Faction's New Piste Ski: Genuine Innovation or Marketing Ploy?

Faction Enters the Piste Ski Market with Mixed Results

Faction Skis, known primarily for their freeride and freestyle offerings, has made an unexpected move into the piste ski segment with the launch of their Dancer 79. This marks the brand's first dedicated on-piste model, aiming to capture a slice of the resort-focused market. However, a closer look reveals some questionable choices in positioning and pricing that may limit its appeal to discerning skiers.

The new Faction Piste Skis. © Faction Skis

The Dancer 79 employs a fairly standard construction for a modern piste ski, featuring a poplar wood core sandwiched between two layers of Titanal. This tried-and-true formula should provide decent stability and edge hold, though it's hardly groundbreaking technology in 2023. Faction touts their 'Moustache Flex' pattern and 'Elliptical Sidecut' as innovative features, but these amount to fairly common flex and sidecut profiles found on many competitors' skis.

More concerning is the pricing strategy. With an MSRP ranging from $749 to $849 USD, the Dancer 79 is positioned at the upper end of the piste ski market. This puts it in direct competition with established models from industry leaders like Atomic, Rossignol, and Völkl - brands with decades of expertise in crafting high-performance carving skis. For a company's first foray into this segment, such ambitious pricing seems overly optimistic.

Faction's marketing leans heavily on buzzwords like 'electrifying' and 'class-leading stability', claims that should be taken with a hefty grain of salt given their lack of pedigree in this category. The attempt to infuse 'freeski soul' into a piste-oriented ski also feels somewhat at odds with the preferences of most dedicated carving enthusiasts, who typically prioritise pure on-edge performance over versatility.

While it's commendable to see Faction expanding their range, the Dancer 79 appears to be a cautious toe-dip into unfamiliar waters rather than a fully committed plunge. For serious piste skiers, there are likely better options available from more established brands in this space, often at lower price points.

However, Faction's loyal fanbase and those drawn to the brand's image may find the Dancer 79 an intriguing option for a dedicated carving ski that maintains some connection to their freeride roots. As always, we recommend demoing before buying, especially given the premium pricing.

Ultimately, the success of Faction's piste ski venture will depend on whether they can convince skiers that their expertise in other categories translates meaningfully to on-piste performance. Given the highly competitive nature of this segment, that may prove to be an uphill battle.