Review: Atomic Redster G9 Servo

Model year: 2021-2022
Sidecut: 110-68-96.5
Size: 177 cm
Radius: 18.4 m
Technology: wood core, full sidewall, ultra titanium, Servo-tec, full camber

About this ski

This ski is not new. That is to say, it has been unchanged from the 2018-2019 season onwards. The year before that, there already was a G9 (and an S9 and the mid-radius X9), with Servo-tec. But that first year, the then new Redster line had a softer, very forgiving core and laminate structure. Atomic called it ‘powered by titanium’. Quite frankly, it was a bit of a dud.

Since 2019, the Redster 9’s have gotten the much stronger ‘Ultimate Titanium’ core and build. That has made the ski a lot more powerful and increased torsional stiffness as well. The G9 Servo is now a full-grown consumer GS ski. It has the grit, the whip and most of the attributes one expects from a ski in this category.

Twitchy

It is, however, not as stable as most of its competitors. It is stiff, yes. It is direct, kind of. The round tip allows you to second-guess your turn initiation, though. It doesn’t quite pull you in as most modern cheater GS skis do. In that sense it is not as direct as other GS skis. So it lingers a bit, sometimes. And that is why it doesn’t give that super stable, planted feel that I’ve come to expect from a ski of this kind.

The G9 Servo is stiff and needs to be skied very actively. The ski has rebound, but it’s very sharp and not as rounded – it’s almost sudden. It surprises me sometimes, because I don’t really feel the ski load and bend as smoothly as most other cheaters. But the ski does release the energy. Just be ready for it when it does. There is no forgiveness in this ski. It needs a master. If you don’t tame it, it will jump up (literally) and bite.

In conclusion

This is a very different beast from the first version of the G9. Much stiffer, less forgiving, and with a mean bite too. For long turns that you, the skier, have to make. The G9 does nothing for you. In fact, if you don’t treat it perfectly, it can be a real bitch.

Characteristics

PlayfulStable
ForgivingPunishing
LivelyDamp
SkiddingCarving
Low speedHigh speed
Short turnLong turn
Soft snowHard snow

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