The 2022 DPS Pagoda Piste 94 C2 is a fantastic offering in the all-mountain category that loves to be on edge and put to the test. Thanks to the Pagoda Piste construction and the C2 shaping, these skis are stiff, stable, and on the dense side, and they manage to do so without the use of metal, instead relying on carbon laminates to do the heavy-lifting and providing for the strength and power. At 94 mm underfoot, these skis have the right width to manage a lot of versatility out there on the hill, capable of handling everything from fresh powder to rock-hard ice and everything in-between. The C2 chassis and shape create a radius ranging from 17 to 19.5-meters depending on length, making this ski fall more into the GS category of turn shape rather than the more slalom-like 15-meter arcs of the RP shaped skis. This Pagoda Piste construction consists of a mainly aspen wood core with a recessed ash laminate that sits and runs the central portion of the ski. This blend of wood, combined with the two sheets of carbon, create a stiff and stable ski that has a lot of energy and dampness for a product without metal. With a more on-trail style of rocker, the Pagoda Piste 94 C2 likes to be pointed more directly down the fall line, creating clean and smooth arcs in its wake.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
Dual Carbon Laminate
PREFERRED TERRAIN
All Mountain, Groomers, Powder
On the 178, both Matt McAlary and John McIntosh both felt it skied true to size and the lengths were good for them. Matt didn’t have the most positive experience on these skis, and that’s okay. We did have some challenging testing conditions, and sometimes they did not line up with what you expect from a ski: “I try to be open minded and amenable to any ski I try, and I try to get an idea of what that ski is supposed to feel like and get an idea of its intended use before actually skiing it. Unfortunately, I didn't quite get the most descriptive or informed insight from the rep so I went in fairly blind and based my assumptions of what the ski would feel like on what I knew about the brand as well as just the looks/shape/profile of the ski. Just in skating from the gondi to the quad, I knew this ski was not going to hold an edge well, so I had the idea that I would ski it in a way that was more surfy or smeary. I took it down Liftline which provided me the opportunity to really try and carve on it as well as make some quicker, smeary turns, and I didn't get a good response in either context. When I tried to carve it, it wanted to either wash out or go straight. When I tried to get surfy and smeary with it, it felt too resistant to that style of skiing. I can see someone with a hyper-traditional ski style potentially enjoying this ski, especially when not skiing soft spring slush.” So, if you find yourself in consistent spring slush, perhaps these aren’t the best choice, and that’s as important and valuable information as any. John notes that the 94 is a “Great carving, frontside oriented ski. Feels light with the Aspen/Ash and carbon core but it is surprisingly stable.” John’s scorecard was pretty impressive as well, with all 4’s out of 5 right across the board. Quite an interesting contrast between Matt and John’s experience, and that’s a great reminder that there’s a ski out there for everyone.
On the 185, Bob St.Pierre noted that it was a good length for him, scoring it 5’s out of 5 for stability, torsional stiffness, edge grip, and overall impression. Bob actually got on this ski earlier in the season, and with more winter-like conditions than Matt and John, so he did have a different experience. “I thought this ski totally ripped. Lots of confidence and control from edge to edge and turn to turn. Great rebound and energy out of this ski, and it’s pretty surprising how stable and strong it is for the weight. That’s what you’re going to get with a premium ski like the DPS Pagoda Piste 94. I also think the width gives it a well-rounded personality, and while I wouldn’t reach for it on a true powder day, I think it will handle up to about six inches pretty easily.” DPS is definitely going for that all-around ski with a carving personality, and they do a very nice job of achieving that goal.
So, a few different experiences on this ski between our testers, and that’s just fine with us, in fact, it’s better this way as it adds an element of surprise to the equation. There’s not one ski that works well for everyone and in every condition, but there are a few aspects and attributes of skis that we can use to guess whether a ski should be on our/your final list or not. The DPS Pagoda Piste 94 C2 definitely has a lot to offer, just not apparently for everyone.
This was a very confusing review. I’d like to hear more about Matt’s stats as a skier, as well as more details on the conditions of the test. Did this test occur in the spring slush? His take on the ski is the first review/impression I’ve read about this specific ski that doesn’t sing its praises. In fact, most reviews commend the PP 94 C2 on its edge hold and ability to smear. I love that you guys respect the integrity of the test, but additional information to explain deviations like this would be very valuable as the customer. Its very confusing to see drastically opposing perspectives on the same ski.
HI Jeremy!
It was a very slushy day, so our testers had to take that edge hold category with a grain of salt. Matt’s an incredible skier who creates high edge angles and is strong through the turn. I’m sure it just wasn’t a love connection for him on that day, but perhaps in a firmer day, he’d change his tune. All data and feedback are valuable and worthy of inclusion, even the bad experiences.
SE
Thank you. And yes, I agree, including all data and feedback to your reviews only demonstrates your integrity to the test. I figured there was additional variables at play here given the contrast in feedback I’ve seen from various sources. Don’t ever feel the need to be concise guys, you have arguably the best review coverage available in the world!
When looking at this particular ski it seems natural to compare to something like the Stockli Stormrider 95’s, which pretty much receive universal rave reviews across the board showing little to no weaknesses… Which leads me to a general question with regards to DPS skis that you as testers are uniquely equipped to address:
Given that DPS skis dictate a premium for their equipment that puts them in the same ball park as a company like Stockli (who has a reputation for legendary build quality), where do you feel like the value of that premium goes? Is it more or less strictly the benefits of lighter weight skis and the “poppy” feel of the carbon flex? Seems like those two companies in particular have diametrically opposed philosophy in ski design. I know there’s generally no such thing as a “bad ski” in this day in age but, does one edge out the other performance wise? Perhaps this is more of a “right tool for the job” scenario?
Jeremey,
Sorry for the delayed response, this is an important conversation for sure. Personal preference and ski style has so much to do with this level of ski evaluation. Some skiers love the quiet silence and endless smoothness of the Stockli while other skiers really need that carbon snap in order to be satisfied with a turn. As objective as I can be, the Stockli is a higher-performance ski because I feel that metal has more in common with top-level ski construction than carbon. It’s not even that the DPS is lighter than Stockli, that’s the crazy part–these companies are getting so sophisticated with fine-tuning their builds. Keep in mind, too, that DPS has higher operating costs as a built in USA ski, for better or worse.
SE
Hi Jeremy, I really appreciate your inquiry about the comparison with Stocklis and found SE’s response just partially adequate. (For one, I can’t believe that hand finished ski costs in high wage Switzerland is cheaper than the US, and their titanal construction is super refined and precise.). I do agree the issue is premium carbon construction vs premium metal construction. The metal is going to be faster and more stable but the carbon is going to be more poppy off piste. As SE says, a skier preference in style and priority. I have 3 Stocklis I adore but seeking a more playful ski for steep tight trees and bumps and the stiff flat tail of the Stockli just isn’t ideal. The discontinued Fischer Ranger FR with more tail rocker, some metal and lots of very lively carbon seemed right, but they weren’t damp enough for my light frame in crud/chop. If these DPS are as stable as they seek to be, even without the metal, they would be the high end alternative to the super solid Stocklis and achieve my objective of being more off-piste fun and probably less fatiguing doing trees/bumps all day. Problem is I can’t find a demo and too much money to buy blind.