Did I really need this ski in my quiver? No, but so what. Some unseen force took over and before you could say, “blower dude,” all of a sudden a box appeared at my door.
Late summer every year, DPS fuels countless ski dreams with their annual Dreamtime offering. Part of Dreamtime is a limited edition Powderworks ski that offers a glimpse into the fantasy minds of the ski engineers tinkering and toiling somewhere in the depths of their Utah factory. Some brands call this their “race room” while others call it their “skunkworks”. Perhaps at DPS, it’s the “dream room.”
This year DPS came up with their Powderworks Lotus 124 Tour1. In their words: “…What if you want to both tour AND surf deep pow in one high-performance package? Enter a very special Powderworks edition of the Lotus 124 – the best of both worlds…”
Kingpins fit the bill.
I mounted my 178cm (also available in a 185cm) with Kingpins at the recommended boot position, thinking I could use them for both mid winter powder missions and guiding cat skiing. Until recently I have only pressed them into service for a handful of days on the cat. My initial impressions were good but I wasn’t overwhelmed. The tips were sensitive, which didn’t allow me to drive the ski like I wanted. I had to force an upright stance to avoid excessive tip pressure. While silky smooth, I felt my dreamtime bubble had been burst. How could a ski with 149/124/136 dimensions not float as good as my trusty Wailer 112?
As reluctant as I was to drill a second set of holes in a brand new ski, something needed to be done. Drill, baby, drill! Sarah Palin would have been proud as I moved the bindings back 1cm in search of nirvana.
Who knew that true happiness was only 1cm away? Next thing I knew my submarines were a lithe, nimble and silky powder slashing platform of pleasure. They prefer my normal stance, and work on or off edge at will. Their smooth rebound requires only the lightest movement to shift them underfoot into the next turn.
Note on dimensions: Despite the width and longer turn radius (23mm) compared to the Wailer 112, the Lotus 124 is not relegated to only high speed, long radius turns. The ability to regulate turn radius is easy and welcome. Nor are they relegated only to the deepest of days. I have found they are fun even in boot-top conditions.
Finally the other day, I grabbed the “Loti” for a sidecountry tour. Thinking I was going to be hauling around a bunch of extra weight, things turned out better than I expected. Lotus 124 Tour1 comes in at a surprising 1525 grams per ski in the 178cm — that’s light for a full-on plank this wide. Due no doubt from the Tour1 construction.
…The run is a beautiful open face dropping into tree lines. I push off into a foot of perfect powder, carrying more speed than usual — yet totally comfortable given the wider platform of the Lotus. I point it straight for a moment, crossing an old track, then throw the skis sideways to slow it down. A few turns later, I’m doing the same as the trees close in, able to whip off tighter turns before hitting the bottom. I’m exhilarated from the rush of a “perfect run,” and more than pleased knowing I can still push my personal boundaries of speed and flow — on a run I have skied a thousand times before.
Tail rocker profile.
Tip rocker profile.
(Guest blogger Bob Perlmutter and his family live in Aspen where Bob manages Aspen Mountain Powder Tours, a snowcat skiing operation. Bob has sought adventure skiing over many decades, in the nearby Elk Mountains as well as locales around the world. In Bob’s work he has the opportunity to evaluate many skis, some are provided on loan, while some are complementary due to his influential position in the industry. His reviews here at WildSnow.com are unrelated to what type of supply he receives. Loaner or comp, all skis get the same treatment. Meaning if they’re good they’ll probably get reviewed.)
Bob Perlmutter and his wife Sue live in Aspen where Bob manages Aspen Mountain Powder Tours, a snowcat skiing operation. Bob has sought adventure skiing over the past thirty years, in the nearby Elk Mountains as well as numerous locales around the world. Presently, he is reeling it in close to home to embark on his biggest adventure yet, fatherhood.
