Faction Skis 2018/19 Mogul Alpine Skis

I’m 73 years old. Started skiing on Head 215s with cable bindings in the 1960s in Michigan. Moved to Boston in 1970, where I became an active New England skier. By the latter-70s, I settled on Head 360 190s and Olin Mark IV 175s. The Heads were good in icy NE conditions, and the Olins were fabulous in moguls and skiing out West. I was completely satisfied with my ski equipment. The equipment agreed with my technique and my skis gave me continued confidence to be in control as the slopes and I challenged each other throughout the USA, Canada, and Europe.

I stopped skiing in 1982. Then 15 years later, in 1997, I skied for two days in Vermont with rented equipment. The rental shop offered standard straight skis to which I was accustomed. The parabolic skis were the new thing on the market, but they were not offered as rental skis. I was amazed when I made my first run after 15 years – it was like I never stopped skiing. It was great, and I made it a point to pace myself and not pretend that I was still in my 20s and early 30s.

In January 2022, 25 years after my last time on skis, I skied at Loon Mountain, NH with rented parabolic Head skis and Head boots. Loon offered skis with two waist widths. I tried both and strongly preferred the narrower waist width. Both ski lengths were 160s. I also tried a pair of 170s. Frankly, I did not like any of the skis, and found the parabolic design odd. Too, the skis seemed to be much heavier and much less nimble than my former Olins or Heads.

My skiing technique is to lean forward into turns, shifting weight and feet with the downhill knee tucked firmly behind the uphill knee, and keeping feet tight together through turns. When doing this technique at Loon, I found that the parabolic tips and tails got in my way when keeping feet tight together – it was an ugly mess. Perhaps I am a cranky 73-year-old with two artificial hip implants, but I did not feel confident. What I learned is that parabolic skis are not for me. Regardless, I had two great days on the slopes, staying on the novice runs only. I considered taking an intermediate run, but the equipment did not feel comfortable.

I made the decision to ski again on a regular basis, so the search for new straight skis began. After much research and many conversations, I decided that mogul skis were the best option. Once on this track, I found the Faction 2018/19 Mogul Ski at Sierra. It is largely a straight ski with measurements at 96-61-84mm and priced at a third of any other mogul ski. I ordered a pair of 160s, they arrived, and I took them to Ski Haus in Framingham, MA, where they mounted Look SPX-12 bindings. Then, off for a day of skiing. I am super satisfied with how nimble and speedy they are, how quickly and true they turn, and how well they carve in the piste when leaning forward with feet tight together. Here is the best part: I am so happy with the 160s, I ordered a pair of 166s when I returned home. What can I say other than I loved my Olin Mark IVs, but I really, really love my Faction Mogul Skis and I look forward to some wonderful years of great skiing during retirement. Yea!