZING. Very hard work in mogul fields and short radius turns. Prefers to be beasted like a GS ski on the corduroy. Only buy this ski if you ski hard. This ski does not surrender to anyone!

A little heavy…. yes .. but this ski runs on rails. Smooth, easy turning and NO TIP SLAP….this ski stays glued to the surface front and rear. I’m a pretty agressive skier, but this ski did all the work…... I never broke a sweat. If you want a fun ski that can be skied easy or hard… this is it.

I’m 6’3, +220 pounds medium advanced.

Conditions were soft in the afternoons turning to ice overnight.

I rented a set of B5 174cm the week after I’d had a set of SX12 169cm. They kept me stable and happy on icy steeps but they’re so rigid moguls were a complete non starter. These absolutely did not let me down on anything steep, icy, scary, soft or slushy, with seemingly limitless edge grip but they were starting to get really heavy at the end of the trip and all I could do is come straight down. FAST! A really great fun ski when pushed, and can make you look like a complete hero as they give you the confidence to fly down stuff you should be scared of, but heavy for an all day hack. All in all great ski’s but perhaps a little to aggressive for my 2 weeks a year.

On that note I found the SX12’s a bit more user friendly, being a bit more usable on the bumpy stuff, and still plenty of grip. Slightly easier at low speed than the B5 but still a very stable fast ski. Really nice, and one I’d consider a keeper.

I took SX11 162cm this trip as the rental shop didn’t have either of the other 2 in and was pleasantly surprised. Conditions were nicely granulated with some soft snow to slush on the lower slopes. Off the cuff I found them much easier to get ‘back in the saddle’ with than the other 2 and found them much easier to ski all day than either the others. The downside being I had much much less grip on ice and when pushing on down the world cup runs the first time I found a patch of ice and missed the corner all together. Once I adjusted to the less aggressive turns I got on with them just fine. Moguls were very much easier to deal with and general piste work was a lot less tiring. The only place these fell down compared to the others was when it started to get soft or slushy they just sank. All in all a really nice all rounder for a lazy day out with the Mrs.

I own a 2006 and a2007 SX B5 and I demo new skies always looking for a replacement. I love to ski fast on groomers and that 174cm is a real rail holder. This ski is for the aggressive athlete who likes to ski hard. Short tight turns require a lot of energy. The ski is best skied like a GS and is limited in powder, crud or bumps. It turns and holds and pushes you to do more.