2027 Atomic Maverick 96 CTI

The 2027 Atomic Maverick 96 CTi gets a graphic refresh but otherwise returns unchanged. Now in year two of the current build, the Maverick 96 CTi cements its place as a more forgiving, more soft-snow oriented ski than some other directional mid-90's out there today. This is great news for skiers who value mobility, agility, and ease of use while still adhering to a sturdy feel and plentiful edge grip. When you add that to the quickness and agility, this ski is a ton of fun for mixed conditions and terrain.

Construction-wise, the Maverick 96 CTi uses a mix of poplar and ash in the wood core. The Ash does a good amount of heavy lifting when it comes to stabilizing and making the ski feel sturdier. Atomic adds their carbon and titanal mix to the ski to boost power and energy without adding too much weight. The 179 cm length sits on the scale at a stated weight of 1900 g/ski, so not a lot of weight for a high-performance feel. It’s not overly stiff, but it is strong especially underfoot. That does leave the front of the ski a bit susceptible to feeling lighter on firmer snow, as noticed by tester Jaston Pacioni: “I felt like this ski needed more snow. Tips were very chattery on variable snow. I think if there was softer snow the ski would have much more control and play.” That’s a fair assessment for sure, as this ski doesn’t 100% hook into firmer snow with total confidence. It does, however, ride into variable conditions and terrain with a lot of confidence.

When it comes to the shape, the shovel rocker and taper is the big culprit for a perceived lack of groomer performance, but on the flip side of that coin, this ski is super valuable when it comes to mixed terrain and conditions. Additionally, we found that once you get past the shovel of the ski, the rest of it is actually quite adept at carving aggressive turns, even on firmer snow. Tester Jose Darias notes that “The Maverick 96 is a great ski for a day like this. There’s quite a bit of strength and stiffness in the ski that helps keep the ski on edge and charging. The shape asks for a more forward, directional skiing style that feels really confident when you commit to the edge. The ski still feels a bit too light and can deflect off the moon scape ice that we’re working with today, but most skis would feel the same way. Overall impressed and happy with the damp, stable feeling this ski provides while still feeling playful enough for Freeride skiing on mixed terrain.” With an 18-meter turn radius in the 179 cm length, this ski is set up for success in all sorts of different turn shapes and styles through varied terrain and conditions.

We’ve found that this is a great all-mountain ski with more freeride notes than others in this range. If you’re looking for super-strong all-out carving at this width, get a Mantra. If you want a ski that handles bumps, trees, and softer snow at a lighter weight, this is where you want to be. It turns great, but if it’s really firm, the tips do have a bit of lag time in the initiation phase. After that, the mid-section of the ski is very grippy and fun with great energy in the tail.