DPS Pagoda Tour 106 Ski
If you find yourself skinning up the approach to a popular powder-lapping spot with the hopes of scoring a few pre-dawn turns before the masses track things out, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the folks you pass in the skintrack were on their way to a day of heli-served runs at Thompson Pass, or riding lifts at Niseko. Uber-wide, rockered powder ski designs have taken over the North American backcountry -- from Smuggler's Notch to Jones Pass, Shuksan Arm to Mt. Tallac -- and our collective idea of an everyday ski has quickly swung toward the fat and surfy end of the spectrum. For the "wide-is-right" skier who can't imagine going smaller than 100 millimeters underfoot, but also wants to put in more vert before sunup than their similarly-engorged brethren, DPS's Pagoda 106 is a hard-snow tool in the guise of a face-shots-everyday pontoon. Basing the ski around the foam core common to their Pagoda line, DPS took their liberally-wide, but conservatively rockered Wailer 106 shape and gave it an even damper, more stable ride with the same easy-turning feel, and secure edge hold on hard snow for those moments when you find yourself jump-turning your way down a chalky north face. Best of all, at under 1500g for the 179cm length, the Pagoda Tour 106 won't have you begging for a mechanical up-lift after a thousand meters of hooting and hollering.
- Pagoda skis took the most cherished characteristics of the Tour1 and Alchemist/Pure3 lines to create a smooth-skiing, and happily-charging setup.
- Ash and paulownia stringers lead to a light ski on the ascent, uber-damp feel in variable conditions, and a lovely experience in powder.
- Aerospace-grade foam gives impressive damping qualities while keeping the ski lightweight.
- Textured polyamide topsheet keeps snow and ice off the top of your ski so you can constantly admire the simple, yet elegant artistic design.
- World Cup race-grade base material makes for quick skis on the downhill and goes well with DPS's Phantom 2.0 treatment.
- The Chassis Two (C2) rocker-camber profile is built to maximize the combination of the flex pattern and sidecut, creating an ultra-smooth skiing experience.
- 3rd Rail Technology is a stringer made of sidewall material that lessens vibration and increases durability.
Update 2022/23: 3rd Rail technology was incorporated into the ski, increasing performance, durability, and most importantly, fun. DPS also updated the topsheet design. Weight is slightly down to unchanged.
Specifications | |
Lengths (cm) | 155, 163, 171, 179, 184 |
Weight |
1225g [155] 1350g [163] 1420g [171] 1540g [179] 1595g [184] |
Weight (pair) | 2450g [155] 2700g [163] 2840g [171] 3080g [179] 3190g [184] |
|
126-106-115 [155] 128-106-116 [163] 130-106-117 [171] 132-106-119 [179] 134-106-120 [184] |
Turn |
19m [All Lengths] |
Skin |
Rounded tip and tail |
Specs Verified | Yes |
Design | |
|
Rockered tip, camber underfoot, slight tail rocker |
|
Rockered tip, medium radius, tail rocker |
|
Foam core with ash and paulownia stringers, 3rd Rail Technology, and World Cup race base |
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Aerospace-grade foam with ash and paulownia stringers and 3rd Rail Technology |
Skimo Co Says | |
Usage | Powder touring with a pleasant surprise when the powder is gone |
Notes | Evolution of DPS' Chassis shaping for maximum versatility |
Bottom Line | An everyday western resort ski, but for the backcountry instead |
Compare to other High-fat Skis |
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Questions & Reviews
Thinking of buying these as touring skis. Would they pair well with an Atomic shift binding? Have also looked at the Salomon QST echo 106. What are the pros and cons of each model and which would you choose? Are there any other options that you would suggest?
These skis are certainly burly enough to mount with a Shift! The Pagoda 106 is a great ski. Compared to the QST Echo 106, it is lighter and stiffer, and the construction is a lot more space-age. This particular DPS ski will reward a more traditional skier who wants a versatile ski that can be driven from the shovel, but can also be skied a bit more neutral and break loose when desired. It is a nice cambered shape with some tip and tail rocker, but not an exaggerated amount. A great ski for variable conditions.
By comparison, the QST Echo is heavier, softer, and more rockered. It is designed to be a bit more playful and release its edge easier. A great fun powder ski, or simply a bigger daily driver. This ski, plus a Shift, would be a great candidate for a 50/50 resort/backcountry ski.
There are a lot of great skis out there, but between these two, you have two pretty distinct personalities and two great choices. If you'd like to go into more depth, shoot us an email at help@skimo.co with some information about your skiing style and what you're looking for, and we're happy to help!
If the demo skis were new-ish, that could also be a problem with the tune - it is possible that the tips weren't de-tuned by the shop who set them up, which could definitely cause the hook-iness that you describe. However, it is true that more tapered tip shapes are designed to be able to smear easier and not catch/hook up as quickly in softer/deeper snow. Less tip taper allows the ski to engage earlier giving you more effective edge and more tip to drive.
I wouldn't call either of those skis particularly catchy/hooky, and I will say that the Elans are designed with an asymmetrical rocker so that your inside ski is less likely to catch, while your outside ski still has lots of edge engaged. It is a cool feature that we do notice, especially on firmer snow. If you are a fan of skis that are easy to turn sideways and drift, releasing from the turn easily, I would recommend taking a look at the Faction La Machine series of skis, as they have quite a bit of rocker that makes them very smeary and slarvy.
Ah yes, the curse of black topsheets in sun and cold snow. For what it's worth, I have two skis with black topsheets and I've just learned to deal with it, just giving them a quick scrape when it gets too bad. But I agree, not the ideal color for that specific condition.
The Locators are much more energetic than the La Machines, they are somewhat opposite in this way. The La Machine I would describe as more damp and buttery, and easier to pivot. They are a very predictable ski that is very intuitive for someone who likes a drifty/rockered ski. The Locators are also relatively loose-feeling, but definitely rebound you a lot more out of a turn. This gives them a lot of personality, but I would say the La Machines are more predictable and stable, and while I wouldn't call either one punishing, I think the LaMas might line up a little bit more with what you're looking for!
It would be hard to tell the difference. If you skied them side by side with the same boots and bindings, you might be able to feel something, but overall the ski is not going to be fundamentally very different. In either case, the Pagoda construction is quite damp for its weight.
I haven't skied them side by side so I can't say for sure, but I would say the increased rocker of the 100 would lend it to floating well at slower speeds, while the 106 will float better at high speeds. So if you prefer tighter, slower turns, I'd go with the 100. If you prefer longer, slashed turns, the 106 will float better.
Discovered they are stable at speed, and have very little tip flap on the groomers at speed. This is not a ski to smear like my heavier Pure 3 Wailers ; very directional. Point and shoot.
Skied a week with these up in Big Cottonwood, in the backcountry, and Brighton resort just now. Caught the 38 inch snowfall on March 6 in BCC at Brighton.
For a light, ski they handled uneven chopped up powder well. Untracked snow, the splayed tips always seemed to float up. A smooth, Cadillac ride in soft snow.
And hard snow/packed powder groomers , carved very well, unless you hit some ice. Not necessarily a good Eastern ski? For that I think my Scott SG 105s are better, but that's a stiff ski.
So for a travel ski, resort and touring quiver of one, out West, a great ski.
A great setup, light on the skin track.
If you want to really get into it, please email us at help@skimo.co
I am currently skiing Black crows camox freebird and really like them. 167/96.
I am planning to buy a dedicated setup for powder and looking for 104/105/106 width. I am 5'7 and weigh 150lbs. Are these skis stiffer than camox freebird ?
Also i am comfortable at 167 length for my style of skiing (short turns) and relatively conservative backcountry skier as its my second season. What other skis you recommend if not dps. Thank you.
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