ATOMIC's popular freeride line, the BENT family, has released a new model, the Bent Decode, in the 2026-2027 season, which could be considered the third gene. Let's take a look at the background and the actual Bent Decode
The history of the BENT series
ATOMIC skis' "Bent" series was launched in 2009. It all began with the deep involvement of legendary rider and artist Chris Chetler in its development. The original Bent Chetler 120 was an artist model created by hand-painting graphics on the skis as a canvas. This innovative ski, which combined big mountain skiing with art, symbolized the free and stylish culture of freeskiing
Later, in response to diversifying needs, all-mountain specifications such as the Bent 90/100 were added to the lineup. The concept of big mountain riding was expanded to everyday on-piste snowfields, and to this day the BENT family has evolved to encompass all-mountain, park, and touring
Among these was the Bent Decode, which was born in the 2026-2027 season and is clearly different from previous models. The Decode is a model that is completely focused on modern park riding style, and it can be said that it has established a new position in the Bent series
▼Bent family introduction video at the JSP exhibition venue (January 29/30, 2026 @ Pacifico Yokohama)
Bent Decode |BENT's first "evolved pure park" model
Smooth presses, sharp spins, creative rail rides... the Bent Decode is a playful, durable freestyle ski designed to pursue modern park riding, developed based on feedback from the next generation of athletes. The
ABS CoreGuard, running from tip to tail, maximizes strength, while reinforced edges ensure high durability even during demanding rail rides. The newly adopted HRZN 3D Park technology delivers the light swing weight cultivated in the BENT series. The Bent Decode can be described as a model that optimizes BENT's original philosophy of free and creative skiing for park riding.
To simply understand what kind of skis the Bent Decode are, it might be helpful to look at their position within the BENT family.
Let's pick out two models from the BENT family lineup, which has been refreshed with new graphics for the '26-'27 season.
Bent Chetler 120: A freeride icon
The origin of the Bent series and a freeride icon born from Chris Chetler's signature, the Bent Chetler 120. This model emphasizes overwhelming float in deep snow, surf-like handling, and big mountain performance, and it has defined the DNA of the Bent series
Bent 100: The core of all-mountain
The Bent 100 is a model that incorporates the DNA of freeride into a more everyday ski. Its strength lies in its versatility, covering everything from powder to cruising on the slopes and even the park. It has become a core member of the support base for many freestyle all-mountain riders
Bent Decode: Freeride-inspired design optimized for parks
In contrast, the Bent Decode is clearly designed for park riding. Today's on-site needs demand high-level performance for competitions like slopestyle, butter tricks, and a variety of rail rides, all of which create park rides that look great on video. The performance provided by the technology and materials built into the board to meet these needs is a unique feature of the Bent Decode, and it stands out in the park
Included technologies and features
HRZN 3D Park
ATOMIC skis' unique technology is HRZN (Horizon) Technology, which features a beveled structure on the nose and tail of the ski, improving float in powder, maneuverability on rough snow, and stability
The Decode also features the new HRZN 3D Park technology. The unique three-dimensional tip shape delivers a well-balanced, light swing weight. Combined with the Bent Decode's 92mm waist, it offers even more agility and control
ABS CoreGuard
It's stiff enough to withstand hard riding, yet offers a light ride. The secret is the full-width ABS layer that runs edge-to-edge from tip to tail. (The red sheet in the illustration) The ASB layer not only absorbs high impacts, but is also strong enough to withstand the wear and tear that comes with aggressive rails in the park, big jumps, and other tough use. And yet, it's never heavy. It's an excellent product that achieves a good balance between durability and maneuverability
The directional shape
ensures sufficient edge contact length, improving grip and stability. The plain tail shape, compared to the distinctive shape of the top, is designed to be easy to control without interfering with tricks. It's also great for carving.
The Park Rocker 20/60/20
features a fast rise in the top and tail, resulting in smooth buttering, stable landings, and high controllability.
Glossy Topsheet:
The glossy topsheet and sophisticated graphics give it a refined look.
The true value of Bent Decode
New Zealand's Ben Barclay, one of the world's most promising young riders, has long been a fan of the BENT series. He competed at the Winter X Games in January 2026 using the Bent Decode, delivering a dynamic performance like the one shown below. The ski's light swing weight and stability, even on tough rail contact, demonstrate the ski's outstanding performance
Although Ben Barclay missed out on the podium at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, he showed the world the true value of Bent Decode, which can also be described as competitive park skiing, by performing at a top-class level and making it into the final 12-person field in slopestyle
Information
ATOMIC
Official website:https://atomicsnow.jp/
Official social media:Instagram|Facebook|YouTube