This matchup was a close one. Resulting from Blizzard's new Women to Women project, the Sheeva 10's all-new design was all I had hoped it would be and more. It charged through the varied snow and let me do the driving. While the Atomic Backland 102 has been around for two years, the technology holds up. I skied it when it made its debut and was pleasantly surprised by how nimble it was in moguls and trees while still giving me the edge I needed when I popped out on the groomers.
At 102 underfoot, both the Backland and Sheeva promise a fun, floaty experience during a resort powder day. The beauty of these skis is their versatility: after you are done with moguls, steeps, and bowls, they handle the groomers well when it's time to face the fact that the snow is tracked out and you're left with what's left. I skied both in a 172 length; the Sheeva has a slightly tighter turn radius, which made for for quick maneuvering in the trees, while the Backland 102 didn't let me down when put through the same paces.
- Why choose the Sheeva 10? You want a resort powder ski to hit trees and moguls.
- Why choose the Backland 102? You want a resort powder ski to hit bowls.
- Other skis in class: Nordica Santa Ana 100, K2 LuvBoat, Rossignol Soul 7 HD W.