Le mogul review

Overview

Le Mogul is Faction's dedicated mogul ski, a tribute to the origins of freestyle skiing that Faction calls "the most thoughtfully crafted mogul skis on Earth". It is a narrow, cambered bump tool with a 100-66-90 mm sidecut in every length, sold in 140, 147, 155 and 163 cm. Faction's spec table continues to 171 and 179 cm, but those longer sizes are sold separately as the Le Mogul Pro, which has softer tips and a premium build. At 1,350-1,500 g per ski, Le Mogul is light for its length, and it is aimed at intermediate to expert skiers who spend their days in the bumps rather than on open groomers.

On-snow performance

Faction rates Le Mogul at 7/10 for flex, 5/10 for all-mountain and carving, 1/10 for freeride and powder, and 8/10 for park and freestyle in the mogul sense. The design explains those numbers. The elliptical sidecut has a longer radius underfoot and shorter radii at the tip and tail: the long middle section lets the ski pivot quickly between bumps, while the shorter ends help start the turn. Faction's "Mustache Flex" keeps the ski supportive underfoot for edge hold and makes the tips and tails progressive, so they absorb impacts and snow debris in the troughs. The traditional mogul profile pairs high camber with tip and tail rocker and a flat tail, which suits a zipper line and jumps but not switch skiing or park features. On groomers it is usable and grips well for a narrow ski, but with radii of 11-16 m and a 66 mm waist it is built to turn in the fall line, not to lay down long carves, and it has no place in soft snow.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: lightweight poplar with integrated paulownia to save weight, set between two layers of fiberglass.
• Base: sintered.
• Shape: elliptical sidecut, a longer radius underfoot with shorter radii at the tip and tail.
• Flex: "Mustache Flex", stable underfoot with a smooth, progressive flex in the tips and tails; Faction rates it 7/10.
• Profile: traditional mogul profile, a flat tail shape with high camber and tip and tail rocker.
• Dimensions: 100-66-90 mm in all lengths. Radius: 11 m (140), 12 m (147), 14 m (155), 16 m (163).
• Weight: 1,350 g (140), 1,400 g (147), 1,450 g (155), 1,500 g (163) per ski. Lengths: 140, 147, 155, 163 cm.

Who it's for & comparisons

Le Mogul is for skiers who actively ski bump runs and want a ski made for them: club mogul skiers, bump-focused intermediates who want to progress, and experts who want a dedicated mogul tool. Faction's size guide keeps the ski close to skier height: a 160-165 cm skier is pointed to 155 or 163 cm, a 150-155 cm skier to 147 or 155 cm. The closest ski in our catalog is the K2 244 mens, which has the same 66 mm waist but a 97 mm tip, an 82 mm tail and a full camber profile with little rocker; Le Mogul's wider tail and tip-and-tail rocker suggest a more forgiving ride. For skiers who want one ski for groomers and occasional bumps, Faction's narrowest all-mountain ski, the Faction Dancer 79 Ti, is the more versatile choice, and a short-turn piste ski like the Rossignol Hero carve will carve far better. Competition skiers taller than about 165 cm should look at the Le Mogul Pro in 171 or 179 cm.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Purpose-built for moguls, with an elliptical sidecut that pivots quickly.
• Progressive tips and tails that absorb impacts in the troughs.
• Light for its length at 1,350-1,500 g per ski.
• Four short lengths from 140 to 163 cm suit typical mogul sizing.

Cons

• A specialist: limited on open groomers and of no use in soft snow.
• Flat tail rules out switch skiing and park use.
• Lengths stop at 163 cm; taller skiers must move to the pricier Le Mogul Pro.
• Stiffer than some mogul skis, so it rewards solid technique.

Verdict: Faction Le Mogul is a dedicated bump ski with a pivot-friendly elliptical sidecut and a light build, for skiers who spend most of their time in moguls. If you only ski bumps now and then, an all-mountain ski such as the Dancer 79 Ti makes more sense.