As more of a park-centric Prodigy, the 1 is a great width, shape, and build for freestyle performance and beyond. For skiers who spend most of their time in the park, but also don’t want to ignore the fact that the rest of the mountain exists, the Prodigy 1 at 88 mm underfoot is a wonderful ski. Twin tips are just a whole lot of fun, and since there’s no real reason to argue that, we might as well celebrate it. Snappy, poppy, energetic, and rugged, the Prodigy 1 has a whole lot going for it. Faction is a company that has long been steeped in the tradition of freestyle skiing, and that continues into 2024. This ski returns unchanged for this upcoming season with the addition of a new graphic. Overall, it’s all about having fun out there, and if you wish to be creative and aggressive in that realm, you’ll be stoked on the Faction Prodigy 1.

The construction holds up to strong and capable freestyle and all-mountain skiing, mainly thanks to the blend of ash and poplar in the wood core. The poplar keeps things light and energetic while the ash lends density and power to the mix. If you’re landing huge tricks and taking off going really fast, it’s nice to know that there’s a lot of ski underfoot to support you in your endeavors. The ski also has a full strength sidewall that uses a protective layer between the sidewall and the core. This not only acts as a barrier, but also adds another vertical laminate to the mix for a small boost of performance. With wider and thicker edges to add to the durable nature of the ski, Faction also uses an anti-chip topsheet that uses the upper laminate to curve over the sidewall to mitigate chips and peels. In the 178, this ski produces a weight of 1750-grams, making it sturdy enough for aggressive jumps and skiing, but light enough when combined with the weight to allow for creative and maneuverable skiing.

At 88 mm underfoot, the ski is in the sweet spot for competitive park skiing, especially for lighter skiers or for those that are looking for quickness and agility over power and stability. This Prodigy 1 definitely leans to the more playful and flexible side of the spectrum. In the 178, we get a 17-meter turn radius, and that’s a great place to be for a variety of turn shapes and styles. While the Prodigy 1 isn’t a symmetrical ski, it’s on the close side, with 120 mm tips bookended by 112 mm tails resulting in an 8 mm drop in taper from tip to tail. When you mount the ski in a more central spot, it’s going to feel quite balanced and similar both switch and forwards. With a twin tip shape and park-appropriate rocker, the Prodigy 1 is better suited to on-trail conditions and park-like terrain. The flex opens it up a bit to off-trail adventure, but overall, the ski seems happier in a manicured setting.

When it comes to freestyle prowess, we trust Faction. They make some of the best park and freestyle skis out there today, and the Prodigy 1 is a fine example of their commitment to creative and playful skiing. While the 1 is ideally suited to compete on the largest stage, it’s also got some real-world practicality to it as well. The twin tip shape and overall style of the ski is great for multi-directional skiing that holds up well to big jumps, solid landings, and aggressive rail skiing.