2023 DPS Koala 103

Like the cute and fuzzy bear for which it’s named, the DPS Koala 103 has a fun blend of playfulness, toughness, and uniqueness that is very hard to duplicate. As one of the remnants of the Foundation style of construction, the Koala 103 is a rugged and burly ski that has a fun-loving side as well. Best-suited to advanced and expert skiers who love to play in a variety of snow conditions and terrain, this ski is an amazing choice for freestyle and freeride skiers who like to put it all on the line in the name of good old-fashioned fun. Built with an aspen wood core, two strips of uni-directional carbon, and two layers of triaxial fiberglass, these skis have a tough build that’s meant to withstand some serious skiing and use. The 184 cm length produces an 18-meter turn radius and tips the scales at 2040 grams per ski, which is on the heavy side for something without metal. While not truly symmetrical, the 129 mm tip and the 119 mm tail are pretty close, leading to a more freestyle-oriented ride and character. It’s pretty bowed-out, too, with 40% rocker and 60% camber, with some decent splay in the tips and tails. It’s interesting seeing the Koala 103 gain traction among DPS fans, as it’s a slight departure from the rest of their lineup, and that’s good news for skiers who like to keep it fresh out there on the hill.

Nick Wright skied the 184, and his playful style fit this ski perfectly. That’s evidenced in his scores, with 5’s being given for stability and forgiveness. Overall impression, versatility, playfulness, quickness, maneuverability, and flotation all got 4’s, so we’re seeing quite a high baseline of scores coming from Nick here. He “Was really surprised by the way this ski felt coming from DPS. It was heavier than expected and didn't quite have the usual quality to DPS that I am used to, that being said I was really surprised at how well this held while charging through the slush. Although it was a little more work than expected DPS has really made a GREAT charger, I would love to see this in a slightly lower weight version!” Hear that DPS? Make the Koala 103, but lighter!

Matt McGinnis skied the 176 and noted it was true to size, and his scores were the highest of all of our testers. Mostly 5’s out of 5 for Matt, with a couple of 4’s sprinkled in for versatility, flotation, and playfulness. Other than that, Matt was pretty much all-in on this ski: “Honestly, I was really impressed with this ski. When I first put it on snow and made a few turns, it felt like it might’ve fallen firmly into the “intermediate” skier range, but the further down the hill I got, the more capable I realized the skis are. One moment that sticks out in my mind, is when I came into a slough pile, skidded sideways, and expected some serious chatter. But it didn’t happen. These skis handled it without flinching, giving me an entirely new perspective on them. With that said, I think these skis would be a great choice for a lot of skiers looking for something in this category. For a 103-width ski, I found these surprisingly friendly and maneuverable, meaning an intermediate could easily handle them. But, they’re also extremely capable on edge and at speed, so advanced skiers looking for something that’s not especially serious would also love these. The only group I wouldn’t recommend these for are those looking for a ski that simply wants to charge. For them, I’d suggest something with metal.”