Atomic Maven 93 C Review
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Can turn tighter than the radius suggests, responsive, reliable in upper-intermediate conditions
Cons: Not an expert's ski, uncomfortable at high speeds
Manufacturer: Atomic
Our Verdict
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Atomic Maven 93 C | |||||
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| Price | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $679 List | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Pros | Can turn tighter than the radius suggests, responsive, reliable in upper-intermediate conditions | Crud blaster, dependable, great one-ski quiver option, good for every ability level | Awesome powder tool, fabulous fun factor even for light skiers, affordable price | Great stability at high speeds, good on hard snow and crud, more affordable than others | Superbly stable at high speeds, great edge hold |
| Cons | Not an expert's ski, uncomfortable at high speeds | No wow-factor, not a lot of rebound | Gets bouncy in crud, slight tip flap, doesn’t carve perfectly | Only for shallower pow days, needs strong skier to guide them | Too burly for lighter gals, not nimble |
| Bottom Line | A great ski for intermediates seeking to widen their options, though not intended for hard-chargers | A great all-rounder ski that we think is the most versatile option for a one-ski quiver | A fun and responsive toy for powder days, groomer antics, and bumps, with a value-oriented price tag | This model will do great in everything but the deepest powder and is ideal for an aggressive skier | A good choice for hard-charging speed demons that still performs decently off-piste |
| Rating Categories | Atomic Maven 93 C | Nordica Santa Ana 98 | Elan Ripstick 94 W | Faction Dictator 2.0X | Volkl Secret 96 |
| Stability At Speed (20%) | |||||
| Carving Ability (20%) | |||||
| Powder Performance (20%) | |||||
| Crud Performance (20%) | |||||
| Terrain Playfulness (15%) | |||||
| Bumps (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Atomic Maven 93 C | Nordica Santa Ana 98 | Elan Ripstick 94 W | Faction Dictator 2.0X | Volkl Secret 96 |
| Waist Width (mm) | 94 | 98 | 96 | 96 | 96 |
| Shape (Tip-Waist-Tail) (mm) | 127.5-94-111.5 | 132-98-120 | 136-96-111 | 127-96-117 | 135-96-119 |
| Available Lengths (cm) | 156, 164, 172 | 151, 158, 165, 172, 179 | 154, 162, 170, 178 | 155, 163, 171, 175, 179, 183, 187 | 149, 156, 163, 170 |
| Length Tested (cm) | 172 | 172 | 178 | 171 | 170 |
| Radius (m) | 17.9 | 16.3 | 16.2 | 18 | 27-16-22 |
| Rocker Style | Tip and tail, camber underfoot | Tip and tail, camber underfoot | Tip and tail, cambered inside edge Amphibio tech | Tip and tail, camber underfoot | Tip and tail, camber underfoot |
| Weight Per Pair (lbs) | 7.2 | 8.1 | 7.4 | 7.9 | 8.5 |
| Construction Type | Duracap sidewall | Energy Ti W | SST sidewall | Sandwich | Full sidewall |
| Core Material | Poplar | Performance Wood & Metal | Tubelite wood | Paulownia & Poplar | Beech and poplar |
| Intended Purpose | All-Mountain | All-Mountain | All-Mountain | All-Mountain, Big Mountain | All-Mountain |
| Ability Level | Intermediate-Advanced | Expert | Intermediate-Advanced | Advanced-Expert | Advanced-Expert |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Despite the name’s definition, the Maven is not an ideal ski for expert or advanced skiers. It is, however, an excellent choice for upper-intermediate women who want something manageable at medium speeds that will also provide decent performance when exploring off-piste snow.
Performance Comparison
Stability at Speed
For the upper-intermediate skier, the Maven provides completely adequate stability at medium speeds. It is predictable, reliable, and makes a really comfortable and fun short or medium radius turn. Our issues with the ski arose when we tried to bring it into a larger radius, higher speed turn. There, it seemed to still hold an edge rather than chattering, but it seemed to almost bounce through it. It was almost as if the Maven wasn’t interested in making a bigger, faster turn, and kept trying to release us out of it and into something shorter and less frightening for it. The tips also got pretty flappy at our highest speeds.
Carving Ability
We found the turn radius of this ski to be significantly shorter than its advertised 17.9 meters, possibly because it is very easy to bend, therefore allowing us to arc it tighter with ease. With this in mind, we’d recommend this ski to ladies to are learning to carve and lay two clean tracks down in the snow behind them. For those who’ve already mastered this skill, the Maven is still fun to carve in a short-to-medium radius turn. It can hold the edge in this type of turn in softer snow, but doesn’t grip as well on hard-pack or steeps. We once again found the tips flapping in higher speed carved turns, but the edge underfoot held decently.
Powder Performance
In “entry-level” powder conditions, when the fresh snow was lightweight and fluffy, the Maven stayed on top and was easy to turn. When the snow got a bit denser, it was less adept, but this could be expected from a ski with only 93 millimeters of width underfoot. If you’re just starting to venture out into the world of fresh powder, and doing it on mellower pitches, this ski is a great device. For those already charging the steeps in knee-deep freshies, the Maven isn’t enough ski.
Crud Performance
While the Maven doesn’t have the construction to blast through choppy snow, it does have enough dampening qualities that as we surfed across the top it still gave us a smooth ride. One tester commented that because it is such a light ski, she could just get it into the air to avoid the worst chunky sections (though this is an unlikely strategy for an intermediate skier). We still noticed the tips flopping around in the crud, but this ski managed decently if we were on shallower pitches and less pervasive chop.
Terrain Playfulness
The Maven’s keenness to make a quick, tight turn surprised us given its nearly 18-meter turn radius, and offered us some insight into its more playful nature. This ski has a decent amount of fun rebound which remains accessible to lighter and mellower skiers since it is relatively easy to bend. It also felt light under our feet, easy to spring into the air, and stable enough for solid landings at medium speeds.
Bumps
We were nervous that the large labeled turn radius would make it cumbersome in a mogul field, but once again, the Maven snugged up its turns and made bump skiing fun even for those who are not always fans of the environment. Its reduced weight and propensity for pivoting the turn allowed it to move with ease through and over the peaks and troughs.
Value
In the mid-to-upper range of pricing, the Maven offers good value for the right consumer. If you are an upper-intermediate to lower-advanced skier looking for a one-ski quiver, this ski provides an excellent entree into the off-piste world. As long as you recognize that you may need to upgrade to something more high-performance after a couple seasons and a number of lessons, this ski would be a great partner to take you up a level.
Conclusion
The Atomic Maven 93 C is a perfect companion to any skier looking to break onto the all-terrain scene, and will serve well for a time. Anyone already confidently skiing off-piste double blacks has already outgrown this ski.
— Renee McCormack
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