Atomic Millennium Ski

Until this year, Atomic’s fattest women’s ski was the Century, at 100 millimeters underfoot. Atomic’s female athletes were begging for something bigger and burlier. So the company delivered with the Millennium, their first true women-specific powder ski, which debuted in the fall of 2012. It’s designed similarly to Atomic’s unisex Blog ski, but with a more women’s specific shape and flex.

Float
At 110 millimeters underfoot, the ski is wide enough to handle deep days, and its rockered tip and tail give it extra floatation. On a powder day at Crystal Mountain, Washington, last winter, I busted through cement-like crud and moisture-laden snow, thanks to that generously turned-up tip. The rockered tail gives it a playful, freestyle feel, in case you feel like hitting some jumps or taking off switch.

Versatility
Because nobody’s lucky enough to ski powder every single day, the Millennium was built to handle all-mountain terrain. It’s got tip-to-tail wood core with step-down-sidewall construction and camber underfoot. Translation: You can actually ride groomers, bumps, steeps, and everything in between on these boards and feel right at ease. Although they don’t exactly carve a GS turn, you can slash high-speed turns on hardback just fine. Plus, they’re lightweight enough to work as a great backcountry touring ski.

Length
It comes in lengths of 161, 169, and 177 centimeters but because of the rocker, it skis short (it feels about 10 centimeters shorter than the actual length), so go for a longer length than you’d typically ride.