Primo construction meets perfect shape.
The DPS franchise has undergone some line overhauls over the last few years, but one thing remains consistent: high performing skis in a variety of shapes, sizes, and weight. The DPS Pagoda 112 RP (formerly known as some combination of the Wailer, Yvette, Alchemist, etc.) serves as their resident powder ski that can do much more. Our DPS Pagoda 112 RP review dives into how versatile it truly is.
DPS Pagoda 112 RP Review: Field Notes
The DPS Pagoda 112 RP sits in the middle family from DPS — Pagoda. Pagoda is lighter weight than the burlier Foundation construction, while being more suited for resort laps than the Pagoda Tour models. Pagoda layers different flavored woods between two layers of carbon. DPS says this construction “quiets unpleasant inconsistencies felt in less-than perfect snow, while allowing the electricity of carbon to elevate the senses during the precious moments of soft snow euphoria.” Whew. If that doesn’t get you excited to ski powder, I don’t know what will. Ultimately, DPS thinks this construction can seamlessly transition from variable snow conditions and ideal powder with ease.
The “RP” refers to the shape of the ski, with “C2” as the alternative from DPS. I think of RP as “rocker profile”, because the RP shape consists of very deep rocker in the tip and tail. DPS claims the ski is made up of roughly 45% rocker, with 55% effective edge. You’ll also notice pretty deep taper, with the widest point of the ski coming far down from the tip. To top it off, the stated turn radius is 15 meters across all sizes. On paper, this all adds up to a very, very maneuverable ski that likes to turn.
I skied the Pagoda 112 RP at Loveland Ski Area during a sneaky soft snow day during our Powder7 Ski Test. Snow was falling quickly and we had several inches of snow skiing off piste. Some spots would have harder, chunkier snow beneath the soft stuff, some areas were deep, and there was just a little bit of dust on groomed terrain. I’m about 5’8”, 130 lbs. and skied the 168cm, in the green color. DPS has gone completely unisex for their skis, so you’ll find multiple color options in multiple sizes.
Mixed Snow and Powder
Unsurprisingly, this ski is a blast in the deeper stuff! The wide tip, deep tip rocker and rise float more like a 120 than a 112. I was impressed with how floaty the ski stayed even when the snow depth was inconsistent. Things felt surfy and turns seamlessly transitioned from one to another. While I didn’t feel “electricity” while riding these, the carbon definitely adds a pleasant rebound in each turn.
Despite being a more playful offering from DPS, compared to something like the Armada ARV 116 JJ UL (what I usually skied on powder days this past season) or Atomic Bent 110, the Pagoda 112 RP has a more directional shape and traditional mount point. I found this to feel quite a bit less slash-y and the ski isn’t nearly as willing to get sideways. You can tell the ski prefers to be driven through the shovels, and does ask you to put some power there. At the same time, the easy breezy floatation and shape keeps things easy to release when you need to.
This was particularly rad in mixed/choppy snow. You can choose to navigate around variable snow and take a more “turny approach”, or a more powerful “charge through it” approach. If the snow was soft-ish, I could usually push through it without too much drama. On the other hand, it doesn’t feel as planted as something with more weight or more metal. More ski could have helped in those conditions and higher speeds. Normally for a ski this rockered, I prefer something in the mid-170s. The next size up at 178cm sounds a little unwieldy in the trees, so I feel a bit caught between sizes.
Bumps and Trees
The deep rocker and taper makes moving through tight lines feel natural. From a forward stance, the ski feels naturally intuitive. The second you think about taking a turn, you can. If you need to take a quick pivot to avoid a tangle with some trees or early season sharks, it’s easy to get this ski to respond. The quick turn radius allows the ski to tackle tight lines comfortably.
For me, the stiffer construction and more directional shape fell on the more demanding side in tight places. When not surfing through open pow runs, you do have to be a little “on” to get the ski to feel as smooth and seamless as it can be. The rocker profile certainly makes it easier to whip around than something like a Faction Dancer or Head Kore, but requires a little more mental energy than something more forgiving. But once you’re there, you’re there.
Again, I really enjoyed skiing chop with this ski. How often can you say that? Different snow conditions were really smoothed out. I didn’t blink an eye skiing a few inches of soft snow to the chunkier, refrozen stuff. This is awesomely confidence inspiring in trees, where different temperature changes and “free refills” always make those lines a little unpredictable.
Groomers
At 112mm underfoot with a heavily rockered shape, the Pagoda 112 RP is no carving ski. We know this. But that’s not what we’re trying to ski here now is it? That said, this ski handles groomers just fine, especially if conditions are on the softer side of things. As expected, the short effective edge and quick turning shape can make it challenging to find a big arcing carve. That said, if you’re taking hot laps or ripping back to the lift, the ultra damp construction makes the ride smoother than what you might expect.
Downside?
I didn’t get a chance to ski this on bulletproof ice, but I can’t imagine it would feel rock solid. The short effective edge and wide width doesn’t make for a killer carver and stability on firm snow. That said, the construction does an impressive job of handling some of those vibrations, so this feels like a step up from less stable options.
It also is not the easiest skiing ski in that category. I think advanced and expert skiers can get the most out of this ski, whereas beginners/early intermediates may find the ski a bit harder to engage.
Bottom Line
I held pretty high expectations going into this ski, and was not disappointed. Anything that can quiet the inherently choppy nature of resort powder is a win in my book. As expected, the DPS Pagoda 112 RP is a blast in untracked powder, but then again, a lot of skis are. The Pagoda 112 RP sets itself apart after the pow is gone. A truly versatile ski hops from terrain to terrain with your complete trust that it will continue to feel stable and reliable, and the Pagoda does just that.
If you come from a freestyle background looking for the most playful pow partner, this may not be your match. On the other hand, if you appreciate a directional style, but don’t need the chargey-est model on the block, this is an excellent choice.
The DPS Pagoda 112 RP snagged a spot in our 2022-2023 Buyer’s Guide as a top powder ski. Take a look at some of our favorites across the whole mountain.
