2021 DYNASTAR M-PRO 99 SKI REVIEW
As a father, I sometimes take offense to the term “Dad Ski” when used pejoratively to describe a ski’s intended audience. One of our younger employees here at SkiEssentials used that term in reference to the 2021 Dynastar M Pro 99 the other week, but then I saw him ripping turns down Hayride at Stowe going about 65 mph on these things. His tune changed at the bottom, as his 22-year old mind began to wrap around the facts that not only could Dad skis be Rad skis, but also that Dynastar has got a pretty ripping stick on their hands with the all-new M Pro 99. That said, less-rad Dads don’t have to go that fast on these skis, as their most surprising and enviable asset is their versatility.
There was a lot of love for the Cham and the Legend series over the past decade, and for good reason. Dynastar really put the five-point sidecut on the map and was successful in making wider skis that turned better. The old thought was that wide skis had to be straight in nature, otherwise they’d be hooky in powder. By moving the wide parts of the tips and tails closer to the middle of the ski, they basically invented taper and brought this easy-turning ability in powder to the masses (for better or worse). Dynastar has evolved this concept into their current M-lines of skis, both the Pro and the Free in order to bring new levels of precision and versatility to the all-mountain and freeride markets.
Dynastar is not going after the Enforcer 100 or the Mantra 102 crowd with these skis, and it's shown primarily in the build. While other companies use a similar build to the race construction, Dynastar has come up with some new tricks and techniques that really make the personality of the M-Pro 99 jump off the page. The bulk of the core is made from Poplar wood but Dynastar’s twist is the addition of polyurethane along the sidewalls and extending into the core. This combination comprises their Hybrid core, as it’s a mix of the two materials. The amount of this PU is uncommon these days, and really does a good job making a smooth and damp ride without sacrificing the liveliness or poppiness of the wood core. On top of that, Dynastar’s Rocket Frame Titanal laminate is shaped to put emphasis and power right where skiers like it. Full width underfoot and tapering gently to the tail, it really comes to a point in the center of the forebody. This elevates soft-snow performance and playfulness while keeping the tails mostly business. Like other ski companies, the use of a partial metal laminate has become paramount in tailor-making skis to perform or behave in very specific ways. Dynastar’s reverse-mullet style makes this 99 float much wider and carve much narrower.
Of the three M-Pro skis for 2021, the 99 sits between the 90 and the 105. The 105 is really just a re-branded Pro Rider from years past while the 90 and 99 are quite new in terms of their shape, build, and profile from the Legend 96 and 88. Instead of a highly tapered shape, the 99 is more traditional, leading to a longer turn radius and greater versatility with turn shape. In my size, the 186, they have a 22-meter turn radius, and the 178 has a 20. These are some long arcs, especially when compared to the shorter turning Legend series. This increases the radness factor of the 99 and can lead to some high-speed skiing as well as some smeary and slidy and stylish turns. There’s nothing crazy about the rocker profile—perhaps a bit longer in the tip versus the average, again creating a 99 that floats above its width. The tail rocker is present, but is neither ridiculous nor abusive, creating an overall pleasant skiing experience in any and all conditions and terrain. And that’s what really blew me away about this new M-Pro 99.
From my first turn on these skis a few months ago, I was immediately impressed. Confidence was high. New terrain was just starting to open up here at Stowe, snow was starting to pile up and I was looking for some adventure. Our legendary sales representative dropped off a pair for us to ski, and was excited about the fact that these were the first new molds for Dynastar in this segment in quite some time. That first day I skied them, I wasted no time and hopped right in to some upper-mountain woods. The M-Pro is extremely quick from edge to edge and has an easy-going intuitive feeling that is almost automatic. They’re a point-and-shoot type of ski that borders on pre-cognitive. It’s almost like the skis see the line before I do. I like that feeling in a ski, and if the accolades stopped there, I’d say this is a huge success for Dynastar.
But it didn’t end there. They just kept finding new ways to surprise me. Steep groomers were no problem for these skis, their only limitation is a bit of tip flap at super high-speeds on very firm snow. There’s not much out there without full-metal that won’t suffer from the same affliction, so it’s certainly getting a pretty good pass from me. Short to medium-radius turns were an absolute blast. The 22-meter arc can be manipulated to tighten right up and make some old-school swing turns without the hooky feeling of today’s shorter-radius skis that simply want to be on edge all of the time. These M-Pro 99’s are much more versatile in their turn shaping and are capable and willing of a multitude of styles at any given time. We went up at the beginning of this last storm cycle and likely had about six inches on the ground at the time. My friends/coworkers were on 102’s and 108’s and I felt like I was floating just as well if not better. For that depth and consistency (slightly wind-affected and dense), the 99 was right on the money. Smooth as glass in the shovel and forebody, the M-Pro kept right on top of the fresh, neither wavering nor submerging. Precise and responsive in the tail, the skis were predictable, consistent, and inspiring. Lots of good energy coming out of these skis, especially in the back third.
So my work buddy was right. These are certainly “Dad Skis.” And guess what? There are a whole $h!T ton of dads out there who will absolutely love and adore this ski as if it were their own children. They’ll dote on the ski’s high-gear and precise feel. They’ll be enamored with the playfulness in soft snow and their composure in more manky and cruddy conditions. They’ll want to coach the ski’s Little League team and then take them out for pizza after the big win. Well, maybe not.
The bottom line on the M-Pro 99 is that it’s a huge upgrade to Dynastar’s all-mountain line. They’re not trying to be something they’re not. It’s very clearly aimed at advanced skiers who are looking for a top-end ski with multiple gears. Whether you’re kicking around the bunny hill with candy in your pocket or ripping all types of turns in expert zones, the M-Pro 99 will certainly make a mark on your skiing psyche. While you can’t tell your kids which one you like the best, skis don’t quite have the same feelings so feel free to say so in front of the rest of your quiver that the M-Pro 99 is your very favorite.
