Sometimes pow days at the resort are just too much. Long lift lines, tracked out snow, other people snaking your lines... Ok, not to sound like a snob here, but sometimes you just need to get away from all the chaos and access that deep snow by foot. The Atomic Backland 117 is a surfy powder ski built on a much lighter platform than a lot of other skis of similar size, so you can run up to the top of those pillow lines and tight chutes without feeling to fatigued to even ski. Using a mix of Caruba and Poplar, Atomic is able to keep this wide ski nice and light without sacrificing a robust and responsive flex. Add in a Carbon Backbone, and you get a very energetic and snappy ski that comes to life in deep snow. Sidewall construction, mixed with camber underfoot allow the ski to maintain power and edge hold at high speeds and in big lines where the snow may be less than favorable. HRZN tech in the tip and a bit of a turned up tail provide a great deal of edge release for pivoting turns and getting loose in deep snow. Despite the fact that Atomic sticks this ski into their touring category, this would be a phenomenal ski for the resort as well. It’s definitely lighter than a lot of skis with a similar width, but it does not lack the stability and performance demanded by aggressive skiers.