OGSO Grand Daddy — Review

The OGSO Grand Daddy is the Chamonix boutique's big-mountain free-touring ski built around NEOTERIC camber with an extended, high tip. It uses a paulownia wood core wrapped in a full carbon jacket with composite reinforcements, stabilizers and shock absorbers. Verified sidecut per length: 138-104-124 mm at 170 cm (17 m radius, 1525 g), 140-105-126 mm at 178 cm (18 m, 1600 g), 142-106-128 mm at 186 cm (19 m, 1675 g).

At 104-106 mm underfoot with a paulownia + carbon build, the Grand Daddy is aimed at ambitious ski tourers who want big-mountain float without the mass of a resort freeride ski. Weights of 1525-1675 g are competitive for a 105 mm tour ski. The NEOTERIC extended tip promotes centered balance for skinning and reduces fatigue on long tours, while the wider waist floats in soft snow and holds a long-radius line on firm descents. It rewards a light, technical style rather than resort-style fore-aft aggression.

Core: paulownia wood with a full carbon jacket, plus composite reinforcements, stabilizers and shock absorbers targeting chatter control on descent. NEOTERIC camber with 5 mm underfoot camber and a long, high tip (220 mm tip length, 55 mm tip height). Sidecut varies per length (see above), with radii progressing from 17 to 19 m. Available lengths 170, 178, 186 cm. Manufactured at Kästle CZ.

Compared to the Dynafit Tigard 107 the Grand Daddy is similarly weighted and targets the same free-touring skier — the Dynafit is a mainstream reference; the OGSO is a boutique alternative with a NEOTERIC extended tip. Against the OGSO STS it is 10 mm wider with more powder float and a slightly longer radius. Compared to the Icelantic Pioneer 96 it is much lighter and touring-specific rather than resort-oriented.

Pros

• Verified per-length data across all three lengths (dimensions, radius, weight).
• Weights of 1525-1675 g are competitive for a 105 mm tour ski.
• Paulownia + full carbon jacket delivers snap and low swing weight for long tours.
• NEOTERIC extended tip promotes centered stance on skinning and reduces fatigue.

Cons

• Not built for hardpack charging — light carbon build lacks titanal damping.
• Three lengths (170, 178, 186 cm) — no options for very small or very tall skiers.
• Premium boutique pricing versus mainstream 105 mm tour skis.
• Big-mountain focus limits piste responsiveness on hard snow.

Verdict: A boutique Chamonix-designed 105 mm big-mountain free-touring ski for ambitious tourers who want powder float without resort mass. Best matched to long alpine tours and technical descents on variable snow.