2021 DPS Alchemist Zelda 106 C2

The 2021 DPS Zelda Alchemist 106 with the C2 shaping returns unchanged for this year, so if you are a fan of light weight skis with a wider waist and a directional mentality, you're in luck! There's a lot to like about the way DPS makes and shapes their skis, and the two main ways are the RP (15-meter radius) and the less tapered and rockered C2 (about 19-meter radius). The Zelda 106 features the latter, resulting in a higher speed limit, longer turns, and a more freeride mentality. Harder chargers and fans of big-mountain lines will certainly appreciate the more traditional shaping of the Zelda 106. The Alchemist construction is their top-end way of building skis, featuring an aspen wood core and two sheets of carbon. This dual-carbon laminate will stand up to any type of use and abuse, and especially over time-these skis do not lose their energy, which is one of the selling points from DPS, mostly given that higher price tag. Are they worth it? That does depend on your financial situation, but the precision, light weight, and high-performance ceiling of the skis is undoubtable to say the least. At 106 mm underfoot, the Zelda is able to take on a wide variety of conditions and terrain, but certainly has more of that soft-snow flair. With a longer effective edge versus the RP shaping, the C2-inspired Zelda 106 is a smoother ski, especially at speeds. If you're looking to make less turns and go faster, the C2 is a better choice for you. Our testers loved the light weight performance, noting that for the mass, the skis are extremely stable and capable.

Jascha Herlihy skied the 171, and likely because of that weight, she noted that it felt short. The good news is that the men's 106's are the exact same and come in longer lengths, so for ladies who are looking for this ski in a longer length, those skis do exist in the form of a Wailer 106. Nevertheless, Jascha seemed to have a pretty nice time on these skis, with her scorecard reading all 4's and 5's, with notable 5's for versatility, stability, and overall impression. I feel like if those are covered, the ski is probably pretty sweet. "This ski is down to hang-it's with you no matter what. It's playful but relaxed at the same time. Best for someone getting into all-mountain skiing. This thing rips all versatile terrain and would be a good ski for them. Very reliable and predictable. For conditions from ice to slush, these skis held the entire time with ease." We always like hearing that skis are able to be two different things at the same time-Jascha nailed it perfectly by stating the skis are playful and relaxed.

Also on the 171, Caroline Kessler noted that the ski was a good size for her-no need to size up. Her top scores of 4 out of 5 were given for flotation and stability--another two kind of opposing qualities that we think make for a strong, versatile ski. With a bunch of 3's sprinkled in for the rest of her scores, it's apparent that she thinks these are quite well-rounded. That said, it's still a 106 underfoot ski with a bunch of carbon, so there are going to be some drawbacks as well. It's the yin-yang of ski building, I guess. Caroline states that the 106 is "stiff, feels a little planky. Chatters at high speeds on very hard snow. Would be a good backcountry ski or all-mountain ski for someone who wants to stay mostly on soft snow." Nothing wrong with that!

Light, powerful, and precise, the DPS Zelda 106 Alchemist loves to be on edge and in a carved turn. You can easily manipulate and control these skis because of the carbon and aspen, yet they're incredibly smooth and stable due to the longer effective edge of the C2 shaping. Overall, these are fantastic skis for hard-charging ladies who love to shred the whole mountain.