2025 DPS Koala 103

The 2025 DPS Koala 103 gets an update in construction but remains the same fun-loving all-mountain twin that we’ve known for a few years now. This ski is built and created for DPS athletes in the Wasatch mountains of Utah, and it seems to fit that zone really well. With a fun and playful shape, good flotation, and a sturdy build, this Koala 103 is a very specific tool for the deeper mountains of the world. The nice part is that with the addition of carbon and a friendly shape, this ski can carve a slick turn too. With a move towards sustainability and a Handmade in the USA tag, the Koala 103 is a unique ski that boasts attributes that other mid-100 mm twin tips simply cannot.

With a new build, the Koala 103 takes energy and moves to the next level. Starting with a hardwood core, the skis get two full sheets of triaxial fiberglass to stiffen and energize the ski. They also incorporate two unidirectional carbon strips that run the center length of the ski on top of each glass layer. When carbon is fused into the glass like this, it emphasizes responsiveness. With Super Sap Bio Resin and Algal sidewalls, these skis have a green footprint that not many others can match. In the 184, the ski’s stated weight of 2075 g/ski puts it on the mid weight side of the spectrum, holding both stability and agility at the same time. Tester Jose Darias states that the Koala 103 has “A good blend of stability and playfulness. Easy to turn but still capable of holding fall line when I want it to.” The shape and the build combine to make most of this happen, and it makes a lot of sense how DPS blends these two properties.

With a bit longer of a turn radius than the standard 15-meter arc, the Koala 103 hits 18-meters in the sidecut. They keep 40% rocker and 60% camber, but the taper shape is straighter to accommodate a more direct fall line mentality. 18 meters is still on the mid-range, so this ski still likes to come around. We’ve found that it likes to be skied more centrally, rather than pressuring the ski in the tips and expecting pop and rebound out of the tail. It’s a lot happier with all the pressure in the middle. Pat Toporowski is normally found on a comparable Blizzard Rustler 10, so it’s great to get his feedback on these skis: “The Koala 103's are versatile skis that seem to prefer softer conditions due to their construction and lack of metal. They excel in trees, bumps and overall all-mountain jibbyness but they aren't what I'd choose when things turn firm.” Maybe the metal of the Rustler makes it feel more planted than the carbon/fiberglass methodology of the Koala. Either way, the Koala 103 certainly has that playfulness and versatile nature that creative and adventurous skiers truly enjoy.

There’s a decent range here—some advanced and expert potential for sure, with intermediates being slightly overpowered. There’s also a bit of a learning curve, with the central skiing style a bit different from most traditional skis. Playful and modern freeriders will love this shape and style.