The 2027 Faction Prodigy 1 with Salomon Strive 14 GW Bindings is the narrower park-and-trail freestyle ski in the line. It's built for skiers who want a directional twin that can work the park, carve clean lines on the groomers, and ride switch with confidence. We paired the Prodigy 1 with the Strive 14 because of this binding’s well known reputation for safety, reliability, and ease of use. Featuring an LDN toe piece that optimizes contact and response, these bindings integrate seamlessly with boots and skis, allowing for a natural flex and balanced stance, making them the perfect choice to pair with this ski.

Why we like it:

The poplar and ash core is what really sets this one apart. Ash brings a dose of damping and edge bite that freestyle skis often lack, which keeps the Prodigy 1 composed when you lean on it over firm snow.

Who it's for:

Intermediate to advanced park-and-trail skiers who want a directional twin with a frontside lean. If your days split between the terrain park and the groomers and you want a ski equally at ease in both, this is the one to grab.

Highlights:

Faction stacks a poplar and ash wood core in this ski, and that combination drives its dual personality. Poplar brings the lightness, pop, and energy freestyle skiing demands, while ash layers in stiffness, damping, and durability where they count. Underfoot, the carbon and rubber stomp pad bonds to the core, absorbing vibration as you stomp a landing and guarding against heavy compressions. The directional twin profile is the quiet secret, with a tail set just narrower than the tip to give more drive and stability skiing forward without surrendering switch ability. Faction's XL edges hold up far better than standard steel on a ski bound to meet rails and rocks on the regular, and an 88 mm waist sits on the narrow side for the category, translating into quick edge-to-edge response and a carve-friendly feel. At the core is the three-part heel, which delivers the secure boot retention the Strive line is known for while keeping weight reasonable. Salomon's elastic travel keeps the binding planted through chatter and cut-up snow, so it does not get knocked offline easily. The LDN toe spreads lateral input across an extra-wide pedal for crisp edge-to-edge power transfer, and a sliding toe pedal lets the ski bend underfoot for a more natural flex. The whole assembly rides on a low-profile chassis that drops the stance and centers the skier over the ski. It accepts both standard alpine and GripWalk boot soles, and the binding is TUV certified.

Things to consider:

Soft snow is not this ski's calling. The narrower waist and modest rocker limit float, so on deep days look toward something wider. The directional shape also makes it less switch-balanced than a true symmetrical twin like the Studio 1, so if you ski backward most of the time, the Studio fits better.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Length runs true on the Prodigy 1, so reach for your normal size and only drop down if you want it to feel quicker and more park-focused underfoot.