Ski: 2022-2023 Zag Slap 104, 188 cm
Test Location: Mt. Crested Butte, CO; Taos Ski Valley, NM
Days Skied: 8
Available Lengths: 164, 170, 176, 182, 188 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length (straight-tape pull): 186.2 cm
Stated Weight Per Ski: 1990 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 1997 & 2001 grams
Stated Dimensions: 137-104-126 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 137.2-103.3-125.9 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (188 cm): 20 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 69.5 mm / 47 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 4.5 mm
Core Materials: paulownia/poplar + phenol binding reinforcement + flax fiber + fiberglass laminate
Base: sintered
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -8.3 cm from center; 84.8 cm from tail
Ski: 2022-2023 Zag Slap 104, 176 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length (straight-tape pull): 174.1 cm
Stated Weight Per Ski: 1820 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 1761 & 1778 grams
Stated Dimensions: 134-103-123 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 133.7-102.4-122.5 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (176 cm): 18.5 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 67.5 mm / 49.5 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 6 mm
Factory Recommended Mount Point: –7.25 cm from center; 79.8 cm from tail
Boots / Bindings: Tecnica Cochise Pro W, Tecnica Mach1 MV 130 / Look SPX 12
Intro
It’s always exciting when we get to test a product from a brand for the first time, and last season we got on a few of ZAG’s skis. The brand is based in Chamonix and produces their skis in Europe (primarily of European materials), and while they’ve been making skis for years, this past year has been Blister’s first experience with their products.
One of the ZAG skis we’ve been spending time on is the Slap 104 — the mid-fat model in the “freestyle backcountry” Slap series. ZAG makes standard and “Lady” versions of many of their models, including the Slap collection, but the only difference between the Slap 104 and Slap 104 Lady are graphics and available lengths, and we’ve had both female and male reviewers skiing two lengths of the Slap 104, so both will be chiming in here.
What Zag says about the Slap 104
“Intrigued by freeride but unready to leave the groomers forever? Light and playful on all terrain! The legendary versatility of S-104 is made… Easy in difficult snow, the Slap 104 permits skiers to play with off-piste terrain but also carve long turns thanks to its excellent traction on hard and groomed snow.”
Construction
The Slap 104 features a paulownia / poplar wood core, sintered bases, flax (aka, “linen”) fibers, a fiberglass laminate, and phenol binding reinforcement plates. ZAG highlights that the base and edges contain recycled materials, and have information on their site about where various materials and production steps take place for their skis (with an emphasis on limiting the distances between locations; they say the Slap 104 is “95% made in Europe,” with production taking place in Poland).
Shape
The most notable aspects of the Slap 104’s shape are its tapered tips and tails. The widest points aren’t actually super close to the middle of the ski like they might be on a super wide, pow-specific ski, but the pointed shape of the tips and tails is eye catching.
Rocker Profile
For a 104mm-wide playful ski, the Slap 104’s rocker profile isn’t anything super out of the ordinary. It has fairly deep tip and tail rocker lines (deeper in front than in back) and a tail that we’d call pretty much “twinned.” There are skis in this class with deeper and/or more symmetrical rocker lines, and more directional models with shallower rocker lines and/or less tail splay, but there’s nothing really unusual going on here.
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the 188 cm Slap 104:
Tips: 6-6.5
Shovels: 6.5-7
In Front of Toe Piece: 7.5-9.5
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-8
Tails: 8-7.5
And here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the 176 cm Slap 104:
Tips: 6.5-7
Shovels: 7
In Front of Toe Piece: 7-9.5
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-8
Tails: 8-7.5
On both lengths, there is a pretty slow and smooth ramp-up in the front halves. The back halves are a bit stiffer overall, but not drastically stiffer than the front halves. The 176 cm Slap 104 is actually a bit stiffer than the 188 cm Slap 104 at the very ends of the tips and tails.
Sidecut Radius
Across the five available lengths (from 164 cm to 188 cm), the Slap 104’s stated sidecut radius ranges from 16 meters to 20 meters, which is pretty par for the course for this category (i.e., not super short nor super long).
Mount Point
Our 176 cm Slap 104’s recommended mount point is about -7.2 cm from true center, while our 188 cm pair’s is about -8.3 cm from true center. Both mount points are a bit farther back than some pure freestyle skis, but a bit closer to center than many directional skis (including the ZAG Harfang skis, which have recommended mount points around -11 to -13 cm from true center).
Weight
ZAG highlights the low weight of the Slap 104 in their description, and they’re right to do so — while not as ultralight as the brand’s pure touring skis, the Slap 104 is pretty light for its size. That said, in today’s market, the Slap 104 has plenty of company when it comes to similarly sized skis that come in at fairly similar weights.
For reference, here are a number of our measured weights (per ski in grams) for some notable skis. Keep in mind the length differences to try to keep things apples-to-apples.
1761 & 1778 Zag Slap 104, 176 cm (21/22-22/23)
1800 & 1804 Head Kore 105, 184 cm (21/22)
1806 & 1862 Armada Tracer 108, 180 cm (19/20–21/22)
1820 & 1821 Majesty Havoc Carbon, 186 cm (20/21–22/23)
1836 & 1838 Armada ARW 106 UL, 180 cm (21/22-22/23)
1847 & 1854 Wagner Summit 106 W, 172 cm (21/22-22/23)
1848 & 1903 Line Sick Day 104, 186 cm (16/17–21/22)
1875 & 1881 Line Sir Francis Bacon, 184 cm (19/20–22/23)
1878 & 1891 Salomon QST Stella 106, 173 cm (22/23)
1905 & 1919 J Skis Slacker, 188 cm (20/21–21/22)
1920 & 2006 RMU North Shore YLE 110, 186 cm (21/22–22/23)
1947 & 2011 4FRNT Devastator, 186 cm (20/21–22/23)
1951 & 1953 Elan Ripstick 106, 188 cm (20/21–22/23)
1951 & 1957 RMU Apostle 3.0 106 Wood, 184 cm (21/22–22/23)
1958 & 1960 Faction Dancer 3X, 172 cm (22/23)
1964 & 1972 Moment Deathwish, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
1970 & 1993 Moment Deathwish 104, 184 cm (21/22–22/23)
1993 & 2026 Black Crows Atris, 184.2 cm (19/20–21/22)
1997 & 2001 Zag Slap 104, 188 cm (21/22-22/23)
1999 & 2020 Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender Ti, 180 cm (20/21–22/23)
2005 & 2035 Liberty Origin 106, 187 cm (19/20–20/21)
2008 & 2065 Wagner Summit 106, 186 cm (20/21–22/23)
2010 & 2023 Moment Commander 98, 182 cm (20/21–22/23)
2011 & 2028 Moment Wildcat 108, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
2011 & 2046 Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition, 188 cm (21/22–22/23)
2022 & 2046 DPS Foundation Koala 103, 184 cm (21/22–22/23)
2046 & 2120 Black Crows Corvus, 188 cm (18/19–22/23)
2073 & 2074 Season Nexus, 183 cm (20/21–22/23)
2074 & 2088 Line Blade Optic 104, 178 cm (22/23)
2096 & 2100 Salomon QST 106, 181 cm (19/20–21/22)
2110 & 2119 Moment Wildcat 108, 190 cm (19/20–20/21)
2112 & 2125 4FRNT MSP 107, 187 cm (18/19–22/23)
2068 & 2178 Salomon QST 106, 181 cm (22/23)
2116 & 2181 Faction Dictator 3.0, 188 cm (19/20–21/22)
2120 & 2134 Blizzard Rustler 10, 188 cm (19/20–22/23)
2145 & 2167 Sego Big Horn 106, 187 cm (20/21–21/22)
2153 & 2184 Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender Ti, 187 cm (20/21–22/23)
2165 & 2211 K2 Mindbender 108Ti, 186 cm (19/20–21/22)
2165 & 2219 Icelantic Nomad 105, 191 cm (19/20–20/21)
2170 & 2180 Dynastar M-Free 108, 182 cm (20/21–22/23)
2177 & 2178 Moment Commander 108, 182 cm (20/21–22/23)
2232 & 2242 Blizzard Cochise 106, 185 cm (20/21–22/23)
2230 & 2290 Line Blade Optic 104, 185 cm (22/23)
2295 & 2344 J Skis Hotshot, 183 cm (20/21–21/22)
2302 & 2342 Dynastar M-Free 108, 192 cm (20/21–22/23)
2312 & 2386 Prior Husume, 188 cm (17/18–22/23)
2321 & 2335 Fischer Ranger 107 Ti, 189 cm (19/20–20/21)
2353 & 2360 Volkl Katana 108, 184 cm (20/21–22/23)
2449 & 2493 J Skis Hotshot, 189 cm (20/21–21/22)
Now, onto how all of this translates on snow:
FULL REVIEW
Luke Koppa (5’8”, 155 lbs / 173 cm, 70 kg): We started spending time on the 188 cm and 176 cm Slap 104 last spring, and then followed that up with several more days during the beginning of the 22/23 season. So that testing time included refrozen spring groomers, slushy afternoons, firm mid-winter days, and even some decent powder just yesterday, as of publishing. I mostly spent time on the 188 cm length (along with Dylan Wood), whereas Kara skied the 176 cm length, but our impressions were quite similar overall.
Groomers
Luke: ZAG lists the Slap 104’s “Piste Aptitude” as a 5/5, so I guess we could start there. While I definitely wouldn’t say this is an amazing carving ski and that rating seems overzealous, it does fine on groomers for a playful, ~104mm-wide all-mountain ski.
Like many skis that feature fairly tapered, rockered tips, the Slap 104 isn’t the quickest to pull you into a turn and across the fall line, but put some pressure on its shovels, and it will eventually do so. It’s also predictable in terms of edge hold on very firm, scraped-off snow — not class-leading, but not scary. Its tapered and rockered tail doesn’t finish turns with tons of precision or power, but the middle of the ski still provides a very functional carving platform.
Even in the less piste-oriented “all-mountain freestyle” category, there are other skis that are more engaging and/or more precise on piste, but the Slap 104 is totally passable in those regards, and is plenty fun to carve on more easily edgeable piste conditions like fresh mid-winter corduroy or softened spring slopes. So it’s not a standout in its class when it comes to on-piste performance, but I assume most folks aren’t looking at this category with that as a huge priority, and if that’s where you fall, the Slap 104 is just fine.
Kara Williard (5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg): Luke’s summary of the 188 cm length accurately depicts my experience on the 176 cm Slap 104. On groomers, I thought it offered good stability through the midsection, pretty easy turn initiation, and decent edge hold, all of which makes for a fairly forgiving yet encouraging carving ski. Of skis around this width, the Slap 104 isn’t one that makes me feel super confident when trying to commit to a fast turn on an icy groomer, but when the snow was pretty grippy, I enjoyed the quick, easy turns that didn’t require a ton of effort to initiate and lock into a carve.
Soft Chop & Powder
Luke: This class of playful, ~105mm-wide, all-mountain-freestyle skis is what I think of when I daydream about making the most of moderate-depth pow days and the ensuing soft chop; the Slap 104 fits right in. For its class, it’s pretty loose and surfy, while also being quite quick and stable enough to be skied fairly hard.
Particularly in fresh snow and the slightly cut-up conditions that follow shortly after, the Slap 104 is a lot of fun. Its tapered shape and fairly deep rocker lines add up to a ski that’s quite easy to release, pivot, slarve, and slash, which is what I want to do in these conditions. This loose, surfy ride quality is more noticeable in soft snow than it is when things are firm, which is a plus in my book — make the most of more forgiving conditions, without feeling super imprecise when it hasn’t snowed in a while.
Now, later on during a resort pow day, when all that nice fresh snow has been cut and compacted by loads of skiers, the Slap 104 starts to struggle a bit more. The ski’s maneuverability is still there, but even compared to skis in its class that are around the same weight, I found that the Slap 104 was more prone to being knocked off track by piles of pushed around snow. Skiing fast in these conditions on the Slap 104 required more precise line choice and a more active style on my part to avoid losing control. This wasn’t much of an issue when visibility was good, but in socked-in storm-day conditions, I definitely had to dial back my speed a bit and think twice about hitting bigger side hits, lest I end up making a high-speed runout through a field of seemingly invisible mini-moguls and end up fully out of control.
Kara: In predictable, smooth powder or light chop, the Slap 104 was an easy ski to get along with. As Luke mentioned, “loose” and “surfy” are some of the most prominent traits I associate with the Slap 104. The Slap 104 is on the more maneuverable, easier to slash, slarve, and pivot side of things, especially compared to some other skis I have been on recently (namely, the Salomon QST Stella 106 and Folsom Cash 106).
But to also mirror what Luke said, I found myself a whole lot less confident on the Slap 104 in pretty choppy snow of different consistencies, relative to those less maneuverable skis. The Slap 104 didn’t feel very stable or predictable when trying to ski denser chop very fast, so I often found myself really slowing down to make more deliberate, well-executed turns. This was especially apparent in choppy moguls where I didn’t want to pick up too much speed for fear of too much deflection and chatter leading to some sort of blow-up.
Firm Chop / Crud
Luke: As you’d expect, this fairly lightweight, playful ski doesn’t excel in firm and rough conditions. It’s not super harsh or jarring for its weight, but similar to what I described above about its performance in denser chop, it’s not a ski that will just stay on a given line all on its own. Instead, it takes some attention, technique, and an adaptive style to keep it in control when conditions are really nasty.
Granted, no skis with similar specs as the Slap 104 are amazing in these conditions — much heavier, less tapered, less rockered skis are often your friends when the snow is both firm and bumpy / inconsistent. But within its class of skis that look pretty similar on paper, the Slap 104 is not one that performs way above its numbers when it comes to suspension or high-speed composure in challenging conditions. Instead, it’s best to take a pretty conservative approach with more turns and slower speeds when piloting the Slap 104 through the worst of chop and crud.
Kara: Yep, not much to add here, other than to offer how firm chop and crud exacerbated some of the characteristics stated in the section above. The good news is that I don’t really mind making a lot of tight, deliberate turns, and the Slap 104 certainly lends itself to this type of skiing; it makes quick and tight turns pretty easy and rewarding. So long as I wasn’t picking up too much speed, I was pretty happy just keeping things tight and controlled in more challenging conditions. Obviously, for someone who wants a planted and plush feel to really charge through chop and crud at top speeds, the Slap 104 won’t be the top choice.
Moguls, Trees, & Tight Terrain
Luke: The Slap 104 feels like it was designed with tight terrain in mind. As I noted above, it’s pretty loose / easy to slide around, and it’s also got a pretty low swing weight and a fairly forgiving flex pattern. Those are all things that tend to make a ski feel easier and more maneuverable in tight off-piste terrain like moguls and trees.
Despite the 188 cm length being a bit longer than I typically prefer for making quick work of Mt. Crested Butte’s notoriously tight, big, and compact bump lines, I rarely felt like it was too much ski. Provided I stayed at least somewhat forward and over its shovels, the Slap 104 remained easy to pivot through the troughs of moguls and between trees, while its low-ish weight and tapered shape made quick, on-the-fly adjustments manageable.
Compared to some of the most playful skis in its class, the Slap 104 is a bit pickier about you not getting too far backseat; if you do, its tail becomes noticeably less easy to release and it can stand you up a bit, making it difficult to recover. It’s nowhere near the really stiff, flat-tailed, directional skis around this width in terms of how punishing or locked-in it feels, but the Slap 104 is not the most maneuverable, most forgiving ski in its class.
Given all that, I think the Slap 104 makes a lot of sense for off-piste-oriented skiers who like the sound of how loose, soft, and agile some freestyle-specific skis are, but who are worried they’re too soft and/or forward-mounted.
Kara: The loose, maneuverable nature of the Slap 104 was highly apparent and enjoyable in tight terrain. It doesn’t require that much forward pressure to initiate, relative to other directional skis, and it allows for tight and exact maneuvers in spots that could otherwise feel tricky. It’s certainly a standout ski in terms of how nimble and agile it feels, with a pretty low swing weight that makes it easy to pivot through tight bumps and other off-piste terrain.
Overall, moguls and trees are where I enjoyed the Slap 104 the most. I think the Slap 104 could be an excellent choice for someone who wants a playful and lightweight ski in tight terrain, and who prefers something that’s pretty forgiving of the occasional mistake or backseat turn.
Playfulness
Luke: To me, the Slap 104 feels like a very playful, yet still directional ski. Especially when mounted on its recommended mount point (more on that in a second), it’s a ski that still feels best when you’re driving it with a forward stance, but it’s also quite surfy and nimble. It also skis switch fairly well, produces lots of energy once you put in the force to bend it, and feels pretty balanced in the air. It wouldn’t be my top pick if you wanted the loosest, most balanced, or softest freestyle ski in this class, but on the other hand, it’ll also be a lot more intuitive than skis that fit that criterion for directional skiers seeking something a bit more playful than the more traditional alternatives.
Kara: I think Luke nailed it here, in describing the “playful, yet directional” nature of the Slap 104. The fact that it’s not a super forward-mounted, freestyle-specific ski is probably why the Slap 104 felt intuitive to me, despite my traditionally directional skiing style, but I still found myself pretty keen on throwing it around and making quick little hops and turns over moguls, more than I often do when skiing less playful, more directional skis. For directional skiers who are looking for a more playful and forgiving option, the Slap 104 makes a lot of sense.
Mount Point
Luke: I spent most of my time on the 188 cm Slap 104 with it mounted on its recommended mount point (-8.3 cm from true center). There, it preferred a forward, driving-the-shovels stance, but I could ski it fairly centered in moderate-angle terrain. Moving the bindings forward roughly 1.5 cm (-6.8 cm from true center) resulted in a ski that let me ski it a bit more centered / upright when needed but still allowed for an aggressive forward stance, so I ended up preferring it there. I think most directional skiers will be happy with the recommended mount point, while freestyle-oriented folks should consider mounting a couple of centimeters forward of it.
Kara: I stuck with the recommended mount point on the 176 cm Slap 104 (-7.2 from center). From there, it was really easy to pivot while also feeling pretty easy to initiate turns from the shovels and lock on edge. Given that the Slap 104 felt intuitive from the recommended line, I didn’t feel the need to adjust the mount point at all.
Length
Luke: As someone who usually prefers skis around this width in lengths ranging from ~182 cm to ~192 cm, it came as little surprise that I got along just fine with the 188 cm Slap 104. That said, given that this ski’s maneuverability is one of its strong points (and not its high-speed stability in chopped-up snow), I’d definitely consider sizing down to 182 cm if I didn’t plan on skiing it in a lot of deeper snow. The 188 cm length didn’t feel ultra stable, though I was grateful for its length when bashing into / landing on deeper snow, so I feel like I could go either way on length, depending on whether I planned on mostly using it on firm and shallow-ish snow, or if I’d mostly be breaking it out when it had snowed several inches.
Kara: I generally prefer skis in the ~170 cm to ~180 cm range. The 176 cm Slap 104 wasn’t the most stable ski, but that is a direct result of the beneficial traits it does offer: a low swing weight and a high level of maneuverability, especially in tight terrain. For the sake of not compromising the qualities I found myself most enjoying from the Slap 104, I don’t really see the advantage of sizing up. That said, if there was a 182 cm laying around, I would be happy to give it a try, especially on a softer / deeper day.
Who’s It For?
Luke: The Slap 104 is best suited to those who want to ski a variety of conditions but who want to prioritize maneuverability and playfulness across all of them — without going with something that feels super limited in scenarios where those traits are drawbacks. I.e., if you find many all-mountain skis around this width to feel a bit sluggish and/or difficult in tight terrain, but you also don’t want a ski that folds when you drive its shovels or that’s sketchy on firm groomers, the Slap 104 warrants consideration.
This isn’t your best bet if you want a super loose, forgiving, center-mounted freestyle ski, and it’s definitely not what I’d recommend if plush suspension, composure in rough snow, and/or overall carving performance are your top priorities. But the Slap 104 still manages to do most things pretty well, while standing out most for its maneuverability and quickness. If those are things you are looking for but you feel caught between very directional and very freestyle-oriented options, the Slap 104 could be a great fit.
Kara: Yep, Luke said it all. The Slap 104 is a well-rounded option situated between the world of directional vs. freestyle skis, best suited to someone with maneuverability and agility at the top of their priorities.
Bottom Line
The ZAG Slap 104 is a maneuverable, nimble, and pretty playful ski that accomplishes all of that without going so far that it alienates more directional skiers who find those traits intriguing. It requires an attentive pilot when conditions are really challenging and isn’t the most playful of the all-mountain-freestyle skis in its class, but its broad-level versatility is what makes it a viable option for such a wide range of skiers.
Deep Dive Comparisons
Become a Blister Member or Deep Dive subscriber to check out our Deep Dive comparisons of the Slap 104 to see how it compares to the DPS Foundation Koala 103, Black Crows Atris, Blizzard Rustler 10, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Salomon QST 106, Armada ARW 106 UL, Line Blade Optic 104, 4FRNT Devastator, RMU Apostle 106, Sego Big Horn 106, Volkl Revolt 104, K2 Reckoner 102, Line Sir Francis Bacon, Moment Deathwish 104, Whitedot Altum 104, 4FRNT MSP 107, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, and J Skis Hotshot.
So stoked to hear you are finally going to review Zags, finally. I was in the Zag HQ store in Argentière not two months ago asking about Blister. I’m dying to see which ones you received. I ski in Chamonix and they are one of the most popular skis on the mountain, especially in the backcountry. Their line-up is made for the Chamonix Valley, so it will be interesting to read Blister’s thoughts from a broader perspective. I hope to read how do Slaps compare to some of the more playful US brand skis, especially Moment. I’d also like to know what do you think about mount points on H series, particularly H-96.
Blister membership is one of the best investments I’ve made, and it just got better.
This is great to hear, Ricardo, thank you for your kind words.
We will be reviewing two lengths of the S-104, two lengths of the H-96, and one length of the H-106. Stay tuned for updates including comparisons to other skis in each of their classes.
I have a slap-104 from 2018 collection. It has slightly less tip splay, more rearward rec mount point (-9) and it seems like a stiffer flex in tip and shovel. I mounted them +3 and it’s one of my most favorite all mountain ski. Poppy, doesn’t chatter at speed and not demanding. Looks like a new version will be even more fun in soft snow due to softer shovel and more tip splay.
Where is the actual review, its been 7 months?
We received this ski late in the season this past spring, and we’d like to get more time on it. You can read a summary of our thoughts so far in the 2022-2023 Winter Buyer’s Guide in both the “Women’s Skis — Wider” and “All Mountain Skis — More Forgiving” sections.
I have been looking at the 2023 model and I have been wondering if I should buy them. I am worried that they are going to be to soft for me I am 60 kg and I jump big jumps and drops but I also want to be able to ride in deep snow and in forests. Do you thing that I should buy the slap 112 because they are stiffer?
FWIW I’m 106 kg and didn’t find them to be too soft at all. I don’t do cliffs or anything like that but I do drive skis hard and notice when a ski can’t support me
wrt the 5/5 “piste” rating, it’s probably worth noting that “piste” has a somewhat different meaning in Chamonix than in the US. In the US it’s basically synonymous with “beginner-to-intermediate groomer”.
In Chamonix, it’s “a route down that is marked and patrolled but may or may not be frequently groomed”. Off-piste there refers to the Argentierre, Mer de Glace, etc.
Self-replying: As much as I loathe the s-word, the French notion of “hors-piste” most closely corresponds to “sidecountry”.