DPS Pagoda Tour 100 Ski - 2023/24

DPS's ventures into the far ends of the randonnee galaxy began when founder Stephan Drake found himself chasing winter in the Chilean mountains, looking for a ski that would perform as well on re-frozen Portillo crud as it shredded in the Colorado blower that he knew from his college days. It wasn't long before Drake and co. were churning out uber-wide, uber-rockered, uber-playful powder boards that energized the North American backcountry-ski market and inspired a loyal following. More recently, DPS has brought their chops to bare on designing the Tour1 construction and bringing a host of ripping sub-1500-gram skis to market, while chairlift riders have gravitated toward the damp, crud-busting Pure3 and Alchemist constructions. Just in time for 2020 is the Pagoda line, which condenses previous Tour1 and Alchemist/Pure3 models, bringing peace to the debates between "all about the down" freeskiers and "this ski is too wide for the skintrack" randonneurs. By utilizing aerospace-grade foam and 3rd Rail Technology in their cores, the Pagoda ski has won plaudits from early testers for its intuitive, damp feel, especially when compared with other skis in the weight class. With ample tip rocker, more modest tail rocker, and a 100mm-underfoot width, the Pagoda Tour 100 RP hits the sweet spot for many ski tourers in the western ranges, from Wolf Creek to Rogers Pass. When you're looking for a ski that charges downhill like a metal-topsheet piste ski but boasts the weight of a SkimoCo-worthy touring ski, DPS's Pagoda Tour 100 is a strong contender.

• Successor to the ultra-popular powder-farming, Jamaican-band-imitating Wailer ski line.
• Pagoda ski line mixes and matches characteristics of the Tour1 and Alchemist/Pure3 lines for an end result that is easy-skiing yet hard-charging.
• RP (resort powder) camber and sidecut create a powder-hungry ski that holds an edge when conditions get dicey.
• Ash and paulownia stringers keep the ski light on the ascent, damp in variable conditions, and lively in powder.
• Textured polyamide topsheet keeps snow and ice off your ski even during July 4th corn hunts.
• World Cup race-grade base material keeps your Pagodas gliding fast and pairs well with DPS's Phantom treatment.
• Aerospace-grade foam core helps to create a lighter construction, and a more damp feel.
• 3rd Rail Technology creates a damp, durable, and stable ride.

Update 2022/23: DPS tweaked the core construction with the addition of 3rd Rail Technology. Because more color is better, DPS updated the topsheet graphic and introduced more color. Weight increased by 10-20 grams.

Update 2024/25: This has been replaced with a new version, which can be found here.