The 2023 Faction Mana 3 is amazingly their mid-width ski in the range at 112 mm underfoot. This puts it squarely in the freeride division, and with a rockered profile and a twin-tip shape to bring it to the forefront of the modern and progressive ski discussion. If you spend most of your time searching out deep and fresh snow to play, drop, and smear in both the resort and the backcountry. Built with a poplar wood core, the skis also get Faction’s carbon/rubber stomp pad underfoot to both cushion landings and provide torsional stiffness underfoot. The 183 cm length generates a 21-meter turn radius, so we’re getting up to the longer arcs of a ski, but it fits right in with the width and intent of the Mana 3. Weighing 1990 grams in that 183, the skis are still on the lighter side given the overall mass of materials, and that indicates that the ski should have a lighter, more maneuverable feel to it on snow.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
XL 2.5 mm Edges
PREFERRED TERRAIN
Powder, Big Mountain
On the 178, Dave Hatoff noted that the length felt just right. He gave top marks of 5 out of 5 for flotation and stability, which is a pretty good way to start the scoring for a 112. 4’s were given for overall impression, forgiveness, playfulness, quickness, and maneuverability, with 3’s going for versatility, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. Dave calls the Mana 3 a “playful and poppy pow surfer. Fun in the soft snow, but not the greatest edge hold on hard pack. Powder skiers unite!” Hopefully nobody’s going ski shopping for a front side carver and ends up with this one—definitely a better choice for the modern freeride skier.
Matt McGinnis also skied the 178 and noted that it felt true to size. This ski is more Matt’s style than Dave’s, so it’s great to get his feedback on these wider-bodied freeriders. Whether he was bored or just feeling generous, Matt gave the Mana 3 all 4’s out of 5 right across the board. This is an impressive spread of scores for a 112. Matt states that “The Faction Mana 3 was described to me as a more serious version of the Prodigy 2. That description rang through as the Mana 3 was just as advertised. A wide bodied, strong ride, these skis wanted to plow through all the slush that gondolier could throw at them. Whether popping off side hits or laying down long GS turns, the Mana 3 offered a powerful, capable ride down the mountain. All of that said, it is a considerable amount of ski. With that in mind, they’re maybe not the best choice for beginner or lower intermediate skiers as they take quite a bit of input to maneuver properly. That said, if you watch Candide edits and want to ski just like him, the Mana 3 certainly gives you a chance, although the skill component is entirely up to you.”
With a wider-bodied twin tip, anything is possible in the fresh and soft snow. The Faction Mana 3 begs for creativity out there on the hill—yearning for gravity-fed drops, pillow lines, and backcountry booters. If you find yourself in need of a ski like this, the Mana 3 is a fun-loving option that will live up to all the Faction hype.
