2023 Faction Prodigy 3

The Faction Prodigy 3 is a shining example of a wider twin tip that excels both in and out of bounds. At 106 mm underfoot, this ski is wide enough for really deep snow while keeping it agile and maneuverable enough to handle in-bounds skiing as well. While most skiers will use this as more of a snow-day ski, there are a lot of others out there who simply prefer the feeling of having extra surface area in their twin-tipped skis. Whether you’re using the Prodigy 3 as part of your quiver, or the only one in it, you’re sure to be captivated by the fun-loving character and freestyle personality of the ski.

Built with a poplar wood core and wider, 2.5-mm edges, the Faction Prodigy 3 is an amazing choice for skiers who like a simple, yet effective build to their ski. The poplar blends light weight and high energy, and that’s what this ski is all about. Given that it’s pretty wide and there’s a lot of mass and volume overall, the ski does come in at 2100 grams per ski, so it’s not the lightest in terms of weight, but the character is maneuverable, and that goes along well with the rocker profile and playful and smeary application that the ski is capable of delivering. The shape gives way to a 20-meter turn radius, allowing the skier to put his or her mark on the mountain—either carving clean and round turns or drifting and slarving down the hill. Any good twin tip should have that freestyle personality, and the Faction Prodigy 3 is no different. Thanks to the somewhat symmetrical design, these skis can handle both resort park style skiing as well as backcountry booters and natural hits.

Jeff Neagle is one of the most perfect people to ski this Prodigy 3 given his all-mountain style and preference for freestyle terrain. Jeff skied the 184 and found it to be a good length. He scored it a 5 out of 5 for flotation, with 4’s for overall impression, versatility, playfulness, quickness, and maneuverability. Torsional stiffness, edge hold forgiveness, and stability all got 3’s. Jeff notes that the Prodigy 3 is a “Freestyle powder ski for sure. Fun, just a little floppy on the firm stuff. I’d love to ski it on a softer or spring day. Great for the skier that wants to butter and spin and wants to be able to do that in deep conditions. Not the strongest ski in the world but that’s not its intention.” Intention, application, and real-world experience are certainly very different things in the ski world, and we’re just glad that it’s all mostly positive when it comes to the Prodigy 3.

The segment of ~106mm twin tips is growing, and for good reason. They’re a lot of fun, easy to ski, and highly versatile. While this width, not too long ago, was considered way too wide for all-mountain skiing, the construction and profile of skis like this have come a long way, allowing modern and progressive freeride skiers the flexibility to use a wider ski for more days in order to get the best performance and flotation possible.