By Mason Turner
Faction Prodigy 1
Overview
This ski is aimed at riders who take park and freestyle seriously but want a single ski that also performs on groomers. With an 88 mm waist and a rocker/camber/rocker profile it stays playful on rails and kickers while still offering sufficient edge hold and stability for on-piste carving and tighter turns. Offered from 158 to 184 cm, the model suits intermediate to advanced riders who mix park laps with all‑mountain days and prefer a ski that pivots easily without sacrificing durability or pop.
Construction & feel
Construction blends a poplar and ash wood core for a balance of lightness, pop and strength: poplar keeps swingweight low and lively, ash reinforces impact resistance. A sandwich/full-strength sidewall improves edge contact and clean power transfer, while a sintered UHMW base gives speed and durability. The oversized 2.5 mm heat-treated edges add longevity and a carbon/rubber stomp pad helps dampen vibration on big landings. The flex is roughly a 7/10 — stiffer underfoot with progressive tips and tails for a predictable yet playful feel.
On-snow performance
On-snow the ski shines in the park: it snaps for ollies, locks into presses and is forgiving on switch tricks thanks to the directional-twin planform. The elliptical sidecut makes turn initiation easy and supports a variety of arc lengths; shorter radii in tip/tail speed up initiation, longer radius underfoot improves stability at speed. On groomers it holds an edge well for an 88 mm ski thanks to the sidewall construction and beefier edges, though it won’t float like a dedicated powder ski in deep snow.
Specs explained
Understanding the specs clarifies how the ski will behave. Tip 120 / Waist 88 / Tail 112 mm: these widths balance float and quick edge-to-edge skiing; wider tips/tails help in soft snow while waist width controls turn agility. Radius varies by length (e.g., 171 cm ≈ 16 m) and dictates the natural turn size. Rocker/camber/rocker with ~290 mm tip rocker and ~230 mm tail rocker (length dependent) gives playful pop and softer landings. Weight and core material influence swingweight, pop, and impact durability—important for park-focused use.
Comparison & verdict
Compared to close alternatives this model sits with other park-focused all‑mountain skis like certain ARV or Chronic versions: more playful and flickable than straight all-mountain chargers. Against the next model up, Prodigy 2 usually leans a bit more towards on-piste stability and all‑mountain versatility, whereas this ski biases slightly more to park play and lighter swingweight. Recommended for riders splitting time between park and piste; not the best pick for deep powder missions or purely high-speed big-mountain charging.
Loading images...
Community Opinions
Missing a hand while carrying ski gear?
A friend of mine created Clipstic, the easy way to attach your poles to your skis! Using this link you get 10% off as well as support for Pick-a-ski!
Check it out!