 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Plop.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Regardless of the virtues of this ski, and I wouldn't know as I've never been on it, it seems that europe didn't embrace it and it will die a death...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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It's true that the skiing press did not truly 'get' the Metron but it's certainly not dying a death. Up until the launch of the Metron none of the manufacturers had been able to construct a ski that offered the 3 in 1 package, ie tight radius, float & short length. Mostly the press ended up reviewing it in the wrong categories which is problably as much Atomic's fault. But yes as a ski it really does work & no they haven't fallen apart. But yes it's probably too radical for many. Actually maybe it was just a few years ahead of it's time?
Part of Atomic problem was that there were initially too many Metrons in the range which led comsumers to think that the B5 was an expert level ski only. In fact S&R originally listed it as an expert ski which I am certainly not. This is certainly not true & I'd recommend the B5 for a test to any intermediate level skier looking to improve.
Another criticism was that the ski is heavy. That's true, but the swing weight is low so it skis waaay 'lighter'. Most of the extra weight was in the 04/05 model's binding which was lightened for the 05/06 model so the ski weighs no more that any other equivalent 'quality' ski.
To get the best from this ski, in fact to ski it at all really, it needs to be skied with modern technique rather than with a traditional feet together skiddy technique so that means any 'old schooler' who tests it is probably not going to like it. I've never know old school technique so I've found that this ski has perfectly complimented the tuition I've had.
And it has to be skied short! Most guys test it in 172 which is way too long, which is what happened when a number of last season's PSB'ers test it. The 172 is for 250lb'ers!. UK skiers are still getting used to skis being shorter in general so maybe skiing a 162 for a 6ft 200lb'er just seemed too radical.
Sales of the B5 were & still are extremely strong in North America &, talking to the Atomic rep at Castleford, were very strong in Europe (not the UK) for a high end ski. The problem in Europe was one of availability as the majority of the production went to the US, Canada & Japan were the B5 has been sold out each year by mid season. Availability in the UK is a problem, in fact sourcing a top of the range ski in general is a problem in the UK as there is a minimal market so the retails won't stock them, for example EB's stocked the Nordica Nitrous but not the Top Fuel.
It was interesting that at the recent Xscape ski test many snowHeads raved about the SXB5 skier-X model but Atomic didn't have a B5 for anyone to try!
Atomic have tweaked the Metron range for the new season with the new M11B5. They've reduced the side cut to increase the radius & you ski it a bit longer than the original M11 & the B5 - I'd ski in in 170 compared to my 162 B5. It's stiffness is between that of the B5 & the old M11. This move effectively makes the M11B5 a direct competitor to the Nitrous/Top Fuel etc. They've also rightly reduced the number of skis in the range which should avoid the confusion & specification crossover that existed before. Commercially this will probably be a great move but you probably won't be able to buy a B5 in the UK now.
For those that do 'get it' the B5 will enter it's third season unchanged, still heading up the Metron range.
SZK, I've bitten & I'm all played out now so you can reel me in 
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*this post has been brought to you by the "I'm addicted to Atomics" society. Please give generously, and perhaps we can rescue "spyderjon", so he can once again be free to try other brands of skis...
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Wear The Fox Hat, It's just a good job RockyRobin and SpyderJon didn't turn up together on Saturday, between them they would have had more Atomic's than the rep.
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| marc gledhill wrote: |
| Plop. |
And the float goes under 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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My name's Jon & I'm an Atomicoholic 
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| srobbo wrote: |
| Wear The Fox Hat, It's just a good job RockyRobin and SpyderJon didn't turn up together on Saturday, between them they would have had more Atomic's than the rep. |
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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spyderjon, You need converting mate. If I get a chance to ski with you in the mountains sometime i'll even pay for you to demo a pair of fatboys for the day to see if we can do something with this affliction your suffering.
Seriously though, the B5 is a fun ski and it's a bit hard on Jon to knock them as they suit what he uses them for very well. Hell, I got told my skis looked "gay" the other week so it's not just Jon's choice of ski that doesn't always meet with approval in some quarters.
I'm curious what SZK slides about on? 
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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spyderjon,
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It was interesting that at the recent Xscape ski test many snowHeads raved about the SXB5 skier-X model but Atomic didn't have a B5 for anyone to try!
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What makes you say this? This was the first ski I tested at Cas and it definately said SX-B5 on it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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stocky, ah, it's part of the Atomic confusion regime.
They have quite a few skis which include the legend "B5", but only one is actually the B5 and says only B5 on it.
Good eh?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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marc gledhill, That SX model definately said B5 on the tip.
Now i'm most confused 
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Wed 9-08-06 0:21; edited 1 time in total
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B5 is the name Atomic use for that technology, B5 technology but there is a ski called the SX:B5
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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FenlandSkier, This is the ski I tested unless I'm very much mistaken
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Called the SX:B5 and featuring B5 technology. Bit of a daft marketing decision, it would be like Volvo calling their new car the Handbrake.
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I've skied a pair of 158cm SX B5 for two seasons, absolutley brilliant. I csan't wait to get them on the snow again.
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I've never seen B5's on the hill...not once, zip, zilch, zero.....
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| FenlandSkier wrote: |
| Called the SX:B5 and featuring B5 technology. Bit of a daft marketing decision, it would be like Volvo calling their new car the Handbrake. |
I thought the B5 was going to be renamed the clitoris ...
(punchline, for those who don't know it, can be supplied by PM)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Wear The Fox Hat, you've got one too!? 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| stocky wrote: |
marc gledhill, That SX model definately said B5 on the tip.
Now i'm most confused |
As they say, that wasn't a B5, it was an SX:B5.
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You know it makes sense.
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No, that's correct.
The M11-B5 is not THE B5, although it has the B5 design.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Quote: |
The M11-B5 is not THE B5
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But it is A B5, which is where the discussion started. Got it now. Clear as mud
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Atomic have three skis that incorporate their 'Beta 5' power chanel system:
- The Metron B5 which is their top ski in their Metron range & is known in the trade as the B5. I suppose it should be correctly known as the M:B5. I ski the 162cm which is 131/76/115 & 11m radius.
- The SX:B5 which is their top ski in their skier-X range. I'd ski the 174cm which is 106/68/96 & 18m radius. As you can see it's a very different ski to the Metron B5. If you like the Metron you'll probably like the SX but not necessarily vica versa as the Metron is a very short, stiff & tight radius ski.
- The new M11B5 is their new ski in the Metron range, falling being between the old/now defunct M11 & the continuing Metron B5. To keep the price down Atomic have put the Beta 5 power bars on the top of the ski & not in it as per the Metron B5 & the SX:B5.
Easy isn't it 
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spyderjon, Thanks for that. I didn't get a chance to ski THE B5 at Cas on saturday but I did enjoy skiing the SX:B5. I think it was the 160cm with a 16m radius(might be wrong, was definately 16m radius but could have been longer than 160cm)
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The SX-B5 is a skier-cross ski. The Metron B5 is an all-mountain mid-fat. The M-B5 will give back a lot more when you really push on it than the SX-B5.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| ssh wrote: |
| The SX-B5 is a skier-cross ski. The Metron B5 is an all-mountain mid-fat. The M-B5 will give back a lot more when you really push on it than the SX-B5. |
I can attest to that!
I've skied on both and found the little kick in the butt on the M-B5, that I didn't get out of the SX-B5.
I tend to ski on skis that are too big for me but I really liked the M-B5.
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You know, it doesn't matter what fragrance of Glade you spray in the bathroom, whether it's SX, M11, or whatever, all you are doing is masking the smell.
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FAQ
Now i'm even more confused 