2022 DPS Pagoda Piste 90 RP

As the narrower RP version in the lineup, the Pagoda Piste 90 RP makes some of the quickest and roundest turns around. It’s an interesting shape and a build for a ski, and it doesn’t really have much to be compared to on the market, it’s kind of a stand-alone ski, and that’s just how DPS likes it. The Pagoda Piste construction consists mainly of an aspen wood core, but with an ash laminate that sits in the middle. This combination of wood creates the dense and stable nature of the ski, while the shape and rocker profile give it the snappy, quick, energetic turn quality that our testers really seemed to gravitate to. The RP shaping of the ski is dynamic in this width and build of ski, as it generates a 15-meter turn radius in all lengths. The Pagoda Piste 90 RP loves to be on edge and in a carved turn, and the shorter the turn the better. Great for trees and bumps and firmer groomers, the Pagoda Piste 90 RP is a unique ski in this range, as it has great grip and stiffness, but without the weight of metal, so it comes in at a lighter weight than some of the other ~90 mm underfoot skis in this category.

David Wolfgang skied the 184 and noted that it skied true to size and was just right. We have found that in the narrower versions, they do ski a bit on the short side due to the elongated rocker profiles, but since the 184 is the longest length that’s available, David will have to be fine on it, even though he’s a taller skier. Pretty much all 4’s on his scorecard, with the lone exception of a 3 out of 5 for stability, and given the shorter-turn nature of the ski, that’s not terribly surprising. “This ski is like a comfortable office chair. It swivels left, it swivels right and it does it both ways with ease and comfort. Fun fall-line ski.” It is a very easy turner, and is quite intuitive to get from one edge to the next. The quickness and maneuverability of these skis is a great sign that they are ready to make a bunch of turns right down the fall line of the trail.

Also on the 184, Bob St.Pierre did note that the ski felt short, but that does have a lot to do with the shorter radius and the rocker profile. Bob scored the ski 5’s out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, and versatility. Lower scores of 2 out of 5 for stability, torsional stiffness, and edge grip aren’t too surprising given Bob’s size and level of aggressiveness. “I really like skis like this that can turn on a dime, but also have the rocker profile to float through the softer snow. This is a great tree and mogul ski for here in Vermont, and it can definitely hold its own when it comes to carving turns. I will say, though, that it doesn’t quite match up to larger and more aggressive skiers, as they’ll likely overpower the ski when it comes to more assertive turns. That said, the ski is as quick as they come—for any width, much less the 90 mm underfoot size. I do think the RP shaping works better in wider skis, but it’s fun to see what they can get away with in skis of this shape.” It’s nice to see that ski companies try new and different things, and especially in competitive fields and ranges like this one.

The DPS Pagoda Piste 90 RP is an awesome choice for intermediate, advanced, and lighter expert skiers who prefer to make more, and rounder turns. It’s a very nice ski for all-mountain terrain and conditions, and it helps skiers improve and make better-looking and feeling turns as the skis are quite intuitive. If you’ve never gotten on a pair of DPS skis and are looking for something that can be used in a daily format in a variety of conditions and terrain, the Pagoda Piste 90 RP is a fantastic option.