2021 DPS Alchemist Yvette 100 RP

Built and shaped just like the men's Wailer 100, the Yvette 100 Alchemist with the RP shaping is an ideal choice for versatile all-mountain skiers who want to dabble in a bit of everything. The main point about these skis is that the 15-meter turn radius carries through all sizes, making the ski very consistent in terms of what it's made to do. In the case of the Yvette 100, the shaping makes the taper and rocker far more dramatic than in the C2 builds, creating a spoony shape and a quick and nimble personality. The build has quality written all over it as well, and this is one of the big reasons why DPS skis come with a premium price tag. Is it worth it? We normally tell people that it depends on your personal financial situation, but we can say that the skis have a different and unique feel than many others on the market. The aspen wood core is bolstered by two sheets of carbon, and it's this amount of material that really makes the cost jump. Most skis in the world are made from some combination of wood, plastic, carbon, and metal, it's more about how the company puts them together. DPS has a high emphasis on quality, so it makes sense that the methods and materials add up to a strong ski with a steep price tag.

The overarching theme from our testers was that they would all like to spend more time on the ski. While there's a lot of versatility built in, we often don't get to test the skis in such long-term applications. It would be great to call in a powder day, no? On the 163, which Annie MacDonald found to be "way too short," we do see a skier who would be better served on a longer ski for sure. In fact, when she skied the men's (same build) version, she skied the 179 and had a much better experience. The cool thing about the RB shaping is that, other than the extension of the tips and tails, the ski should ski very similarly throughout the sizes, but that lack of material in front and behind does make a difference, especially when it comes to swing weight. Annie noted that her 163's "felt like snowblades, but stable for their size!" Once most skiers find that balance point, they do find that the skis come to life. She did note that on the 179 men's length, the 100 is a "good ski for soft snow and slush. Good overall ski though for the fairly playful powder width ski. So versatile for a variety of terrain conditions." It's interesting to see how different skis and skiers respond to boards of different lengths and shapes.

Darcy Mangan skied the 163 and found it to be a good length. She even went so far as to give it a score of 5 out of 5 for stability, and 4's for flotation, quickness, maneuverability, and edge hold. A 2 for forgiveness shows the stiffness of the carbon laminates in the ski. Darcy is one of those skiers who "would like to spend more time getting to know this ski-it's like that awesome person you want to get to know, but it's gonna take work. I'd peg these more for a good, strong expert skier who knows how to turn a ski." Kristi Brown, also on that 163, did find it to be on the short side, but notes that regardless of that, it's a "super-fun ski!" All 4's and 5's from Kristi on the scorecard. She states that it's "better than a summer fling thing. The 100 will last longer and still be super-fun. If you love mixed terrain: trees, moguls along with groomers, the 100 is your fix!" From all we've seen, that versatility is the best part of the ski.

When all is said and done, that 100 mm waist is just a supremely versatile shape to start with. When DPS adds their top-end build to go along with their RP shaping, the skis definitely take on a new and different personality. There's really endless fun to be had on the precise and playful DPS Yvette 100 Alchemist.