DPS Pisteworks 79 — Review

The DPS Pisteworks 79 is a frontside carving ski built for skiers who live on freshly groomed corduroy. Developed with two-time Olympic champion Ted Ligety, it pairs a slim 79 mm waist with an unusually short 13.5 m turn radius at 174 cm, so it is engineered to arc quick, tidy turns rather than long GS sweeps. This is a focused, single-minded piste ski: no compromises for powder, park or touring, just precise edge-to-edge carving on hard snow.

With a full-carbon layup over a wood core and DPS's factory Phantom Glide 2.0 treatment on a race base, the Pisteworks 79 aims for lively energy return and effortless glide. It is a ski that rewards an active pilot who wants to feel the sidecut do its work.

The headline is agility. That 13.5 m radius makes the Pisteworks 79 feel eager and hooky, snapping from edge to edge and pulling you into short-to-medium turns with very little input. On firm groomers it holds a clean line and delivers the springy rebound that full-carbon construction is known for, launching you from one turn into the next.

The lightly rockered tip helps initiation feel smooth and forgiving at turn entry, while the cambered body keeps edge pressure consistent through the arc. Because it is light and carbon-driven rather than metal-damped, it asks the skier to stay forward and engaged; drive it and it rewards you, coast and it can feel busy underfoot. It is happiest at controlled-to-quick groomer speeds where its quickness is an asset.

The Pisteworks 79 is built on a wood core wrapped in two full carbon laminates for stiffness and snap without added mass. Underfoot, a recycled-carbon Carbon Power Plate stores and returns energy through the turn. DPS uses a Super Sap bio-resin in the layup and finishes the ski with a race base treated at the factory with Phantom Glide 2.0 for durable, wax-optional glide.

Dimensions at 174 cm are 126 / 79 / 109 mm with a 13.5 m radius, and each ski weighs about 1650 g. It comes in 160, 167, 174 and 181 cm, with a cambered frontside profile and a lightly rockered tip.

The Pisteworks 79 suits confident frontside skiers who prioritise quick, energetic groomer turns and want a light, responsive carbon feel underfoot. If you spend your days linking short-radius arcs on piste, it is squarely in its element.

If you want more damping and mass for high-speed stability, the metal-laminate K2 Disruption 78Ti is a heavier, calmer alternative. The Head Supershape e rally is the Titanal race-carver benchmark for skiers chasing raw grip and power. For a lighter all-mountain-frontside option with more versatility off the groomers, look at the Head Kore x 78 lyt pr. If you like the Pisteworks concept but want a wider all-mountain carve, the DPS Pisteworks 94 is the natural sibling.

Pros

• Very quick, energetic edge-to-edge feel on groomers.
• Short 13.5 m radius excels at short-to-medium carved turns.
• Lively full-carbon rebound with strong energy return underfoot.
• Light 1650 g weight and factory Phantom Glide base for easy glide.
• Ligety-influenced design focused purely on precise piste carving.

Cons

• Narrow 79 mm waist limits it to groomers and firm snow.
• The short radius can feel busy at very high speed.
• Full-carbon build demands an active, forward pilot.
• Not intended for powder, park or touring use.

Verdict: The DPS Pisteworks 79 is a purpose-built full-carbon piste carver that trades all-mountain flexibility for pure groomer precision. If you love snapping quick, energetic short-radius turns on firm snow and are happy to stay active over the ski, it delivers a lively, engaging ride. Speed-hungry or mixed-snow skiers should look wider or heavier, but as a dedicated frontside tool it is a sharp, focused choice.