DPS has carved a name for itself by selling high-end “pow surf,” touring, all-mountain, and freeride skis. It’s the largest domestic ski producer in the U.S., yet it’s never designed a ski specifically for on-piste conditions. But this year, that’s changing. On Dec. 11, DPS opened preorders for its first-ever carving ski: the Pisteworks 79.
This ain’t your grandpa’s carving ski, either. Like many of the DPS models, Pisteworks leverages unique technology that sets this ski apart from the pack. Instead of using metal in the construction (like many racing skis), Pisteworks uses a proprietary carbon laminate that the brand alleges improves stability, agility, and responsiveness.
“By analyzing real-time data during turns and optimizing the feedback loop, we’ve developed a ski that delivers a planted yet thrilling ride throughout the entire turn,” Ted Ligety, two-time Olympic gold medal alpine ski racer, said in a press release. “These skis will change your life.”
Ligety worked with DPS to design the Pisteworks ski specifically for carving performance. Through extensive testing and design work, he helped the brand dial in the ski’s flex, energy, and feel.
“We’ve spent years mastering carbon fiber construction for powder and freeride skis,” Zach Clayton, the global marketing manager at DPS told GearJunkie. “Moving into carving was our way of applying that expertise to create a ski that matches the stability and power of traditional metal but with the agility and energy that only carbon can provide.”
DPS Goes On-Piste: Pisteworks 79 Carving Ski
DPS is based in Salt Lake City and claims some big innovations in the ski space. It designed the first powder pintail ski and created the first rockered ski without any sidecut. According to the brand, for its Pisteworks ski, it developed a process using aerospace-grade carbon fiber instead of metal to make a ski that’s more precise, responsive, and stable.
“Our goal was to take the characteristics of metal that people love and blend them with the excitement of carbon,” Stu Gleason, the design engineer at DPS, told GearJunkie.
Compared to skis that use metal components, carbon fiber skis are generally lighter and stiffer, with a faster rebound. But that often comes at the cost of dampness, power, and speed offered by metal. That’s why traditional racing and carving skis use titanal or other metals in their construction. It’s better for more aggressive, higher-speed skiing.
The Pisteworks break the mold in that regard. These carving skis use two layers of multidirectional carbon fiber and a DPS multidirectional wood core. DPS claims on its site that the carbon fiber layering process enhances torsional rigidity so the ski has a lively, more nimble feel.
“DPS has always chosen carbon as our primary construction technique. We love what carbon can do,” Gleason said. “When harnessed properly, it offers a truly unique experience. Our new line has the planted and predictable feel of metal but with more energy coming out of a turn.”
Make no mistake: These skis carry racing DNA. They have 4000 Series World Cup race bases, 20% rocker, an 80% effective edge, and a 13.5m turn radius. While they lack the weight of their metal counterparts, DPS still recommends a carving binding system for the Pisteworks.
“Every detail of the Pisteworks 79, from its flex profile to its dynamic energy, reflects Ted’s input combined with our advanced carbon fiber technology,” Clayton said. “It’s a ski designed by skiers, for skiers.”
Currently, the ski is only available for preorder. DPS expects it to start shipping sometime in early February. The $1,995 price tag might give you pause. But, like all of DPS’s other skis, the Pisteworks is hand-made by the brand’s craftsmen in Salt Lake City.
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