If you’ve followed along here at SkiEssentials, you’ll know that we have an affinity for wider twin tips like the Dynastar M-Free 99. This ski returns unchanged for 2024, and that’s great news for skiers who want another crack at this awesome freeride twin. The M-Free 99 has a sophisticated build, a fun-loving shape, and a maneuverable profile that makes it one of the best blends of freeride and freestyle out there. One of the most surprising things over the years has been the realization of how well skis like this operate on groomers and more front side terrain. While steeper and icier trails are still not this ski’s forte, moderate groomers, and especially those with somewhat softer snow, are a heck of a lot of fun. The nice thing is that the flex allows you to access the entirety of the sidecut, making the M-Free 99 a wonderfully turning ski on corduroy and other smooth surfaces. The big bonus here is that you get everything else at the same time—bumps, trees, powder, and park.

Dynastar has been building skis like this with a hybrid core for a few years now, and we’ve loved both the idea and the execution over that time. They had experimented with polyurethane and deeper sidewalls in the recent past, but have made more of a commitment to it recently. Now, as opposed to smaller zones with additional PU material, they’re using the full length of the ski to implement this technology. The main central core is made of poplar, and that core is wrapped in a fiberglass torsion box to increase stiffness and responsiveness. Between the core and the sidewalls, Dynastar puts in the PU material that functions as a mix between a secondary core material and an extended sidewall. The PU is quiet, smooth, and damp, mixing the properties of the glass/wood core with the silence of the PU aspect. In this realm, the Dynastar M-Free 99 has a unique feel in that it’s lively, but not overbearing. In the 179, the ski tips the scale at 1850 grams, which is in between mid-weight and heavy. This gives it a good deal of stability, especially underfoot, while the tips and tails remain more playful, easy, and floaty.

When it comes to shape, the M-Free 99 is a good blend of playfulness and business. Given the full sidewall underfoot and the relatively active build, the ski operates well in a carved turn in the central portion of the ski. In the ends, the taper and rocker take over a bit, putting more of the freeride aspect of the ski in charge. The flex of the tips and tails allow skiers to fully access the 17-meter turn radius in the 179, causing the ski to carve a clean turn across the fall line when asked. The extended rocker and splay make it easy to break free from that turn and hit a slash and smear almost mid-carve. We found that this works good on-trail, but the biggest benefits here are in an off-piste format. This ski totally wiggles through tight trees and bumps with ease. If you’re looking to mix adventure skiing, park skiing, and general on-trail cruising, this playful shape is a great place to be. While it operates at a slightly lower performance level than the top skis out there, it’s still got plenty of beef to get you through the weeds.

Most skiers want some level of versatility in their ski. In the case of the M-Free 99, the focus is on the fun, with the versatility branching off from there. Intermediate through expert skiers can use these skis in a general all-mountain format and not think about the intention of the ski at all, or they can fall more in line with the playful and creative aspects of the ski.