A few things - I have an Air Tech Evo. The grip tape fell off the first time I used the axe in snow. When it wasn't busy falling off, it was preoccupied with hanging onto snow, making the axe hard to hold.
The Goulotte pick is the least brutish of Grivel's current lineup. The Mixte pick is for well, mixed climbing and is quite a lot beefier.
In closing, the Air Tech Evo climbs easy ice just fine. Maybe your swing didn't agree with it.