Curated Skiing Expert Hayden Wright got his hands on the 2024 Atomic Maverick 88Ti this spring. Check out how it performed in the carving, freestyle, and freeride categories, but consider the fact that each and every skier is different; if you have any questions about the Atomic Maverick 88Ti or need recommendations on which ski would be best for you, reach out to a Skiing Expert here on Curated.

Before we get started, it's worth noting that Curated Experts are not sponsored by any brands. All of these reviews are completely unbiased.

Brand Claims

What does Atomic claim about this ski? Atomic claims that this ski is good on groomers, bumps, in the trees, and all over.

Overall Impressions

What is your overall impression of the ski? We had it all over and we tested it just as Atomic described. My overall impression was that the Atomic Maverick 88Ti surprised me. I’ll be honest - this ski is for a skier style that’s not quite like my style. But, we had a sunny and hard day that didn’t get too soft and this was the ski to have. It was great!

How does the shape of the ski affect the way it rides? The Atomic Maverick 88Ti has a perfect blend of wood, fiberglass, and titanal. It also has Atomic’s signature HRZN Tech here which is similar to the shape of the hull of a boat. This lets an 88 mm wide waist ski actually perform and float better in powder than some of its competitors that are 88 mm wide that don't have that HRZN Tech in the tip and tail.

Carving

How does the ski turn? The Atomic Maverick 88Ti was really great at carving and they have tons of camber underfoot. You'll be able to lay that edge without even trying.

What is the edge hold like? They hold edge on anything: ice, soft snow, and a little bit of powder. These things grip and rip.

What about dampness? Any chatter in the skis? These are pretty stiff and burly which is great for skiing on harder snow. I had no chatter at all. It wasn't the hardest day out there, but I'm confident if you were skiing these on some East Coast boilerplate these aren't going to chatter much at all. They're going to have your back.

How does it feel in terms of speed? They felt super stable at speeds and you'll be really confident if you're going fast.

Freestyle

How is it for freestyle skiing? As far as freestyle goes for Atomic skis, that is more in the Bent line up. But, I tried some threes on the Maverick 88Ti, and I was surprised at the light swing weight feel of it.

Could you speak about playfulness and pop? As far as popping and buttering on the Atomic Maverick 88Ti, it’s just not really its cup of tea.

Is it good for skiing switch? This is definitely a forward directional ski. However, you have just a little bit of rise in the tail, so you could practice skiing switch on a real flat surface. But, I would not recommend skiing switch at speed or in ungroomed terrain- these tails are sinking.

Freeride

How is it in powder? If there are 6 inches or more of powder, this HRZN Tech with the 88 mm waist is going to struggle. Now, with that being said, if you happen to be in the trees and you find a little stash, it actually performs pretty well.

How is it skiing in the trees? How is its maneuverability? The Atomic Maverick 88Ti was an absolute dream in the bumps and trees. As long as it doesn't get super tight, these things are going to be great for you.

What terrain is this ski good for? The terrain that the Maverick 88Ti really excelled in was definitely on piste/on groomers. These things have no speed limit, they hold an edge great, and you'll be really confident with your turns.

What terrain should skiers avoid with it? Where the Atomic Maverick 88Ti is going to struggle a little bit is on those deep days. It's a narrow waisted ski with a little bit of early rise. It can handle itself, but it's not going to be the ski of choice.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend these skis to? I recommend the Maverick 88Ti to anybody that skis 80% or more on groomed trails. These are just going to be a blast for you. They are real easy edge to edge and you'll have the confidence when you're at speeds.

Who should avoid these skis, there are better options out there for them? I would not recommend the Maverick 88Ti to anybody that's trying to learn how to ski switch. If you're going to be spending time in the park, even though the park is considered on trail, these skis just don't have the right features to help you progress as a park skier.

Skis work differently for different types of skiers. If you are wondering whether the Atomic Maverick 88Ti is the right ski for you, chat with Hayden or any other Skiing Experts here on Curated, and they’ll put together free, personalized ski recommendations on the best skis for your needs.