Studio grom fr review

Overview

New for 26/27, the Studio Grom FR is the wider, freeride-leaning junior model in Faction's Studio series. Faction pitches it as an all-mountain platform for young freeriders "who ski with imagination", built alongside the adult Studio skis but in a wider, lightweight, youth-specific shape. Two lengths are offered: 147 cm (123-93-119 mm, 13 m, 1,650 g per ski) and 155 cm (125-95-121 mm, 15 m, 1,740 g per ski). The French Faction store lists it at €399 without a binding. It shares its core and shape concept with the narrower park model, the Faction Studio grom fs.

On-snow performance

Faction's own ratings tell you where the FR sits: 8/10 for freeride and powder, 7/10 for all-mountain and carving, 7/10 for park and freestyle, and a 7/10 flex. That is one point stiffer than the FS and a clear shift towards soft snow. A 93-95 mm waist gives a young skier real float in fresh snow and chopped-up afternoon snow, and Faction's "smooth rocker profile" should help the tip rise and keep the ski from hooking in crud. The elliptical sidecut puts a longer radius underfoot and shorter radii at the ends, so the ski pivots easily in trees and bumps while still starting a turn on its own. Boat Flex, with stiffer tips and tails, adds support in variable snow and on landings. On hard groomers the extra width makes edge changes slower than on an 80-85 mm ski, so this is less of a carving tool for icy mornings.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: lightweight poplar with integrated paulownia to save weight, between two layers of fiberglass.
• Base: sintered. Full-strength sidewalls and XL edges.
• Stomp pad: carbon and rubber.
• Shape: directional twin, with a slightly wider tip than tail and identical tip and tail height.
• Sidecut: elliptical. Flex: Boat Flex, rated 7/10. Profile: smooth rocker with modest camber.
• 147 cm: 123-93-119 mm, 13 m radius, 1,650 g per ski.
• 155 cm: 125-95-121 mm, 15 m radius, 1,740 g per ski.

Who it's for & comparisons

This is a ski for strong teen skiers, roughly 145 cm tall and up, who head off-piste whenever they can and still want a twin tip for the occasional side hit. Faction's size guide keeps it simple: 147 cm for skiers of 145-150 cm, and 147 or 155 cm above that depending on style. Among junior freeride skis in our catalog, the Faction Dancer grom covers smaller kids with lengths from 128 cm and a directional, flat-tail shape. The Salomon Qst blank team also runs up to 92 mm but starts at 128 cm, so it fits younger skiers. The Blizzard Rustler team comes in 132-164 cm on a 90 mm waist, and the 4Front Devastator jr offers the same 147/157 cm length window with a wider 98 mm waist. The Studio Grom FR sits between them: twin-tipped like the Salomon, wider than both the Salomon and the Blizzard, and built with the stiffer Studio flex.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• 93-95 mm waist gives real float for a junior ski.
• Rated 8/10 for freeride and powder by Faction, yet still a twin tip.
• Adult Studio build quality with full sidewalls and a sintered base.
• Elliptical sidecut keeps it easy to pivot in tight terrain.

Cons

• Only two lengths, 147 and 155 cm, so it does not fit younger kids.
• 1,650-1,740 g per ski is heavy for small or light skiers.
• The 7/10 flex asks for a confident, fairly strong skier.
• Wider waist is slower edge to edge on hard, icy groomers.

Verdict: The Studio Grom FR is a wide, sturdy junior freeride twin for teens who already ski the whole mountain and want to spend more time in soft snow. Park-first kids, or anyone on firm pistes most days, will be happier on the narrower Studio Grom FS.