On the fun side of freeride, the Dynastar M-Free 108 returns structurally unchanged for 2023, and that’s awesome news for skiers who have found this gem of a ski among a crowded group of contenders in this category. We’ve loved this ski ever since we first got on it, and those feelings have not waned since. Built with a hybrid wood core consisting of poplar and polyurethane, we get a unique and interesting character and personality to the ski. The PU material along the edges makes for a smooth, silent, and stable feel while the wood provides a ton of energy. The core is wrapped in their fiberglass torsion box, which puts the glass in a 360-degree application. Whenever you use fiberglass in this format, it makes for a stiffer and more responsive feel, giving the M-Free 108 a very snappy and poppy way about it. The shaping of the ski, specifically in terms of taper and rocker, allow for a totally playful feel to go along with the energy of the build. There’s some dramatic rocker in both tips and tails that complement the underfoot camber quite well. The taper of the ski makes it cut through the snow smoothly and efficiently, allowing the ski to smear and slash turns quite easily. If you’re looking for a wider ski for your quiver, or if you ski mainly in snowier zones and are looking for a great option for a daily driver, I can think of a lot worse skis than this one.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
Torsion Box
PREFERRED TERRAIN
Big Mountain, Powder, All Mountain
Bob St.Pierre skied the 182, noting that it “Amazingly does not feel short for a 182. I'm not sure what length I'd buy for myself, but I do know that I had a blast on the 182.” He scored it top marks of 5 out of 5 for flotation and playfulness, with 4’s for overall impression, forgiveness, quickness, maneuverability, and stability. It’s impressive to see the 4 for stability considering the width and short length for Bob, but that’s just a testament to the ski’s strong build and PU hybrid core. He notes that he’s been “Fortunate to have soft snow each time I've been on this ski. I'm not sure how they do it, but it's the most agile and responsive 108 I've been on. You can really get it up on edge in the soft groomers and it does great, and it also floats incredibly well in the fresh. Great rocker profile and taper shape for softer snow, and the hybrid core really makes a difference when it comes to stability when carving. It is a very fun ski, and would make a fantastic wide option for skiers looking for a pow ski that also rips getting back to the lift.”
Marcus Shakun is another tall skier on the 182, and while he noted it was true to size, he’d likely opt for the longer length if he were to purchase. He gave top scores of 5 out of 5 for flotation, playfulness, and forgiveness with 4’s for overall impression and stability. Marcus states that the M-Free 108 is a big-mountain killer. Loves to be used in wider-open spaces, but that doesn’t mean it can’t do the quicker or tighter stuff either. Great for advanced and expert skiers looking for a pow ski for the quiver. Very playful tail shape and profile for creative skiing.”
If you’re in the market for a mid-100's freeride ski without metal and some progressive shaping to it, do not miss out on the Dynastar M-Free 108. It’s about as good as it gets for making clean and round turns as well as floating through the fresh and smearing the pow. With a great combination of camber, rocker, shape, and taper, this is one of the most well-rounded ~108’s out there on the hill today.
