Atomic Pays Homage To The "Herminator" With Retro-Inspired Hermann Maier Skis

Atomic is tapping into alpine skiing nostalgia with the launch of the limited-edition X9S Beta Race 10.26, a modern performance ski that pays homage to the legendary equipment once raced by Austrian great Hermann Maier during his dominant run in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The collector's edition ski blends unmistakable retro aesthetics drawn from the original Beta Race models with contemporary race-proven construction, creating a tribute to one of the sport's most formidable competitors while showcasing Atomic's enduring World Cup heritage.

The X9S Beta Race 10.26 draws visual inspiration directly from those championship years while hiding thoroughly modern engineering beneath its nostalgic graphics. Built for aggressive on-piste skiers, the ski features a Multi Radius Sidecut that allows it to snap through short turns while remaining composed and stable in longer GS-style arcs.

Performance remains central to the design. Ultrawall sidewalls deliver precise edge grip and efficient power transfer, while Titanal-powered construction paired with Atomic's Ultra Power Woodcore provides the dampness, stability, and confidence expected from a race-inspired ski. The setup is designed to reward strong technique and speed—very much in the spirit of the man who inspired it.

The limited-edition release arrives as alpine equipment manufacturers increasingly look to their archives for inspiration, capitalizing on nostalgia among older skiers while introducing younger generations to the sport's legends. For those who grew up watching Maier redefine what was possible through sheer physical power and determination, the ski represents a tangible connection to that era.

Few names carry as much weight in alpine skiing as Maier, better known as "The Herminator." His story remains one of the sport's most remarkable comeback narratives. Told at just 15 that he was too small to succeed and sent home from the Schladming ski academy, Maier spent seven years working as a bricklayer and ski instructor before making his World Cup debut at the unusually late age of 23 in February 1996.

What followed was extraordinary. During his 11-season career, Maier amassed 54 World Cup victories—24 in super-G, 15 in downhill, 14 in giant slalom, and one in combined—along with four overall season titles, three World Championships, and four Olympic medals, including two golds at the 1998 Nagano Games.

Maier's nickname "The Herminator" became cemented in popular culture after his appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger following his 1998 Olympic triumphs. The moniker proved fitting for a competitor whose indestructible nature saw him return from a catastrophic 2001 motorcycle accident that nearly cost him his leg to reclaim the overall World Cup title in 2004.

During his racing prime, Maier's secret to speed puzzled competitors and coaches alike. Video analysis revealed the answer was raw power—he was simply strong enough to hold those fast Atomic skis on a carving edge and maintain his line at speeds others couldn't manage. The thousands of hours lifting bricks and pumping iron during his years as a mason had created the physical foundation for his dominance.

Maier remained with Atomic throughout most of his career before switching to Head in 2007, making the current limited-edition release a reunion of sorts between the brand and its former champion. The ski serves not only as a piece of collectible equipment but as a statement about the lasting impact of World Cup racing heritage on contemporary ski design.

Only available in limited numbers, the X9S Beta Race 10.26 represents Atomic's effort to merge timeless design with cutting-edge performance for skiers who want to carve their own lines with a touch of history beneath their boots.