Faction All-Mountain skis

Faction all-mountain: freeski feel with more directional handling

Faction keeps a degree of freeski-inspired agility in its all-mountain skis: relatively natural turn initiation, the ability to pivot the ski and behaviour suited to changing terrain features. The brand is not limited to soft or highly playful models, however. Some constructions are designed instead to deliver greater edge hold and stability when the pace picks up.

This combination is aimed at skiers who want to vary the way they ski downhill. You can carve on groomers, ease off the pressure in chopped-up snow, then adjust your line more easily on the sides. The right model, however, depends on the balance you want between precision, ease of use and physical commitment.

Choosing a Faction ski according to your skiing style

If you enjoy linking turns on groomers and want a ski that is quick from edge to edge, opt for a moderate waist width and a construction that provides good support underfoot. This type of ski is better suited to days dominated by groomed snow, while still being capable of handling the sides and transformed conditions.

For a more relaxed style, with more time spent in chopped-up or soft snow, a wider, more progressive model will generally be easier to pivot. It will offer more comfort when the terrain becomes uneven but will require more effort on hardpack. With Faction, width should therefore not be chosen solely according to powder days.

The Dancer range as a reference point in the Faction all-mountain line-up

The Faction Dancer range is a useful benchmark for understanding this approach. It combines a directional shape, rocker and metal reinforcements to maintain stability without locking the ski completely into its line.

The narrower versions remain more piste-oriented and suited to quick edge changes. As the waist width increases, the ride becomes easier in chopped-up and soft snow, gradually moving closer to a freeriding. You therefore need to look at the specific model rather than considering the entire Dancer range as uniform.

A Faction ski package matched to your level of commitment

A light or improving skier has no reason to choose an overly stiff construction purely to gain stability. The ski may become tiring and difficult to bend. Conversely, a powerful or fast skier will need a model with enough support to remain precise when pressure on the edges increases.

The choice of package should therefore combine a width suited to the terrain you actually ski, a length that matches your build and a binding sized for your style of skiing. The binding complements the ski’s behaviour, but it will not compensate for a model that is too demanding, too wide or incorrectly sized.

Compare Faction with other all-mountain ski brands

• K2 all-mountain skis
• Volkl all-mountain skis
• Dynastar all-mountain skis