How Do I Ski on the Atomic D2 Vario Cut Skis?

The Atomic D2 Vario Cut are carving skis.

Atomic introduced a revolutionary new technology with the D2 Vario Cut ski, first released for the 08/09 winter season. Skiers actually alter the turn radius of the ski by applying more or less pressure to the ski in the turn. The tip and tail of the ski are split with a rubber strip that widens when stronger pressure is applied to the ski, increasing its turn radius to that of slalom ski (11.5 meters). When less pressure is applied to the ski by the skier, the rubber strip remains unstretched, maintaining a GS turn radius (17.5 meters).

Instructions

1. Find a well groomed, easy run to experiment with your Atomic D2 Vario Cut ski. Choose a green circle or blue square run that you would have found easy on your old skis. This carving ski is designed for intermediate to expert skiers. If you are not yet a strong intermediate skier, improve your skills on a more conventional ski before trying the D2 Vario Cut ski.

2. Practice an athletic stance while standing on your skis on a flat surface. Slightly bend your ankles and knees and lightly press your shins against the tongue of your boot. Stack your hips, shoulders and head over the middle of your feet and hold your hands in front of your feet. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart.

3. Ski straight down a mellow slope in your athletic stance. Slowly and progressively apply pressure to the outside ski and slightly tip your skis up on edge. The skis will arc back up the hill in a long, sweeping "J" shape. By applying light pressure to the ski, you are using the ski's longer turning radius. Practice turning in both directions. Increase the amount of pressure on the outside ski in each successive J-turn. As you do this more intensely and more quickly, you will shorten the radius of the ski, enabling you to make smaller, tighter turns.

4. Draw a tornado shape down the hill with your turns. Make large, sweeping turns by applying light pressure to the outside ski and progressively tipping the skis up on edge throughout the turn. Make each turn more intense and quicker than the last, increasing the pressure on the outside ski. You are not only making smaller, tighter turns, but you are using the D2 Vario Cut ski's technology to shorten the radius of the ski itself with each turn. Practice this until you can easily control the ski's radius using the pressure you apply to the ski.

5. Move to a steeper groomed run after you are confident you can control the ski in a variety of turns sizes. Practice with more speed to experience how the stronger forces affect the turn-radius shape of the ski. The Atomic D2 Vario Cut ski is designed for skiing on primarily groomed runs, so be sure you have mastered the ski on groomed black diamond runs before venturing off-piste.

Tips & Warnings

• If you ski with your feet very close together in pre-1990s style, you will not be able to experience the ski's unique technology or make round, carved turns.

References

• Atomic: Atomic Doubledeck Technology
• Ski-Mag.com: Atomic D2 Vario Cut 72 (08/09)
• Rocky Mountain Gear Guide: Atomic Skis
• "Alpine Technical Manual, Second Edition"; Professional Ski Instructors of America; 2007
• "Tactics for All-Mountain Skiing"; Chris Fellows; 2006