DPS Pagoda Tour 106 Skis

Thanks to their refreshed construction in 2022/23, the Pagoda Tour 106 Skis are more tour-friendly than ever. They are made with a Paulownia wood core which is light and stiff, there are also two Ash wood stringers for added strength and dampness. In addition to this, there are Aerospace grade foam stringers integrated into the build to further lighten the skis while maintaining strength and stiffness. This all combines to create what DPS calls their Third Rail Technology which overall is more damp, stable, and durable than its predecessor thanks to the improved integration between the hybrid wood/foam core and their new bio-based sidewall material.

This new algae-based sidewall is made from 63% bio content which is sourced from microalgae and creates a byproduct that is like a plastic polyurethane material in nature. It is used in the ski's construction because it is more environmentally friendly but also because it has impressive damping characteristics, a high bend strength and impact resistance making for more durable and stable skis.

The rocker/camber/rocker profile of the Pagoda Tour 106 Skis is fairly traditional with a long progressive camber in the tips, camber underfoot and generous early rise in the tails.

The wider tips and rocker combine to help the skis float in deep snow and break through chop while the camber makes the skis more lively and responsive.

The generously rockered tails contribute to the ski’s playful nature allowing for a more versatile skiing style.

DPS has brought the widest part of the skis in towards the binding mounts for a less dramatic tapered shape to provide better floatation and more pop so that the skis stay up on top of the snow more easily.

The Pagoda Tour 106 Skis have a long turn radius so the ski's effective edge enables you to ski fall line more aggressively while their lower swing weight makes quick shorter radius turns a possibility. Their lightweight and solid construction effectively blends uphill efficiency with a solid downhill performance.

• Textured polyamide top that is resistant to chipping.
• Full Carbon laminate to reduce weight and increase stiffness.
• Binding Reinforcement to keep your AT/tele binding from ripping out.
• New algae based sidewall increases dampening, bend strength, and impact resistance not to mention its eco-friendly.
• New Third Rail Technology w/ Algal Tech to increase durability and dampness.
• Rockwell 48 steel edges to hold up to the most extreme conditions.
• World Cup race bases to help prevent core shots.

All of DPS’s skis including the Pagoda Tour 106 C2 Skis come with an optional Phantom treatment. This is an eco-friendly and permanent waxless base treatment that eliminates the need for regular waxing. This patent-pending polymer technology offers ultimate convenience combined with great glide performance and is a one-time application that is also inert to the environment. The application can be applied to your new ski order for $179.99US which means that you’ll never have to wax them skis again.

To keep the Pagoda Tour 106 Skis light we mounted them with the DPS F15 EVO Bindings. While designed and manufactured by ATK, they are DPS-branded and pair nicely with the Pagoda Tour 106 Skis. Featuring an individually adjustable vertical and horizontal heel release with values from 7-15 and spring tension adjustability on the toe piece means that these tech bindings will accommodate even the burliest advanced skier. You’ll notice a unique adjustable boot stomp pad in front of the heel piece which allows your ski boot's heel to sit flush against the structure of the binding which significantly improves energy transfer. Another nice feature is the semi-auto brake which locks the brakes in the up and stowed position when you rotate the heel piece, making for more efficient transitions. Step-in is also now easier thanks to the patented cam system which works regardless of release setting.

There is no denying that this second generation of the Pagoda Tour Skis are made for backcountry skiing. They're crazy light, fat enough for deep powder days and have a generous amount of tip rocker so they just float no matter what. I tested the Pagoda Tour 106 Skis on the few powered days we’ve had so far this season and they were so much fun in soft snow and performed as advertised. On the skin track their weight (and that of the DPS F15 EVO Bindings) was appreciated immensely as they didn’t slow me down and I had extra energy for that next last lap. When the pow turned to broken chop their early rise tips ensured they’d float over everything and make easy work of soft broken snow. When approaching the resort to head back in bounds, things began to firm up and this is when there was some deflection, just due to the ski's light weight.

Where I was really curious how these skis would perform was at the ski resort on firmer snow and groomers. Initially, I just couldn’t see how they could carve confidently with so much tip and tail rocker and such little mass to drive the skis effectively. Well,... the Pagoda Tour 106 Skis really surprised me. They were a lot of fun on hardpacked snow, when I turned them on edge and laid down a long carve they really bit into the snow and stayed the course without any slipping or smearing. Most of this impressive grip was found directly underfoot as the early rise tips and tails didn’t provide much contact with the snow so their effect edge was limited and provided no additional carving power. While the rockered tips are required for pow skiing, I personally would prefer a flatter tail and since this is a touring ski it would provide many benefits. It would be much easier to execute kick turns on the skin track and provide a more complete finish to my turns on firmer snow, instead, I was wanting just a little bit more. Keep in mind however that this is a dedicated touring ski so the fact that it can even carve so impressively well is a huge bonus.

The Pagoda Tour 106 Ski’s C2 construction provides the energy needed for these skis to react quickly in bumps and tighter terrain. Short radius runs and edge-to-edge manoeuvrability was again impressive considering this is a 106mm ski underfoot. While there are better-carving skis out there that can provide more aggressive edge hold, the Pagoda Tour 106 Skis provided more than enough for me and considering that they are built for touring, well, enough said.

Longer radius turns and skiing at speed on soft snow was very stable, on firmer snow there was minimal tip chatter and the ride was very damp, especially considering how light these skis are. These are skis that I would consider not only for ski touring but also if you wanted to ski the odd resort day as they were able to carve so well when required. While I can’t say that they absolutely railed long radius turns on the groomers they still provided enough confidence to open them up and have some fun, they are just surprisingly good at everything. The only downside I can speak to is the price. At $2,297CAN / $1,695US, these are incredibly expensive skis and keep in mind this doesn’t include the DPS F 15 EVO Bindings or the Phantom treatment. For this kind of money, you can typically buy a pair of respectable touring skis, AT bindings and skins. But, since the Pagoda Tour 106 Ski are manufactured in Salt Lake City, this is just the price you pay for American-made high-end skis these days.