DPS Pagoda Tour 112 Ski - 2023/24
Behold, the DPS empire has moved to the Far East with the Pagoda line, but the banana shapes of their previous Jamaican-reggae skis have stuck around for the trip. Longtime Skimo Co shoppers will remember our remarks on the last iteration of the Wailer 112: "the rockered profile perfectly integrated with the buttery sidecut makes skiing too easy," we concluded. "As such, we don't recommend even tempting yourself with this ski." Confounding our best efforts, the Tour1 Wailer 112 put DPS on the map for backcountry powder hogs and became a best-selling, award-winning ski year after year. The Pagoda Tour construction adds scant grams on the scale, but ups the performance to previously-unimaginable levels of deep-snow excellence. Damp, predictable, and impressively stable at high speeds, the Pagoda 112RP will keep you on top effortlessly while laying down perfect Wasatch wiggles on a bottomless day. But it's in less-than-perfect conditions that the Pagoda really stands out from its predecessor, with the added damping of the foam core, wood stringers, and 3rd Rail Technology keeping the ski stable when the 3% blower up high turns to cut-up, sun-baked mank down low. Whether you're on a hut trip to the Canadian Interior or skiing the South Face of Superior after a storm, the DPS Pagoda Tour 112 RP has an almost telepathic feel and will keep your legs fresh lap after lap. DPS's Pagodas were engineered with the future in mind, while the shape and feel are staying true to their powder-loving roots.
- The long-awaited successor to the best-selling Wailer 112.
- Pagoda ski line has matched the best characteristics of the Tour1 and Alchemist/Pure3 lines for an easy-skiing experience.
- Ash and paulownia stringers keep the ski light on the ascent, and very happy in the deepest of powder.
- Aerospace-grade foam core gives an unbelievably damp feel that shines in the crud.
- Textured polyamide topsheet keeps snow and ice off your ski when the skies open up and drop the white stuff.
- World Cup race-grade base material leads to fast gliding skis and is well paired with DPS's Phantom 2.0 treatment.
- 3rd Rail Technology is a stringer that combats vibration and increases stability.
Update 2022/23: DPS made minor changes to the core construction with the addition of their 3rd Rail Technology. The topsheet art has also been updated.
Update 2024/25: DPS replaced this ski with a new version, which can be viewed here.
Specifications | |
Lengths (cm) | 158, 168, 178, 184 |
Weight |
1280g [158] 1380g [168] 1560g [178] 1620g [184] 1685g [189] |
Weight (pair) | 2560g [158] 2760g [168] 3120g [178] 3240g [184] 3370g [189] |
|
138-112-122 [158] 139-112-124 [168] 140-112-125 [178] 140-112-127 [184] 141-112-129 [189] |
Turn |
15m |
Skin |
Rounded tip and tail |
Specs Verified | Yes |
Design | |
|
Generous tip rocker, camber underfoot, tail rocker |
|
Rockered tip, short turning radius, rockered tail |
|
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 | Deep powder touring, speed encouraged |
Notes | Award-winning 112 RP shape with the updated Pagoda tour construction |
Bottom Line | A powder ski that somehow makes powder even smoother |
Compare to other Excess-fat Skis |
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Questions & Reviews
Overall the ski is similar to previous years - a bit damper, but likely hard to feel a difference, at least in the sort of snow you'd want to ski these in!
Much bigger changes coming for next season, though!
I'm 5'8 and 195lbs.
I love big heavy skis love the Cochise 184s for in bounds and DPS Alchemist Lotus' of similar length for inbounds deep days. I have some old Huascaran 178s that I love, but I'm becoming a way better skier and I'm looking out swapping out for a big long, powder (maybe light) ski that could also deal with the Cement of my beloved North Cascades! So I'd be looking at the longest length probably.
I think I could handle 187s unless you have other thoughts.
Lemme know what you think!
They are fairly different skis! Both are 112 underfoot, damp, and powerful, but the similarities mostly end there. The DPS RP shape is very rockered and has a tremendous amount of tip splay, as well as tons of taper at the tip and a very short turn radius. All of this is designed to deliver a turny, tip-up attitude in deep snow for the skier who wants effortless control of their skis when it's super deep, and likes to make shorter to medium radius turns.
The Locator 112 has a much longer turn radius, less sidecut, and less rocker. It also has more energy stored in its camber. The Locator will want to make longer, slarvier turns and has lots of energy and rebound. It is a super fun ski for a skier who wants to put a bit more input into their skis, and potentially ski a bit faster in powder. It won't float as effortlessly tip-up as the Pagodas, but it is still a great choice for deep days. I think it would be a bit more capable on firmer and variable, steep terrain as well.
While you could certainly handle the 187cm length at 195lbs and a strong, aggressive skier, I think a 184-ish ski might be a bit better balance for the demands of touring, which also requires you to kick-turn and jump-turn your way through terrain. But if you are really drawn to a longer ski, go for it. I will say the Locator will ski longer for the length than the DPS, you might want to be more careful with sizing that one up.
I ski the 100 Pagoda RP 179cm as daily drivers in the Northeast but want to put together a POW set for out west and Europe. I. 5’11” and 175 gear up. I’ve skied the 100 RP in 184 and they were a tad long at times in the east but very manageable. Should I go for the 178cm or grab the 184. I know their mount position is a little further back on the 112 than the 100 too. My buddy is 5’8” and skis the 178cm as his daily driver.
Thanks,
They will feel pretty similar to the 100s that you have, just a bit wider! If you sometimes wish you'd gone smaller, I would consider the 178cm - you aren't too big for it. You're right between sizes, could go either way. With the 112, it's such a wide ski that you don't really need the extra float of the longer length (unless it's going to be extremely, crazy deep), but of course, you could handle the 184cm if you like it. It won't feel too different from your 100s, just wider.
Thanks!
I want to match them with a radical pro boot
168 should be perfect for a powder ski! Much longer would be difficult to manage on kick turns and in trees.
I'm using my Pagoda 112RP's in 184cm length with SCARPA Maestrale boots and ATK Crest bindings from SkiMo. They float my 200lbs very well in powder, and work remarkably well in crud and on groomers also.
For such days, I am looking for a playful ski that also is fun in less steep terrain and technical forests. The Pagoda Tour 100 RP seems to fit that bill very well while still striking me as a solid all-rounder. However, I am afraid that the 184 cm length would be a bit on the short side for me.
This makes me consider the Pagoda Tour 112 RP in 189 instead. I initially disregarded this ski since I feared it might compromise too much on all-round performance (realistically most of my touring involves some less-than-ideal conditions) and that I would find too few days to take it out for a tour. Which of the two skis would you recommend for my intended use as a supplement to my Camox?
The Pagoda Tour 112 are a powder ski through and through, and a really good one too. With that being said, it would not be a stranger to the less-than-ideal conditions. DPS's construction is impressively damp. The Pagoda Tour 100 RP may be better suited for firmer snow conditions but will not excel in the soft snow performance you're after when compared to the 112RP. If you're looking for a more dedicated powder ski that can handle a broad range of conditions the Pagoda Tour 112 RP would be an excellent choice and supplement the Camox quite well.
For sizing, I'm 5'6", 135#, is 168 the right size for me?
If you want a slightly different ski, the other SLC made ski, the Hyper V8 pictured above, is also really fun. A bit longer turn radius, comes in a 171cm that is a tad lighter.
She is 5’3 and 120 lbs, 95% touring and never uses brakes. She is not an aggressive skier but an excellent skier.
What think?
As far as bindings are concerned we've had a number of folks pair the 112s up with something relatively light like the Atomic Backland Pure Binding or the ATK Kuluar 9 LT Binding as well.
I've been skiing the 2021 DPS Pagoda Tour 112 and the smiles I've been wearing has my girlfriend interested in a pair.
Do you think it is worthwhile to wait for the 2022/2023 model? Are the differences in skiing characteristics perceptible to a fairly average skier in mostly powder conditions (she has other skis for days when nature has not been so generous)?
If the ski is noticeably more damp that might be of interest as she likes a damp ski. But only if the ski has not increased in stiffness. If the new version were stiffer she may well prefer the feel of the prior generation.
Any real world observations on how the two generations of ski perform would be very much appreciated!
Cheers,
Mike
The Pagoda core is really damp compared to other Touring skis of this weight and plain awesome in the original and the new version.
I am a 5'8, 152lbs, expert skier that prefers slow, controlled, turns and does not send it.
Shall I go with the 168 or 178?
find these skiis good on most snow but is not carrying my weight (180lb, 6,2 ") in deep snow...40-50 cm or more. The tip have a tendancy to go deep. Looking for a wider and playful powderski.
Would these DPS skiis in 184 cm, carry my weight better? I am worried the are to short and not wide enough to carry me and play whith me in the deep.
I can give you my personal story. I weigh the same. I got the 178cm and for me, a bit more flotation than what I like. So I would say the 168cm, If you like to sink in a bit and not skim across the snow. My 178cm still work great on really deep days and resort powder days. I just bought the Pagoda 100 in the 171cm as a lighter Pow ski, for less deep days.
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