Zag Slap 112 — Review

The Zag Slap 112 is the big-mountain anchor of the French brand's Slap line — a powder-first freeride ski built in Zag's Chamonix Lab, used by Wadeck Gorak to win the Verbier Xtreme on the FWT. With 112 mm underfoot, an aggressive 45% tip / 40% tail rocker and low camber, it is unambiguously a soft-snow tool aimed at advanced-to-expert skiers who want a ski that opens up in deep snow without being a one-trick noodle on the way back to the lift.

Radii of 19.5–22 m across the three lengths give the Slap 112 long, drawn-out arcs in open terrain, while the heavy rocker on both ends and surfy partial twin-tip make it pivot on demand in trees and tight chutes. With manufacturer ratings of 5/5 for powder and 4/5 for pivot, the ski is in its element from 20 cm of fresh upward. On hard snow the 2/5 hard-snow and carving ratings are honest: the rocker stretches the effective edge short and the no-metal lay-up keeps it from biting like a piste-leaning fat ski would. It is a ski for choosing your descent line, not for ripping the cat-track home.

The Slap 112 uses Zag's paulownia–poplar wood core inside a Semi-CAP sandwich with ABS sidewalls, reinforced by multi-axial fiberglass for torsional and flexural stiffness. There is no metal laminate — yet the manufacturer-stated 4/5 flex rigidity, combined with the wider waist's natural torsional resistance, keeps it composed in deeper snow at the speeds it is built for. Weight per single ski ranges from 1840 g (176 cm) to 2010 g (188 cm), which is genuinely light for a 112 and the reason the ski earned a "featherweight for a 112" reputation among FWT athletes.

The Slap 112 fits advanced-to-expert freeride skiers who want a dedicated powder/big-mountain ski with enough lightness to be tour-curious. Compared to the Armada Arv 112 it is less park-biased and more directional; against the Nordica Unleashed 114 it is slightly lighter with a more aggressive rocker; the Moment Countach 110 is a directionally similar but heavier alternative.

Pros

• Powder-first DNA.
• Light for a 112.
• French FWT pedigree.
• Partial twin-tip versatility for surfing and switch landings.
• Chamonix Lab build quality.

Cons

• Narrow length range (only 3 sizes).
• Hard-snow stability limits per manufacturer ratings.
• Limited brand presence outside Europe.

Verdict: an FWT-proven big-mountain ski for skiers whose calendar includes more powder days than groomer laps and who value a light, pivoty 112 over a stiffer, heavier alternative.