Salomon Flyer 2008

As per the 151 reviewed earlier in the blue and white graphic. Versatile, fun freestyle skis for teenage skiers or light adults.
Modelled around the original 1080 model the Flyer is a versatile allmountain twin tip ski that is great for the intermediate to advanced skiers. They are available in four lengths and the 171 is fine for light adult skiers and also pretty adept at shredding the bumps. If you’re looking for your first pair of freestyle skis then you will find the Flyers easy to use agile and fun in soft snow conditions. As with the majority of freestyle skis they don’t offer the best in on piste performance but they are forgiving and you can ski pretty much any slope on a pair of Flyers.

The manufacturer says this about the Salomon, Flyer, 2008, Junior, Freestyle, Skis:

To become one of the best…

You can really begin to express your style and fly high. Perfect for park and pipe, this solid twin tip is for aspiring jibbers to take their stand.

SALOMON XW LAB 2008

Phew!! These are big! Massive in fact. Only available in a 198cm length this ski takes a little getting used to but they are surprisingly easy to ski. The flex pattern is very unusual and they are obviously designed to twist as you ski them so that they skid and smear their turns. In fact if they didn’t achive this then you really would need to be a hairy chested napalm swilling devil on skis to get any action out of them but thankfully this pliable flex pattern allows you to ski them on all sorts of terrain without too much fuss and without a lost feeling of inadequate control.
In all I really enjoyed my several runs on the XW LAB, they are extremely specialised and best suited to those perfect days when the snow never stops falling and you can’t feel the ground beneath your feet- but for lift line impressions, wooing the Swedish version of the opposite sex and for also skiing on they really are quite good!

The manufacturer says this about the SALOMON, XW LAB, 2008, Expert, Pro, Freeride, Skis:

A legend is born.

Nothing can stop you. No terrain is too tough or too high. you are capable at everything backcountry terrain can throw at you. Fly over the snow with no speed limit with the XW LAB, a legend is born.

Atomic Sweet Daddy 2008

Lighter and more approachable graphics should see the Sweet Daddy’s gaining in popularity for 2008. The ski is a mid-sized, 80 mm underfoot allmountain Freeride ski. This is a great ski if youhave not skied much off piste before and want a ski that is going to help you find your feet and some feeling for un-groomed terrain. The 21m radius is quite long so don’t expect a great carve out of them on the piste but you can rotate them and get them to skid easily off piste which is good for speed control on steeper descents.
An excellent allround freeride ski for the adveturous advanced skier.

The manufacturer says this about the Atomic, Sweet Daddy, 2008:

Allmountain model for the perfect flotation in the powder,, fast carves and an accomplished performance over the moguls.

Atomic SX 1 2008

A baby in the SX range. The 1 is the intro model and a tame, easy going beginner to intermediate carver that is available in only one length, 168 cm. The 1 is a ski that is great for learning on, pottering around on greens and blues and very easy to control.
Perhaps best hired as opposed to bought the 1 will see you gaining confidence in your first week of skiing but then you may wish to move on to something with a little more oomph (spunk for you American readers).

Atomic SX 1- an ideal beginners ski.

The manufacturer says this about the Atomic, SX 1, 2008:

Good natured, extremely light ski with a soft flex and Fibreframe-technology. Easy to control in turns, very forgiving and therefore ideal for beginners.

Atomic SX 10 B5c 2008

A new ski for this year with Atomic’s smooth but heavy B5 technology. Again very grippy but you do get a slightly uneven flex from the B5 system that you can really feel at the front mounting point when being aggressive.
IIn fairness though the SX 10 is a strong performer for the advanced to expert skier. They are very sure footed, the sidecut is sporty and the 68mm underfoot means that youhave a rapid edge to edge feel that almost resembles a slalom or GS ski. I do like this ski but think of it is a soft sports coupe, kinda comfort version rather than RS or GT.

The manufacturer says this about the Atomic, SX 10, B5c, 2008:

A new product development that uniquely combines the advantages of a race carver with the properties of a supercross ski. Agile, excellent tracking ability and highly robust thanks to the new B5 connected technology.

Atomic SX 12 2008

Phew, these are rapid. A great race carver-skiercross ski. Still not sure about the graphics but this ski sure performs. Its it like being on a Supersport motorbike- agile, stable and with rapid acceleration and great grip. i loved skiing on these and they grip so well even on very hard packed snow- in fact Atomic do probably excel in making some of the grippiest and best performing skis on the hard stuff.
Pure carving for the advanced to expert skier, the SX 12 will let you chill and cruise a little but really they want to be driven hard and fast, begging for you to attack the fall line and tale a little more risk.
Excellent and everything a retail Skiercross ski should be- perfect for the advanced to expert who wants to spend their time ripping it up on the groomed stuff.

The manufacturer says this about the Atomic, SX 12, 2008:

New top model for highly athletic supercross fans. redesigned profile with innovative Powerbridge technology, imrpoved sidecut for even greater ski control and precise skiing even at high speeds.

Atomic SX 7 ppm 2008

The SX 7 has been revamped for 2008 with the PowerPuls system. A favourite with the sporty intermediate for many a year the SX 7 is once again a lively and exciting ski for its price point that is great fun and exhilirating for a ski of this level. Even expert skiers, although you will find it quite soft, are surprised by the agility, carve and poise of what is essentially an intermediate ski. If you are looking for your first pair of skis and want something with a little get up and go then the SX7’s are fantastic.
Light, grippy, easy to use and a sporty intermediates dream ski.

The manufacturer says this about the Atomic, SX 7 ppm, 2008:

Excellent edge grip, extremely light and excellent precision. A new ski that will delight pleasure orientated carvers.

Atomic SX 9 ppl 2008

The Atomic SX9 is the sporty intermediate to advanced skiers reference ski. They are fun, very carvy and very sporty. Kinda like buying into an RS Ford or Mini Cooper S, they are nippy, quite fast and you can have some good sensations of speed and racing for not much buck.
I really love this ski and think it is a great all round package to get the majority of intermediate skiers carving, slicing down the reds, surging with speed and revelling in their new found confidence. A great package at a good price and not many will find the SX 9 a disappointment.

The manufacturer says this about the Atomic, SX 9 ppl, 2008:

The new red and blue high tec allrounder with power plus technology for athletic downhill enthusiasts who want to get ahead fast and expect the best performance characteristics from their ski at every aspect.

Atomic Thug 2008

Big, this ski is real big. Guess it is like a comparing the average to Pamela Anderson, you kinda get the feeling that you are going to have to commit a little more. The Thug’s are 120mm at their narrowest point, fat enough for a weight watcher to faint, so they can handle the powder till it reaches over your head- they are supposedly great and well balanced for landing switch off the cliffs, but I’ll leave that for others to explore. So the new graphic is a little toned down, its fine, nothing revolutionary but adequate for the market but the Thug really does need some taming.
The37m radius is huge and half way between a World Cup Super G and DH ski in terms of turn raidus, so either you need a lot of space to put in an arc, some soft snow or legs like an oak.
Pure powder performance for the dedicated backcountry Freestyler who has really got tired of and too cool to hang in Park anymore.

The manufacturer says this about the Atomic, Thug, 2008:

The fat kid out of the Freeskiing family. With its 120mm waist width this sandwich babyy makes you float on the top of the fresh powder and gives you the chance to land your backcountry kicker tricks switch. Since last years graphic was over the top we had to give it another go for you.

Atomic Urban Punx 2008

Urban Punx are one of the most focused Pipe’n Grind skis aroundalbeit with a view to hitting some of these kickers in the backcountry. A very specialised ski that you can ski pretty much everywhere but they are designed to excel in the Pipe with their genuine twin tip construction and Atomic’s dual edge "Dura EdgeSidewall Reinforcement". They U-Punx are super strong on the edge and sidewall to give you the confidence to huck jumps & hammer them on the rails. A focused package for the dedicated freestyler.

The manufacturer says this about the Atomic, Urban Punx, 2008:

Believe it or not but the Punx and Urban Punx are the only pure twin-tip skis on the market and seeing guys like Jossi Wells, Travis Redd and Charly Ager on it proves its shred potential. This kinetic core sandwich ski with its double edge annihilated any rail in its path and comes out unscathed