The 2024 Atomic Redster Q7.8 is a great example of a fun, lively, and engaging front side ski with some added width for all-mountain adventure. Atomic has an insanely popular and successful racing heritage, and the best part of these skis is that so much of that technology gets filtered into models like this. From the Revoshock laminate to the bases and topsheet, the Redster Q7.8 is the proud beneficiary of mountains of technology coming from the podiums of the World Cup. While this ski does have a high-performance ceiling to accommodate the most demanding of skiers, it’s also pretty friendly—offering accessible performance for progressing intermediates who are looking to make it to the next level. In the mid-80's for shape, this ski has a pretty big range of application, from pure front side carving to manky snow abilities as well as some off-piste adventures.

Built with Atomic’s Power wood core, we get a sturdy and stable platform on which to build. Atomic then puts in a Titanal laminate underfoot and extending to the tip and tail. The metal does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to stability and power, also lending a smoother and more predictable feel when engaged in a carved turn. While the pure race skis have a full sidewall for performance, the Q7.8 has Atomic’s Dura Cap sidewall that features more grip underfoot to go along with agile and maneuverable tips and tails. This makes the ski feel lighter in the swing weight while keeping the majority of the underfoot performance firmly intact. By using Atomic’s Carbon Revoshock system, the Q7.8 has pop and energy in the forebody of the ski in addition to another level of vibration mitigation. These floating carbon plates move to balance the flex of the ski, keeping it on its intended course with confidence.

At 84 mm underfoot, the Redster Q7.8 has an interesting blend of versatility. One one hand, you could use this ski entirely in an on-trail format, while on the other, the width opens it up to off-trail performance. While you wouldn’t want to use it exclusively in that manner, as it’s mainly an on-piste shape and profile, it’s at least nice to know that it’s there when you want or need it. At the end of the day, though, this ski follows the more front side dedicated skis of the grouping, with no rocker and zero taper. This ski is truly tip to tail edge contact and running length, making it about as smooth as it gets. In the 173 cm length, the ski generates a 14.4-meter turn radius, which is right in the sweet spot for making a variety of round turns down the fall line. The stiffness and camber makes it a bit tough to break free from the arc, but if you’re willing to put in the extra work, it can certainly create shorter skidded turns as well as faster and more drawn-out ones.

The Atomic Redster Q7.8 is one of those skis that checks a whole lot of boxes for a whole lot of skiers. Having a wider-bodied front side ski with a light swing weight and excellent edge grip makes a ton of sense in a lot of different zones. For skiers that spend most of their time on groomed terrain, this ski will create a confident and poised character from top to bottom. The performance is off the charts, allowing for a big range of skier and skier type to be able to enjoy a greater portion of their day.