Ski Reviews

2022-2023 Faction Dancer 1, (formerly Dictator 1), 186 cm

Reviewer Username: Krakski

Reviewer Height: 6’5″

Reviewer Weight: 179 lbs

Reviewer Experience Level: Professional Skier / Competition Skier

DAYS USED: 60 days

TEST LOCATIONS: Palisades Tahoe, Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mt, Sun Valley, Zermatt

PERFORMANCE RATINGS

(0 = Terrible, 5 = Okay, 10 = Outstanding)

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 9/10

FORGIVENESS: 7/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Loose / Easy to Pivot & Smear?): 7/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Quick / Low is the Swing Weight?): 8/10

STABILITY: 7/10

SUSPENSION: 8/10

EDGE HOLD: 9/10

PLAYFULNESS: 9/10

PLAYFULNESS (Open Ended):

First I want to say that I am not a young pro skier filming or comping, I am a Freeride coach and judge with a past background as a competitive and filming freestyle skier, mountain school technical director etc. There was not really a category to click that describes this type of “past their prime” skier….. (Blister, how about adding a “coaches” category?) but I feel that there could be a high amount of past pros and “mature-but-better-than-expert” out there that may appreciate the perspective of my demographic.

Playfulness I can define in two major ways, skis that have energy and rebound that can slash, pop, spin, set a firm edge and carve but then release with agility and balance. Take to the air with ease and land with confidence. I describe this as an all-mt playfulness The other playfulness is the looser tip and tail that can flex and pop spin and land solid under foot, smear and butter. I describe this as a park playfulness.

I experience the Dancer 1 as having a predictable and intuitive all mountain playfulness. Highly energetic, lots of rebound and unexpectedly very poppy for a ski with two sheets of metal. The tips and tail feel light in the air and do not hold back spinning. The ski feels light underfoot as if there was no metal but has the grip on edge of a metal ski when setting an edge or railing a carve. Faction describes their metal as “razor thin” which makes me wonder if the metal they use is different creating a lighter more playful ski without the dull dampness of most metal skis that lack playfulness and feel heavy in the air, or planted in a turn. I have skied 3 pairs of these skis since the first year and found consistency. I mounted them at 1.5cm forward of recommended which yields nice air balance. For someone who does little jumping or spinning they might wish to mount at recommended to not compromise length of the ski forebody. I have found the skis poppy and playful whether in off-piste terrain, moguls or groomers. Predictable to set an edge on steeps and navigate tight terrain, or pop an airplane turn to a new line or backside of a roll. The Dancer will pivot in and out of switch reliably with enough turn up at the tail to confidently slide in switch in moderate terrain, albeit this is not a twin tip, but 540’s on smaller park features are confidently doable. There is no doubt that Factions dna for air is present in this ski. I am not a rails person nor if I was would I compromise such an edge performer by taking it to rails. This is a firm ski that does not want to butter up on tips or tails but has surprising ease to drop off the edge and pivot into a controlled smear at speed. The ski is quick to engage in a turn however it is not an overly short turning radius that impedes letting the ski run at speed or into a larger radius turn.

SKI LENGTH: It felt a bit too short (186 cm length tested)

THIS SKI’S IDEAL TERRAIN: Firm groomers | Softer groomers | Firm moguls | Fairly steep off-piste terrain

THIS SKI’S IDEAL SNOW CONDITIONS: Extremely firm hardpack or ice | Pretty firm snow | Firm, off-piste chop or crud

WHAT TYPE(S) OF SKIER DO YOU IMAGINE WILL GET ALONG BEST WITH THIS SKI?

Expert Technical skiers under 195lbs who are proficient at driving forward pressure on a ski and enjoy a highly energetic ski that can rip a well edged turn.

Skiers that enjoy off piste terrain, desire a dependable edge in packed or firmer conditions and enjoy a ski that is agile with nice rebound in very steep firm terrain

Skiers who want a “quick to engage” ski but don’t want a tight radius “carver”,,,,

skiers who enjoy moguls, are proficient in moguls but want an all mountain ski that will go everywhere but not disappoint in a zipper line.

all mountain skiers that enjoy air, appreciate a ski that is well balanced in the air and has the range to be taken into a moderate (25-45’ tables) jump line and features if desired. .
This is a firm ski so it is not forgiving in moguls however a proficient skier in moguls would appreciate its quickness, strength and energy.

This is an 86 underfoot ski so well noted that as an all mt or off piste skiing one should take care that it is not going to stomp a landing off a rock or cliff like a 104 underfoot, just doesn’t have the width to prevent a punch-through despite a good stomping platform.

American culture may not be attracted to the change of the name from Dictator to Dancer, but I would say that the name Dancer is descriptive of the agility and quickness this well balanced intuitive ski imparts. If truly will dance down the mountain if you so choose to ski it that way.

ARE THERE SIMILAR PRODUCTS YOU’VE SKIED THAT YOU CLEARLY PREFER? IF SO, WHY?

I have not experienced other skis in this type of performance but suspect that black crow may have something similar in a wider width.

The Fischer Ranger series appears to have some similar performance characteristics ,,, however for my height the Rangers have too much tip rocker and longest is mid 180’s length which just means too little working edge for me at 6’5”. The Faction Dancer1 has tip rocker but much less so it has more working edge out in front, that serves my physical geometry and style of driving the ski better.

PLEASE ELABORATE ON ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SKI. FEEL FREE TO GO INTO DETAIL!

My overall impression is 9 but would be 10 if they offered a 190ish length or if I was a couple inches shorter!

I am 6’5” and as such can impart a lot of leverage, with my mount point at 1.5cm forward I can over flex the forebody of the 186 length ski in very firm snow, the 186 length is great in bumps and tight terrain but for all mt and at my height I would prefer a 190-192 length,,,, however that 186 length has not stopped from buying a second pair.

Most skis around this width at 86 underfoot , are either carvers or park specific, as such I think this ski has been ignored as living in those arenas, however with Blister talking about a trend towards narrower skis I would say this is a unique blend of attributes that is living in this area of new trend, a quick turning edge to edge ski without that overly-short turning radius of a carver, but is playful for an all mt freestyle orientation without sacrificing the ability to rail a well carved Technical turn enough to satisfy a private instructor.

I find the 186 as becoming squirrelly above 55mph. I have certainly been clocked in the 60+ speeds on this ski but do not recommend it at my weight and height, all its other attributes are not oriented to providing a stable planted 70mph ski opened up on a long steep groomer. At 50+ best to keep the ski on an edge for stability.

That said I don’t experience this ski as getting knocked around and lacking suspension associated with a more freestyle non metal ski off piste, however not as damp and stable in uneven terrain as more typical double metal sheet heavier skis. It lives somewhere inbetween where I receive a modicum of suspension and directional stability without losing agility and air balance.

I’ll finish this with saying that loaning these skis to a couple other skiers has resulted in them making purchases and professing their love for the skis. Most look at the width or the brand and say no thanks to giving them a romp,,,, there is such a brand image with Candides skiing and park n pipe that the idea of this ski width and brand doesn’t register. Maybe we will see Blister test these skis for what they bring,,,,,,,,