When skiing is a work of art: artist and freerider Chris Benchetler signs new Atomic skis

Art meets skiing: Atomic, the famous Austrian company founded in 1955 and currently the world’s largest ski manufacturer, has in fact created a line of skis decorated entirely with artwork. It is the new Bent collection, developed in collaboration with artist and freeride icon Chris Benchetler. A U.S. citizen, born in 1986, Benchetler is an artist, filmmaker, and professional freeride skier. As an artist he has signed several murals in the United States and abroad, and as a filmmaker he founded the company Nimbus Independent and has collaborated with companies such as GoPro, Warren Miller, Flagship Independent, MSP Films, and many others.

The new line, decorated by Benchetler and endorsed by the pros of theAtomic Freeski Team (of which Benchetler was named Creative Director for the occasion), is a complete collection of freeride and freestyle models, all designed with the same progressive and dynamic vision that inspired the original. Created with input from some of the best park, pipe, and freeride athletes, the new Bent collection now encompasses Atomic’s entire freeski line, with a range of seven models to cover every dimension of freeskiing (from backcountry to powder, from park freestyle fi-ling to pipe skiing-each model in the new Bent line is designed to maximize personal expression on the mountain).

Using acrylic paints and a huge canvas, Benchetler created an abstract work of art, which was then finished with black outlines to give each ski a unique graphic with the goal of matching it to each skier’s personality. From powder snow to “soft” jumps to impossible landings, each ski in the Bent line was built with one purpose, Atomic makes known: to let imagination and creativity express themselves on the mountain.

There are, as mentioned, seven products in the line: Bent Chetler 120, Chris Benchetler’s signature ski, with a construction and sidecut designed and perfected by the artist since 2008 (the new model, with HRZN technology to offer consistent power transmission and edge grip on hard snows and profiled to offer optimal tip and tail camber, is the latest evolution of this ski); Bent 110, similar to Bent Chetler 120 but narrower, is a freestyle-friendly ski designed for high performance; Bent 100, an “all-mountain” ski that is a streamlined version of the Bent 120 and is designed to adapt to a variety of surfaces (powder, deep untracked snow, difficult or variable conditions, piste); Bent 90, a ski for downhill and park; Bent 85, a versatile all-terrain ski; Bent Chetler Mini, for children from 5 to 13 years old, designed for all snow conditions with a construction specifically designed for young skiers; Bent JR, another children’s ski designed for maximum maneuverability and stability and therefore for those who intend to ski in total safety.

“I am honored and grateful for my new role as Creative Director of Atomic Freeski,” Benchetler wrote on his social accounts. “Historically, a Creative Director determines the creative vision of a brand or project. Fortunately, in my case, Atomic has been a family that has helped me manifest my vision. Bent skis owe their existence to a combined effort of athletes, designers, product developers, engineers, marketing and branding teams. My skis have maintained a consistent look and feel as my unified creative vision has aligned a wide range of people who have offered valuable input. This new role shouldn’t feel much different from the past 14 years of product design and development, but I couldn’t be more excited to take on this role, and with it a broader voice in the brand. My goal has always been to make my work with Atomic an authentic extension of my values as an artist and skier, and my plan is to continue to ensure that the graphics, creativity, design, and messaging are on point and constantly evolving.”

For all information you can visit the Atomic website.

Pictured: Chris Benchetler (right) and a member of the Atomic Freeski Team with the new Bent skis.

When skiing is a work of art: artist and freerider Chris Benchetler signs new Atomic skis

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