Faction skis have a strong foundation in the freestyle and freeride worlds. The Prodigy 3 is a shining example of the peak of a lot of that background. For creative skiers and those who love to smear and surf on soft snow while leaving some room for turning on the groomers, the Prodigy 3 is a wide-bodied twin tip that is as useful as it is playful. By combining a somewhat basic build with an innovative shape, Faction opens up the world of modern freeride skiing to the masses. It’s pretty rare that a ski can be both friendly and aggressive, but it’s that kind of blend that you’re getting with this 106 mm directional twin from a company whose roots are steeped in adventure and fun.

While some simple constructions can equate to a ski that’s not a whole lot of fun, that of the Prodigy 3 is quite the opposite. By using a full poplar wood core that blends energy and stability, this ski is ready to roll whether you’re taking it easy out there or laying down some mean tracks on the technical zones of the mountain. To increase durability, the ski uses XL 2.5mm edges that are .7 mm wider and thicker than the normal ones Faction uses. This not only adds grip, but also strength and stamina. Maybe you’re not using these as park or rail skis, but even in the backcountry and the rugged parts of the resort, it all counts. There’s also additional protective material along the inside portion of the sidewall to protect the core and add some stiffness to the mix. The topsheet adds some durability as well, by extending down slightly into the ski, the anti-chip micro-cap does a great job at reducing chipping and adding agility to the mix. While the ski doesn’t contain a whole lot of additional materials, rather than just altering the thickness of the existing ones, the 184 hits the scale at 2100 grams per ski, so this is no feather.

From a shape perspective, the ski falls on the wide side for versatility, but fits right in well with wider skis that are well-suited for soft snow and creative skiing. The 184 generates a 20-meter turn radius that creates a 133 mm tip and 125 mm tail. These measurements will keep the ski afloat, and when given the twin tip shape and slightly dramatic taper, the skis hold up to very deep and soft snow. With freestyle influence in the ski, the trick world is certainly opened and available for advanced and expert skiers who like to see the mountain as having the most natural and playful features out there. By combining a longer turn radius, a twin tip shape, and a powder-oriented rocker profile, the footprint and outline of this ski certainly fall on the fun-loving side of the spectrum.

Advanced and expert skiers will get the most out of the Prodigy 3, but that doesn’t mean that progressing intermediates won’t be able to access a proper amount of powder performance. Those that are more skilled and experienced will be able to unlock more attributes about this ski, taking their skiing to the next level in terms of pure freeride fun.