DPS Koala 103 Freeride Skis 2021 – 2022 | Review - Mpora

Share

Skiing

DPS Koala 103 Freeride Skis 2021 – 2022 | Review

The DPS Koala brings power and precision to a playful all-mountain shape

Why we chose the DPS Koala 103: Versatile, playful, powerful 

Lengths (cm): 168, 176, 183 & 189
Sidecut (mm): 129 / 103 / 119 (184 cm)
Radius: 22m (183 cm)
Rocker Profile: Rocker-Camber-Rocker
Weight (per ski): 2,040g
Price: £699 / €699 / $699

Buy Here 

DPS first released their Koala range of skis, with the Koala 119, back in 2019. Named after their athlete lineup – the DPS Koalas – the Koala 119 brought an extremely damp, playful and symmetrical build that was a far cry from DPS’ directional carbon roots.

Now for the 2022 winter season, DPS are releasing a new Koala to the lineup in the Koala 103. It carries the same playful yet damp design that was at the heart of the original Koala, but just in a 103 millimetre waisted all-mountain package.

DPS Koala 103 Build

While it’s fair to say that DPS’ traditional carbon fibre builds would be a little overkill to merge with such a playful shape like the Koala, DPS did have a trick up their sleeve in their own in-house Foundation construction. First released in 2017, the Foundation construction represents a build that’s more akin to traditional skis: lots of fibreglass and dense wood.

Foundation makes use of two laminates of triaxial fibreglass that sandwich a Poplar woodcore. The fibreglass laminates are playful yet damp, while the poplar core gives the ski a satisfying pop and energy that makes all shapes and sizes of jumps enjoyable.

Unidirectional carbon stringers sit above both fibreglass laminates to ensure that energy is transferred right back from the very ends of the ski. This construction gives you a build that remains poppy on the lips and stable through the chop.

DPS Koala 103 Shaping

The shaping of the Koala is where things get really exciting – this is an entirely fresh platform DPS has designed, after all. The Koala has been built around a true twin shape that looks to fuse the burly build with a lively shape for a versatile ride that thrives across the entire mountain.

“The shaping of the Koala is where things get really exciting”

Being a DPS shape, it’s no surprise to see tapering both in the tips and tails, although they certainly haven’t gone overboard here. This tapering will help to keep the skis manoeuvrable and surfy in soft snow, while still remaining symmetrical for when you’re throwing them in the air.

Looking at the rocker profile, DPS say that 40% of the ski is rockered, both in the tips and the tails. The rocker runs pretty deep into the ski and it’s not far from being symmetrical in the tips and tails – something you’ll appreciate if you find yourself frequently riding switch. There’s then a large section (60%) of the ski that’s cambered for grip and pop through firmer conditions.

Who Is The DPS Koala 103 For?

The Koala range is a really exciting new development from DPS Skis. DPS has taken their methodical approach to building skis and applied it to an extremely fun and playful shape to create a package that can rip every square metre of the resort.

What Is The DPS Koala 103 Good At?

Versatility: 9/10
Playfulness: 8/10
Soft Snow: 7/10

You May Also Like

Topics:

DPS Skis Freeride Ski Ski 100 2021/22
Newsletter Terms & Conditions

Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy.

Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions.

production