DPS Lotus 117 — Review

The DPS Lotus 117 is a directional powder and big-mountain ski built around a 117mm waist. It is the kind of ski that comes into its own when the snow gets deep and the terrain gets serious. With an elongated powder rocker running roughly 45% of the ski, it planes quickly and pivots with almost no effort, yet the 117mm waist and 21m turn radius give it the backbone to charge through variable snow and hold a committed line at speed. Compared to DPS's more playful Koala, the Lotus 117 is less about jibbing and slashing and more about float-and-charge. It is a specialist that rewards a skier who points it downhill and lets it run.

In soft snow the Lotus 117 feels effortless. The long rocker and moderate pintail lift the shovel out of the snow, so flotation arrives early and the ski surfs rather than plows. Because that same rocker shortens the effective edge to around 55% of the length, the ski pivots and smears easily, letting you scrub speed or reset your line in tight trees or steep couloirs. When you open it up, the story changes: the 117mm platform and 21m radius keep the ski calm through chop, crud and wind-affected snow, tracking with a stability that belies how easily it turns at low speed. The moderate tip taper helps the shovel deflect off crusts instead of hooking. On firm groomers it will make its way home, but the wide waist and heavy rocker naturally soften edge grip, so this is not a ski you buy for carving hardpack.

The Lotus 117 uses a proprietary wood core with an Ash central spine flanked by Paulownia and Aspen, balancing damping and pop against low weight. That core is wrapped in two full aerospace-grade carbon laminates, which add torsional stiffness and energy return without the deadening mass of a full metal build. Rockwell-48 steel edges and a 4000-series world-cup base handle rock strikes and hold wax, while an aluminum tailbar reinforces the tail. At 185cm the sidecut runs 140 / 117 / 127mm with a 21m radius, and each ski weighs about 1920g. Lengths are offered in 171, 178, 185 and 191cm, with a directional mount point that biases the ski toward driving the shovel rather than skiing switch.

This is a ski for the strong, directional skier who spends powder days charging open faces and technical big-mountain lines. If you want more float for the deepest days, the wider DPS Lotus 124 steps up. If you prefer a playful, jib-oriented feel, the DPS Koala 111 is the sibling to look at, and the DPS Lotus Tour 117 delivers this shape in a lighter touring build. Against other brands, the Head Kore 118 Ti is a light metal-topped reference, the Black crows Nocta is a directional deep-snow specialist, and the K2 Mindbender 116c mens offers a carbon-spine wide freeride alternative.

Pros

• Effortless flotation and early planing from the long powder rocker.
• Composed stability at speed through chop and variable snow.
• Pivots and smears easily despite the wide waist.
• Light-for-its-class carbon build with lively energy return.

Cons

• The 117mm waist and heavy rocker limit precision on hardpack.
• Directional shape makes it less friendly for switch and freestyle.
• A soft-snow specialist that wants powder and open terrain.

Verdict: The DPS Lotus 117 is a purpose-built powder and big-mountain charger that floats early, pivots willingly and stays calm at speed. It rewards a directional skier who wants to point it and go, and it is happiest in soft snow and serious terrain. If your days are mostly groomers you will want something narrower, but for deep snow and big lines it is a confident, capable tool.