Review: Atomic Maven 103 CTi

In a nutshell:

• Lengths Skied: 170 cm
• Stated Weight: 1610 g
• Stated Dimensions: 130.5-103.5-119.5 mm
• Stated Sidecut: 17 m (size specific)

Shape, Length and Mount Point:

The Maven joins Atomic’s lineup as the new women’s directional all-mountain ski, and comes in four size options at 156, 162, 170, and 178cm. Sidecut radii are size-specific, all falling into the short to medium length of the spectrum. As a directional ski, we were a bit surprised (and stoked on the fact) that the mount point was actually decently far forward on the ski, and testers found they didn’t require any forward or backward adjustment to get the ski to handle how they liked.

Where does the Maven 103 CTi shine?

A ski as light and nimble as the Maven 103 CTi shouldn’t be able to charge through variable snow, right? Wrong. While at 1610g, it weighs in squarely among touring-specific skis, the Maven 103 CTi offers a smooth, chatter-free and really solid ride the second you duck off the groomers. Like the new unisex/men’s Maverick 105 CTi is a big departure from the existing Mavens, taking design elements from the FWT-proven Maverick 115 CTI and working them into a more versatile, everyday package designed for lighter weight yet aggressive riders.

Some hallmarks of the riding experience include very powerful edge grip, solid stability in tracked out snow, a penchant for longer turns than the 17m sidecut radius might suggest, and a really fun and playful character thanks to the relatively soft and round flex pattern.

One freestyle-oriented tester said, “This ski was awesome! I had a blast skiing in all conditions, keeping me afloat in some deep pow and charging through crud and ice with ease. These skis are very forgiving with a playful flex that makes them super fun on side hits and rollers.”

Where does the Maven 103 CTi make some compromises?

A bit more mass would likely improve the Maven 103 CTi’s hard-snow performance, granting it some extra stability at high speeds on frozen groomers. Compared to heavier, damper skis like the Blizzard Sheeva 10 or Nordica Santa Ana 102, we found the Maven 103 CTi to be a bit more friendly and fun as well as a better choice if you spend most of your time exploring off the groomers.

One tester said, “Super nice and easy to turn and carve on, the Atomic Maven 103 is pretty light and playful, but it feels a little soft if you’re riding over bumps and ice.”

Another compared them to some other skis in the all-mountain category, saying, “Compared to other skis I’ve tested this week, The Mavens have a more chill flex underfoot making initiating turns way easier. They also are better for dropping cliffs and skiing crud at higher speed than something like the Dynastar M Pro 98 W or the Rossignol Sender Soul 102.

What would a perfect day on the Maven 103 CTi look like?

All of our female testers agreed on one thing - the Maven 103 CTi would be an excellent choice as a one ski quiver for just about anywhere in the West. Its weight, waist width, and shape all make for a jill-of-all-trades ski that you can rely on no matter what the forecast calls for.