Faction Prodigy W - 16/17

Faction Prodigy W 96 (Model 16/17)

The Prodigy W 96 was designed as a women-specific all-mountain/freeride ski, but its dimensions and character make it particularly interesting for skiers who like to treat the whole mountain as a playground. With a 96 mm waist, 2 mm of camber underfoot and rocker at both ends, it has enough flotation for soft snow while staying manoeuvrable and predictable when you're skiing switch, hitting side hits or generally looking for features rather than just the fastest line down.

The poplar/ash woodcore and traditional sandwich construction give the ski a solid, durable feel without making it unnecessarily heavy or dead. The stronger binding platform improves responsiveness, while the dual-radius sidecut helps the ski transition naturally between different turn shapes. It is not a loose, super-soft park ski, but it has enough energy and manoeuvrability to make jumps, natural hits and creative lines around the mountain part of its natural territory.

The Transition Zone Technology uses rocker to make the ski easier to control across changing snow conditions. Together with the tip and tail rocker, this gives the Prodigy W 96 a useful balance: stable enough when you want to push, but easy enough to redirect when the terrain gets interesting. The 96 mm waist also gives it more confidence in soft snow than a conventional narrow park ski, although it is still much more at home making quick, playful turns than charging deep powder.

For us, the Prodigy W 96 makes most sense as a wider park/all-mountain ski rather than a dedicated freeride board. It is a good choice for a skier who spends time in the park but doesn't want to leave the rest of the mountain behind. Side hits, natural transitions, groomers, soft snow and park features are all fair game. If your idea of a good ski day involves finding something to jump off every few hundred metres, you're in the right place.

Specifications:

Length: 168 cm
Sidecut: 126 / 96 / 117 mm
Radius: 16 m
Core: Poplar / Ash
Construction: Sandwich
Base: Die-Cut 4000
Sidecut: Dual-Radius
Profile: 2 mm Camber underfoot / Tip & Tail Rocker
Technology: Transition Zone Technology
Mounting: Women-specific mounting point
Intended use: Freestyle / Park / All-Mountain / Freeride
Skiing character: Playful / Stable / Manoeuvrable

Summary:

The Faction Prodigy W 96 is a versatile 96 mm ski that sits nicely between a wide park ski and an all-mountain freestyle ski. Its rocker-camber-rocker profile, dual-radius sidecut and poplar/ash sandwich construction make it manoeuvrable, stable and ready for side hits, park laps and the rest of the mountain. Originally developed with freeride in mind, we think its real strength is making the whole mountain your playground. A great option for skiers who want more width than a traditional park ski without giving up the playful character.