2026 Faction Dancer 3

For 2026, the Dancer series returns unchanged with two colorways each available in all lengths. Wide enough at 106 to be considered on the freeride spectrum but built and shaped like it belongs in the all-mountain realm, this is one of those skis that blurs the lines of application. For a lot of skiers, this is a good thing as it expands the versatility and usefulness for skiers looking to mix it up out there on the hill. With great energy, a solid platform, and a wide floaty shape, this ski is an adept carver on-trail while remaining totally up for softer snow and deep lines in big mountain formats. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback over the years here on the Dancer 3 which is great because it’s not normally viewed as being overly popular.

Strong, sturdy, and locked into a carved turn, the Dancer 3 has a burly build. The poplar core is a great place to start with this ski as it blends lightweight and high energy very efficiently. They add their full-strength sidewall to the mix that provides a barrier between the inside of the sidewall and the outside of the core. This protects the core against damage as well as offering another vertical-style layer to boost performance and stiffness. The big thing with the Dancer 3 is that it uses two layers of titanal to provide stiffness, responsiveness, and stability. Sure, it adds a bit of weight, but that’s what you get with multiple sheets of metal. In the 183, the ski hits the scale at 2100 grams, which isn’t too terrible for a ski with this surface area and volume. With weight comes power, and the way that they interlay the metal with the poplar wood makes the ski surprisingly stiff and energetic, especially for a 106. Jose Darias states that his “first impression of this ski was positive. I really liked the playful nature of the ski and combined with the slightly more directional shape made for a fun balance of edge grip and maneuverability.”

We've always thought this 106 leaned more to the traditional side in terms of shaping. Most of that is due to the camber that provides a ton of energy to the ski. By building the pop into the camber, Faction boosts performance without adding more material. The 106 mm waist is bookended by 134 mm tips and 124 mm tails. This 10 mm drop in taper from end to end means the ski falls into that directional style, creating opportunities for skiers to point and shoot the ski down the fall line. The resulting 21-meter turn radius in the 183 goes a long way in making this Dancer 3 feel like a skier’s ski—willing and capable of being responsive and strong throughout the turn. There’s a rounder taper shape to this ski that leads to a decently spoony tip shape, and while there are more dramatic shapes out there, mixing the ski’s overall profile with the build puts the Dancer 3 in a unique space in the ski world. Camille Nichols states that it’s “hard charging with some kick out of the turns. Fast and playful especially in the bumps. Feels like a freeride ski great for charging through all kinds of terrain.”

Despite the strong build and innovative shape, this ski still kind of gets lost in the crowd. Best suited for advanced and expert skiers looking to make the most out of a softer snow ski day, the 2026 Faction Dancer 3 is a wonderful ski that has caused quite a stir around here. Multiple testers, when asked what their favorite ski of the test was, reacted quickly that the Dancer 3 was, at the very least, one of the more surprising skis of the day. We always love hearing that—it mainly means that the energy of the ski stands out, and that’s a good thing for a ski this wide. Charging and energy go together seamlessly with this Dancer 3.