The Redster S9 from Atomic is an off-the-shelf shop ski that feels like a world cup race machine with a much lower price tag.
They are highly stable, snappy - everything slalom skis should be, but they have a heavy kick in the tail making them a handful in shorter turns, especially on steeper terrain.
Their pedigree oozes Hirscher and Shiffrin's personality, although channelling that is always going to be a challenge. But when those rare moments happen and you get a glimpse of what it might be like to perform at that level, the Redster's become your friend.
They work surprisingly well at slow speeds too, in those 'ski instructor' style turns that don't need to be 100% super-charged. So whilst they don't let you down when the effort is more relaxed, they do demand a strong standard of technical ability to perform at the required level. Like a horse that can smell a novice rider and reject their clumsy attempts to control it, the Redster's will spit you out of every turn if you don't show respect.
For expert skiers who like to rip turns on hardpack and feel the bite, response and rebound through every turn, they are a dream.
We feel like re-writing Chris De Burgh's famous ballad just for these skis: " The lady in red is skiing with me, turn to turn. There's nobody here, it's just you and me....and the mountain - it's where I want to be".
