Atomic probably could have just appended a “W” on its unisex Vantage X 80 CTi and it would have already had a damn good women’s ski. Instead, Atomic makes three modifications that together make this model one of the most accommodating for female skiers.

To make it lighter, Atomic pulls the ash out of the men’s model from which it is cloned, replacing it with poplar. To keep the unrockered tail from taking over at the end of a carved turn, Atomic uses a V-shaped sidecut that allows the narrower rear to slide out of the turn exit. To help women keep their lower center of mass forward where they’re able to pressure the ski from the top of the arc – a Vantage X 80 CTi W advantage – Atomic subtly elevates the heel. To those who argue that raising the heel may help turn entry but only exacerbates the tendency for a sloppy turn finish, the Vantage X 80 CTI W earns the same high score for Rebound/Turn Finish as it does for being Early to the Edge.

The ski the Vantage X 80 CTI W would have been were it not for these alterations is still a big part of its success. Carbon Tank Mesh is not just a clever marketing tool that’s visible beneath the topskin, but a lightweight means of increasing edge grip, dampening and reaction off the edge. Titanium Backbone 2.0 provides the essential bite on hard snow that turns clatter into calm. Its structured top sheet and slanted sidewalls are nick-and-scratch resistant.

Julie Matises from the Squaw Valley Ski School outlined the essence of the Vantage X CTI W’s in five pithy, accurate adjectives: “Lightweight, stable, lively, easy & fun.”