Faction Skis

Chapter 106 Ski

Reading between the lines is cool when you're trying to decipher mysterious love notes or convince yourself that the breakup letter you just got is actually a romantic missive, but skis oftentimes miss out on subtlety in favor of bluntess. Faction's Chapter 106 Ski is a board that's more fine tool than blunt instrument, though, capable of slicing up big lines, slaying powder, shimmying through trees, carving up groomers, and zipping down bump lines. At 106mm underfoot, it's squarely in the "versatile freeride" sweet it spot, and boasts a rocker-camber-rocker profile that's fairly traditional these days. The tip and tail float through pow and roll over chunder, while the camber bites on hardpack and gives you the ability to bang urgent Larrys and Randys before you send that cliff you just saw. Making the Chapter's edge grip even better is the STP technology, which presses tiny waves into the core to increase bite when you lay the ski over.

The Chapter's also an able soft-snow performer, though. The tips and tails let you throw it sideways for big pow slashes, and the five-point sidecut and Transition Zone profile make it easy to lay down smooth, fast turns without the ski hooking up and sending you flying. The poplar and ash core is light, nimble, and energetic, and Faction hooked it up with a fiberglass laminate to provide some extra zip and stability. The Chapter's sandwich construction is strong, powerful, and reliable, and the sintered base keeps your ripping around the mountain and flying into takeoffs so you don't short that nice booter you've been eyeing up.