2026 DPS Koala 103

The 2026 DPS Koala 103 gets a construction upgrade for this year, cuts some sizes, and offers a sweet new graphic for creative freeride skiers looking to make their mark on the mountain. For years, DPS has been synonymous with innovation in construction, shape, and an individualistic style. They’ve never been a brand that’s been intent on copying the leaders, rather, they enjoy being more creative and having inspiration come from different places, but most notably the greater Salt Lake City ski areas of Alta and Snowbird. These skis make a whole lot of sense in these realms, and the Koala 103 is a daily twin that stands up to aggressive and playful skiing in various depths of snow.

Built with a full poplar wood core, the Koala 103 gets carbon stringers on top and bottom of that core. This is a different build from 2025 which used single strips of carbon rather than multiple ones infused into the fiberglass laminates. Another thing that’s changed is the reduction of sizes, with the Koala 103 being offered in a 168 and a 184. It seems like they just weren’t selling enough of the other lengths to warrant the products for the 2026 year. The 184 sits on the scale at 2075 g/ski. Tester Matt McGinnis notes that he “found this ski to be just generally fun! It’s the kind of ski where I can’t say it’s incredible at any one thing, but as a full package, it’s easy to ski, stable, energetic, and just an all-around good time.”

The shape stays the same for 2026, with a more centrally and symmetrically themed character. With dimensions of 129/103/119 mm in the 184 cm length, these skis have a straighter cut than most DPS skis at 18-meters. While there’s a 10 mm drop in tip to tail width, the skis are tapered such that there’s a relatively short contact point, making these skis feel more central. The spoony shape in the tips and tails offer great flotation while the dramatic rocker profile adds to the playfulness and fun, especially in softer and deeper snow. Matt continues to note that “I think variable terrain was perfect for these skis, as their early taper made them very maneuverable while allowing the shovel to maintain plenty of width to charge over and through all types of uneven terrain.”