The Vantage 95 C is a testament to the fact that ski makers no longer need to weigh down their product with heavy sheets of metal to boost performance. Here, Atomic’s Carbon Tank Mesh strengthens and dampens a lightweight poplar core. On the hill, this translates to a nimble and surfy ride in powder and on steeps, but you can still arc instructor turns all day on well manicured groomers. Reading between the lines, this model isn’t built for a season skiing rock hard snow (that’s the Vantage 90 CTI), but as a daily driver in the Rockies it’s crazy capable. We favored it in the alpine at Snowbird, where conditions go from powder to windbuff to lightly packed machine groomed. “It’s so lightweight, it almost seems like it shouldn’t be able to rail a turn, but it magically does,” said a tester.
Swami gripe: You do miss the metal when you’re hauling on hard snow. The tip deflects a bit.
Swami like: Any level of skier could pilot it.
Overall: 4.5 Floatation: 4.8 Carving: 4.2 Dimensions: 132/95/118
