The 2024 DPS Koala 118 is a shining example of what a modern and wide ski can do and be. Koala is the freestyle division of DPS models, and it makes it so that they can use their high-end builds and styles in order to generate a lot of playfulness and power to mix with the twin-tipped and super-splayed profile that makes it a lot of fun in softer snow. At 118 mm underfoot, the ski certainly has the surface area to contend with the widest skis on the planet, and when that’s combined with the bowed-out shape, this thing will not sink in any depth of snow. When freestyle and creative aspects are added to the mix when it comes to character, the Koala 118 is a unique and rare ski that has a pretty specific audience. This is certainly suited more for the expert range of skier, with advanced skiers likely becoming overpowered by the sheer mass and overall width and stiffness of the ski. Even within that expert category, skiers need to have soft snow to fully access the ski’s potential, so location has a lot to do with it as well.

Koala skis are built a lot like the older Foundation construction. Starting with a hard wood core, the Koala 118 gets two sheets of triaxial fiberglass on both the top and bottom of the core. Embedded in those glass layers are two strips of carbon fiber. The mix of triaxial fiberglass and carbon makes for a very responsive ski that has a ton of energy and power. With the hard wood core taking up a lot of the ski’s mass, we end up with a pretty hefty weight of 2180 grams in the 184. Triaxial glass uses a lot of epoxy, and that glue is pretty heavy. That said, weight does equal stability, so if you’re using these skis at higher speeds and in a more aggressive format, this build will help you out in the long run. Like many other DPS skis, the Koala 118 also gets a polyamide topsheet and poured urethane sidewalls. These components add to the silence and smoothness of the ski.

At 118 mm underfoot, there’s no denying that this is a wide-bodied freestyle ski. It’s the rocker and taper that take it to the next level in terms of freestyle playfulness. While the ski states that there’s 60% camber and 40% rocker, it sure looks more dramatically rockered than that with a lot more splay involved. That goes for both tips and tails—this thing is bent. There’s quite a bit of taper to go with it as well, especially in the shovel. The widest part of the ski is brought way back into the mid-body of the ski to create a smooth entry to the turn and increase playfulness from tip to tail. In that 184, the ski generates a 19-meter turn radius, and while it likes to be used at that arc, it’s also capable of being used in the middle range as well.

Expert skiers will love the blend of stiffness and responsiveness from these strong skis. As some of the wider skis in the world, the Koala 118’s have a unique shape and profile to accompany their burly build. Thanks to DPS’s insistence upon the use of carbon, the Koala 118 is a surprisingly agile performer for the width, and added maneuverability is found when you stand more in the middle of the ski rather than pressuring the ends.