2023 Faction Dancer 2

The Faction Dancer 2 could easily be considered their answer to hard-hitters like the Volkl Mantra M6 in terms of overall all-mountain and freeride performance, but certainly with a Faction flair added to the mix. Built with a poplar wood core and two sheets of metal, the Dancer 2 certainly has the makings of an all-mountain high-performance ski. While it doesn’t have the more sophisticated constructions of the Mantra or Enforcer 94 in terms of different materials and technology, the beauty of the Dancer 2 is in its simplicity. We often talk about mid-90's skis being awesome for one-ski quiver choices, and this one is no different. Faction uses very thin metal laminates, so it doesn’t take away from the quickness of the ski, rather it adds to the responsiveness and edge grip in a meaningful way. In the 182, the Dancer 2 produces a 19-meter turn radius and weighs 1900 grams, so it does have that nice mid-range of both shape and weight that allows it to do a whole lot out there on the hill. There’s more tail rocker than the narrower Dancer 1, and less than the wider versions, so it gets some fine-tuning there from Faction. If you’re looking for a one-ski quiver that rips turns on the groomers and has some soft-snow capabilities, it’s certainly worth your time to check out the Dancer 2.

On the 177, Chris McClelland noted that the ski felt short, but still stable. He’s a taller skier, so it makes sense that the 177 would feel on the short side for him. Chris scored it a top mark of 5 out of 5 for overall impression, with 4’s not far behind for versatility, torsional stiffness, edge hold, playfulness, quickness, maneuverability, stability, and flotation. His lowest score was a 3 out of 5 for forgiveness, which highlights the stiffness of the Dancer 2 due to the dual-metal laminate for sure. These are some high scores for a ski, and it seems like Chris really liked it, even in the shorter length. “The Dancer 2 came out swinging and was a ton of fun. I really liked the response and spring I got from pushing into my turns and carves. The ski felt great on hardpack and groomers and carving was a blast with how much edge hold they offered. I was surprised how willing the ski was to disengage its edges and pivot around the tips in bumps and rough terrain. This really felt like a proper one ski quiver ski, I felt confident it could handle pretty much anything I threw at it. This is a great ski for someone looking for an east coast one ski quiver.” That about sums it up, from both an on-paper and an on-snow perspective.

Dave Hatoff was also on the 177, and for him, that length was just right. Like most good all-mountain skis, we expect to see some consistent scores, and for Dave, that means all 4’s right across the board. “Smooth as silk with some heft t it. Very stable at speed. A great daily driver ski for both east and west. Plowed through crud. Damp and powerful. No speed limit.” That certainly fits in with both what Chris found to be true about the Dancer 2 as well as Faction’s intended use and audience of the ski.

For advanced and expert skiers who are looking for a great blend of on and off-trail performance, the Faction Dancer 2 should be on the list for sure. Thanks to the shape, construction, and profile, this newcomer makes an excellent addition to the already-competitive mid-90's all-mountain segment.