Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information opinion website and e magazine. Lou's passion for the past 45 years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about
backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the
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Is that actual, measured weight? The DPS website lists them as a fair amount heavier than what you’ve got listed.
The link provided is to a look at the Wailer 112, not the 99.
Mike, yep, I have the skis here and just put them on the scale again to be sure. I guess DPS knows how to build skis but needs to learn how to operate their scale? (grin).
Sorry about the review confusion. That’s what happens when skis have the same names. We’ll get the 99 well reviewed during this year’s Quiver project.
Thanks, Lou
Wow….just read through the entire post (and comments) on the 112RP, in the link above. A lot to wade through, but worth it. As someone who had a religious experience on a pair of the 112 Pures last year in Austria, I’m very excited to hear more about the W99 as a touring ski.
Since the 112RPs were the first rockered ski I had experienced, it’s hard to say how much of the difference I felt was due to DPS, and how much to basic rocker design….but the experience was transformative.
DETUNE the heck out of the tips and tails. You’ll be very glad you did.
I second the detune!
Thanks Andy, I do that with almost all skis so it will not be forgotten! Lou
Unlike my other skis I don’t detune the tips and tails of my Wailer 99′s (per DPS tech tip suggestion, see below) and have not had any problems with hooking (so perhaps you should test them both ways). Best skis ever (for a heart of the quiver backcountry touring ski).
http://www.dpsskis.com/faq/tuningandmounting
+1 for the detune. They also have a very agressive edge. Actually a worldcup angle edge. It makes carving on near ice alot of fun, but I like my edges more forgiving and re-tuned them to 1degree base and 1.5 degrees bevel. Combined with a taper detune this made the ski preform as I wanted. It is less hooking in high speed turns on variable snow and there is a smoother transition from carve to slarve. Ps. the skies are mounted at center with ntn telemark binding. Will have tech inserts as well this winter.
Lou, no need to detune the 99′s.
I’ve not found the 99′s hooky at all. I’ve skied them is most lengths on hard and soft snow and both constructions. Try them first and if you feel you need to detune then do so.
Again mount centre first off, I’ve tried moving + & -1 for curiosity sake and moved ‘em back to centre. Each to their own on that one.
Enjoy, I’m sure you will.
Hey, this is WildSnow.com so I’ll detune one and not the other, and see which side I like better in the turn (grin).
Nice, I bet you will enjoy these. I had the 176s all over CA last season and I really love them. I’m 6’0′ 165 and that size was just perfect for longer tours, climbing with skis on pack, and tight terrain. This year I went for the 184s for a little more stability at speed. This year’s top sheets are vastly improved over the old glassy, easy-chip version. They are also lighter so something has changed that DPS isn’t bragging about yet. I know, two pairs, I must be a kool-aid drinker, but I don’t think they are perfect. They just hit the right trade-offs for what I want: sub 7.5lbs, energetic, stiff enough, rocker+camber, great at any turn shape. Some downsides are, obviously, the very high cost, and I think the ride is a bit harsh on choppy hard pack and boilerplate, not surprising for a light/stiff ski. Their sidecut/rocker/camber/stiffness profile, while making them so good at lots of turn shapes, also makes them sensitive to input… if you ask them to do something, they do it pronto, so it helps to ask right. I think they will be more appreciated by the “ninja” style skier than by the “caveman” style skier.
Brent,
Re Ninja versus Caveman. Not an issue as the Hybrid construction is damper and silky smooth. In fact I have days where i can’t make up my mind which I prefer more the Pure or the Hybrid.
Could be the age / ambition equation:)
Hi – a few thoughts for forthcoming quiver reviews if I may….for those of us who prefer wide-ish tourable skis with flat or close-to-flat tails, that might be worth highlighting in one of your great tables along with weight, radius, etc. Also your expert swag on what a ski really skis like in “length equivalent” (ie adjusting for rocker, how much longer a ski will provide a similar experience to a traditional cambered ski of shorter length). Products I would welcome 2012-13 comments on in addition to your fine work on DPS, etc:
- Kaestle TX 97 & 107
- Kaestle FX 94 & 104
- Atomic Charter
- Faction Agent 90 & 100
Thanks very much!
Woodchuck, we’ll keep all that in mind. Definitly doing one or two of the Kastle skis again, good ideas on the Atmomc and Faction…
I’ll see if we can do a table this year, with tail shape and some other stuff.
Looking forward to it. Let’s hope we have a better winter this year in Colorado, so Ultimate Quiver is a bit more fun and easier to put together.
Lou
Lou, a question on detuning. In the past, I have detuned tips and tails on traditional cambered skis by putting them on the bench, de-camber with a clamp, mark the contact points at tip and tail and detune any edge that wasn’t touching the bench. I have a new pair of skis on the way that are rockered tips and tails with camber underfoot (Vectors). Should I follow the same detuning procedure that I have used in the past? Obviously the detune would extend much further along the edge with the rockered skis.
just bought DPS nina 99 pures. I am 5′ 6 1/2 and bought the 176 cm. Worried that they might be too long? I am older, female, skiing 50 years, no steeps and too deeps, but love the powder, groomers, spaced trees. Was skiing on 168 Elans, was recommended the longer length by DPS sales team, and also speaking to a few women from ski shops that love these skis as well.
They were sold out last year, so wanted to grab them before they were gone. First time ever I have bought skis without a demo. My instinct tells me these skis will be very fun. I appreciate all the detuning and mounting comments.
Thanks,
They were sold out last year, so wanted to grab them before they were gone. First time ever I have bought skis without a demo. My instinct tells me these skis will be very fun. I appreciate all the detuning and mounting comments.
just bought DPS nina 99 pures. I am 5′ 6 1/2 and bought the 176 cm. Worried that they might be too long? I am older, female, skiing 50 years, no steeps and too deeps, but love the powder, groomers, spaced trees. Was skiing on 168 Elans, was recommended the longer length by DPS sales team, and also speaking to a few women from ski shops that love these skis as well.
thanks, Winni
I’m looking at a gently used pair of wailer 105 Pures to use as a touring rig. I’d mount with dynafit . They would replace ’07 BD Verdicts. The DPS would be a lighter ski with more waist. I’ve skied the 112′s but can’t seem to find much about the 105s. How do the 105s compare to the 112s? Specs indicate a slightly more traditional camber for the 105s w/ a longer radius and much less rise in the tip. Have you been on this ski? I’m 190 lbs and looking at the 188cm. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I have three weeks (~12 days, resort only) on a 105 pure/st radical/tlt5 combo, and I am very happy with it. I am 165 pounds and ski the 178 cm length. They edge well, I can turn them easily in tight trees, and I can smoothly ski over surprise transitions in snow surface. I really like mine, but I’m someone who has always sacrificed downhill performance in favor of less weight. After this weekend, I’ll have an opinion about their ease of climbing/touring.
Just received my order of Pure DPS Nina 99′s , 176 cm, new boots were necessary, got fitted with Atomic Pros
I am a Vintage skier, been at it for 52 years, style more finesse than aggressive,
Need for speed, powder, carving, and the Nina blue girls delivered like Maseratis underfoot. Had the best 10 days of skiing in my life, at BigWhite, Kelowna, B.C., due to these DPS nina 99′s They make every turn in every condition, snappy with great g force carves, if you lean a little, they give back more. good in moguls, trees, groomers, didn’t get any deep powder, but untracked 6″ was blissful. Thanks to the DPS engineering team and the sales team for helping me to choose the right skis. and their poles are fantastic as well.
The Nina 99′s make me want to take on more challenges, get more strong and fit,and achieve my skiing bucket list of deep powder cat skiing soon.
“Go to the Source”;
There is another world out there apart from the commercial ski brands that sponsor death-defying cliff leapers, take out full page ski magazine ads, and have their skis built in China by people who will never have the chance to ski.
A visit to exoticskis.com will open your mind. 307 companies crafting everything from wood skis with wood edges built by a little old man living in a tree in the Black Forest to any number of small companies that will build exactly what your heart desires. For example, Keith at Praxis (north Lake Tahoe) offers 14 different standard shapes and four flex choices that can be finished with an endless variety of topskin graphics. Want a picture of WildSnowGirl skiing powder at Valhalla on your skis, Lew? Just send in a photo!
My current powder/junk snow weapon comes from PM Gear down the road in Reno. The Lahsa 186 Pow is an all carbon construction around a very light core. At 4.2# per ski it is virtually the same weight as the DPS 112 Wailer Pure. With a 140/112/120 profile but with a much longer and stiffer mid section running surface, bullet early rise tip, and slight pintail it is a much better match for my 240# weight and freight train momentum, but because of the light weight and tail profile is still easily maneuverable in the trees. The shape has been around for a couple of years and has recently been copied (although in a lot heavier ski) in the Dynastar Cham series that is getting rave reviews.
In spite of the belief systems of members of the Church of DPS, the world does not end with those three letters, (LOL) and you do have the choice of supporting your local ski bums instead of companies that build their products using $1.00 per hour wage slaves.
A holy war between the PM Gear riders and DPS acolytes. Glad you showed up Crazy, I was wondering where all you guys were (grin) when you needed to defend yourselves.
So Lou, how about an article about the world of alternative reality? I know you won’t be able to do tests, but it could be fun to confuse your readers with the variety of choices that don’t conform to what exoticskis.com somewhat pretentiously calls “mass produced skis for mass produced skiers”.
As an owner of skis from both DPS and Praxis, I have no idea how to respond to this! It was great to be able to talk to Keith @ Praxis regarding my, and my wife’s purchases. Keith and other small outfits build top quality skis, but I simply have never been on a ski as fun as the 112. DPS hit a home run here.
The reality with these small manufacturer’s is that it’s very difficult to demo their skis, so when you find one that you like, you tend to stick with them. While there is a valid argument to keep jobs in North America, my next ski is the DPS 99.
Hi Lou,
Was curious how you like the Wailer 99s in 176 cm so far? I found a pretty good deal on a pair of 176 99 Pure skis, and would like to decide on them before they’re gone. The 176 seems like it might be a tad short for this ski? I’m 5’9″ 160, what do you think based on your time on a 176?
Hi Brandon, they’re working well. An excellent soft-snow ski like everyone says. They’re average on hardpack, or above average if the binding is mounted a centimeter forward, but then they’re not as fun in the soft. I tried both binding positions and ended up moving the binding back to the neutral position as marked on the ski. Very good performance/weight ratio which is why you see me using them quite a bit. For a lot of skiers they’re a bit too narrow. For something wider I like the Volkl Nunataq. Black Diamond Carbon Justice is good as well. Hope that helps. Lou
I am kind of moving back down in size these days, my touring setups use to consist of Megawatts and K2 Obsethed skis, both with Dynafits. Now my main ski that I have used this year is an Atomic Ultimate rando race ski with PLUM race binders. So I’m hoping and thinking that a 99 waist ski will be a nice all around size. The big skis are fun, but I just got tired of moving that much mass around when conditions are less than perfect, or firm.
The binding location was my other concern, I will be skiing these in the backcountry on a TLT boot with a BSL of 287, and in bounds with a boot having a 297 BSL. So, one of the boots is either going to be forward or back a centimeter depending. I was thinking of mounting the binding for a neutral mount for the TLT which is probably going to be the main boot I use for this ski. That would put my beefier in bounds boot 1 cm back from neutral. Do you think that this would work well?
Thanks,
Brandon
Brandon, I hear you, I really really like the “around 100″ width under the foot for the majority of my touring, though wider skis have their place. Hence my quiver (grin).
My recommendation for such fine skis is simply pick which boot will be your primary driver, then mount for that boot. Let the other one fall where it may. Trying to compromise or fool around will just result in an extra set of holes or a ski that is not living up to its potential.
I’m sure there are other opinions on this, but the fact is that to figure out the perfect compromise between the two boots you’d have to experiment, there is no formula since every body type and style of skiing is different.
Lou
Do you think the average hard snow performance is due to the length you are using (176cm)? I am trying to decide between the 176 and 184. My old Obsethed skis were 179 and I really enjoyed that length, I’m thinking these probably have less or similar rocker.
Brandon, it’s just not a hard snow carving ski, that is unless one has faith, faith that can carve mountains. I’m not a very good carver but can tell the difference between skis. This one required more faith. Lou
I wish I had enough experience and/or pairs of skis to be able to say the 99s are only “average on hard pack”. All I can offer is that I’ve never had so much fun on groomers with a light touring ski. If I can enjoy myself as much with them in the backcountry then I’ll be sold.