Faction is growing rapidly and in 2018 sold 30,000 pairs of skis into 35 countries. The skis are handmade in Europe and they test them in Verbier, Switzerland.
They’ve got a lot of new and exciting stuff for this season, including another ace movie, clothing, new skis and a monoski.
FW – GEAR FOR ALPINE LIVING
For 19/20 they are introducing clothing under the brand name FW (Forward), which they’re referring to as Gear for Alpine Living.
FW clothing combines technicality with an aesthetic that doesn’t look out-of-place back home.
At it’s core, it’s inspiring, functional clothing for mountain-ophiles.
The range includes 2 and 3 layer outerwear, insulated pieces, mid and base layers and beanies
They also have a cool wash bag called the Guppyfriend. You put your item(s) in this, bung it in the washing machine and it traps the micro-particles released from the garment being washed. The Guppyfriend is designed to help us to stop polluting the worlds waterways with these tiny pieces of plastic.
MOVIES
Faction is also a film production company and this season’s release is called The Collective. The previous movie, This is Home, was a big success with a 300-stop film tour across 32 countries and receiving over a million views online.
CANDIDE THOVEX
Candide Thovex, arguably one of the greatest skiers of all time, is part of the Faction Collective too. He’s a shareholder in the business, as well as being a Faction athlete. His videos, One of Those Days and Ski the World, have earned over 100 million views, and he has a combined following of over 1.6 million on Facebook and Instagram. To add to this, he also has seven Cannes Lion Award; he’s great exposure for the brand.
SKIS
Faction’s ski range sees some new models for 19/20, collab options in the Prodigy 2.0 and a mono. They offer women’s models, called X, in a number of the skis. The X models are the same as the men’s, but with different graphics and a slimmed down size range.
Candide Thovex (CT) skis
The Candide Thovex signature range of CT skis has new graphics for 19-20.
More importantly, there are now women’s (X) versions of the Candide skis , including the CT 2.0 X and CT 3.0 X – Yeah! The X models lose some of the longer lengths that you see in the men’s versions, but that’s all.
Faction CT 0.5
The CT 0.5 (£329/€359/$429) looks very much like it’s adult compadre, the 1.0, but is built for younger grom and teen riders. It’s available in 125cm, 135cm, 145cm and 155cm. Width is 108/79/100mm, with a radius of 11m in the 135cm length, which weighs only 1,100g.
For younger riders who want to develop their freestyle skiing, they can be confident on these planks, as they’re designed by the man himself, Candide.
Flat underfoot with long tip and tail rockers, these skis are easy to whip around. A light Poplar core provides power and pop without being too tiring.
CT 1.0
The CT 1.0 (£499/€549/$599) is the narrowest Candide signature ski, at 121/90/121mm. It comes in at 1,740g in the 1756cm length, with a radius of 17m. This is Candide’s park ski, and the poplar core keeps it pretty light. It’s an almost symmetrical twin, but the rocker is ever so slightly longer in the front than the rear.
CT 2.0, 2.0 X and 2.0 YTH
The CT 2.0 (£549/€599/$699) has the same radius as last season, at 16m in the 178cm ski, but the shape has changed, dropping 2mm at the tip at tail. It’s now 133/102/133mm, and has gained 70g up to 1,950g in the 178cm. Lengths remain unchanged at 158cm, 166cm, 172cm, 178cm, 184cm and 188cm.
The new CT 2.0 X (£549/€599/$699) has the same Poplar and Beech core as the men’s but with a different graphic and it loses 177cm-188cm options. It has weighs 1,800g in the 166cm option, with a radius of 14m.
Faction offers grom skis in the CT and Prodigy ranges, with the CT 0.5, Prodigy 0.5 and Prodigy 0.5 X.
The CT 2.0 YTH (£369/€399/$449) is not a grom ski; this is built for young riders that want a decent width underfoot (126/98/118mm) and want to be able to ski hard.
The lighter build of that kind of skier means they don’t need the stiffer Beech laminates of the adult’s CT 2.0. The YTH version is a pure Poplar core, so a bit softer and lighter. It’s flat underfoot with more rocker front and back than the full-fat version. This keeps the YTH more manoeuvrable and playful for the younger, progressive skiers. It’s also superbly light at 1,350g in the 165cm ski (also available in 145cm and 155cm).
CT 3.0 and CT 3.0 X
The CT 3.0 (£649/€699/$799) is an existing name but a new ski for this season.
It’s now 4mm wider with a 112mm waist (140-112-134mm v 135-108-130mm last season), has a longer radius of 22m (was 20m) and is only available in 169cm, 178cm, 184cm and 190cm lengths (was seven sizes from 162cm to 204cm for 18-19).
Despite getting wider, its a similar weight at 1,900g in 184cm (was 1,860g in 186cm). The ski also has a longer tip and tail rocker and more pronounced camber than before.
As you can see, the CT 3.0 X (£649/€699/$799) has a different (and better, I think) graphic than the men’s and it’s available in 169cm or 178cm. It has a radius of 16m in the 169cm ski, weighing 1,850g.
CT 4.0
The core of the CT 4.0 (£679/€749/$899) has been updated to include Pachaco wood, along with the Balsa and Poplar. Pachaco is a hardwood and is used to reinforce the core of the 4.0, as well as potentially adding a little power to this lightweight backcountry model. Available in 176cm, 182cm, 188cm, 188cm and 194cm, with a radius of 23m in the 182cm ski and weighing just 1,950g. Sidecut is 140-118-134mm.
CT 5.0
The CT 5.0 (£729/€799/$949) has also been updated with the same Pachaco reinforced core as the 4.0, and a 190cm length has been added to the 183cm option. Other specs remain unchanged: 152/122/140mm, R25m in the 183cm.
Prodigy skis
The Prodigy range also has a new graphic, featuring artwork of the Paris based Parade Studio.
Prodigy X women’s skis
Prodigy 0.5 and 0.5 X
These siblings share the same graphic as the 1.0, the 0.5 (£279/€299/$399) and 0.5 X (£279/€299/$399), but the similarities don’t end there. These also have the Poplar core and are directional twins.
These grom and teen versions are flat underfoot, rather than having camber, and available in shorter lengths.
The black and pink version comes in 105cm to 155cm versions, with a 10cm jump between each size. The white, blue and pink X version also comes in 10cm variants, but only ranges from 125cm to 155cm.
Stats: 108/79/100mm, 11m radius and 1,100g in the 135cm version.
Prodigy 1.0 and 1.0 X
Alex Hall’s weapon of choice, the Prodigy 1.0 (£419/€449/$499), has a new graphic but that’s about the only change.
The Prodigy 1.0 X (£419/€449/$499) loses the longer lengths this season, so only comes in 152cm, 158cm, 164cm and 170cm.
Prodigy 2.0 and 2.0 X
The Prodigy 2.0 and Prodigy 2.0 X, both £469/€499/$599, have changed for this season. They’ve got a 2mm wider, 98mm waist (127-98-119mm), along with beefed up flex. For men the sidecut radius for this season is 20m in the 183cm ski and for women it’s 12m in the 165cm.
The 2.0’s have also gone from being a twin to a directional all-mountain model with a longer rocker up front than at the rear. The beech has also gone and now the only wood inside is Poplar.
Men’s is available in 159cm, 165cm, 171cm, 177cm, 183cm and 189cm, while the women’s X model only offers the shorter 3 lengths.
Prodigy 2.0 Collab
The Prodigy 3.0 Collab has been replaced by the Prodigy 2.0 Collab for 19-20. Again this is a collaboration with Dragon goggles. This time it’s the turn of Peter-John de Villiers to provide the artwork of this £499/€549/$649 all-mountain styled freestyle shredstick.
Faction x Stance x Kengo Collab
On November 16th 2019, Faction released another Prodigy 2.0 Collab, with Stance Socks; the Prodigy 2.0 Stance Collab pack for £535/€599/$699. The pack includes the skis, a pair of Stance Faction Spirit socks and a pair of red Faction ski poles. The skis and socks feature graphics by the Japanese artist Kengo Kimura (he did the artwork on the Prodigy 3.0 collab of last season).
Alex Hall talks kit, competing and his future
I got to see these amazing looking skis before they were released, while chatting with big air and slopestyle legend, Alex Hall. And yes, he is as nice as he appears in videos. Oh, and did I mention he rides for Faction?
Watch the video to find out which bits of kit Alex Hall just can’t do without.
Prodigy 3.0 and 4.0
The Prodigy 3.0 (£549/€599/$699) and 4.0 (£599/€649/$799) also get the new graphic update, but again are apparently unchanged, physically.
However, the quoted weight for the 4.0 has increased by 120g to 2,150g in the 186cm option.
The women’s Prodigy X skis have artwork from long time Faction friend and collaborator Kay Flockhart.
Chapter skis
They have a new range of skis called Chapter, with 2 models.
Chapter 1.0
Chapter 1.0 (£469/€499/$579) is 86mm in the waist and designed for skiing predominantly on-piste. It’s a poplar core with a sidecut of 120-86-110mm, radius of 17m and weighs 1,750g in the 178cm length. It has more rocker in the shovel than in the tail, with standard camber underfoot.
Chapter 2.0
The wider all-mountain model, Chapter 2.0, retails at £499/€549/$629 and is 96mm underfoot. Again it has a poplar core but this time the sidecut has increased to 127-96-117mm, with a radius of 18m in 179cmm and weighing just 1,800g. This has more rocker front and back than the 1.0, but again has a greater amount of tip rocker compared to tail, with standard camber underfoot.
Dictator skis
Ironically the graphics on the Dictator skis looks really similar to last season, but the skis have all changed shape apart from the Dictator 4.0 (£699/€749/£799). Changes are as follows:
Dictator 1.0 and 1.0 X
Dictator 1.0 (£549/€599/$649) has increased to 120-86-110mm, R19m and 1,700g in 178cm, less tip and tail rocker and less camber and stiffer flex. (Was 114-85-100, R17 in 184cm for 18-19 season). Lengths have also changed to 154cm, 162cm, 170cm, 178cm and and 186cm.
Dictator 1.0 X (£549/€599/$649) is 120-86-110mm, R17m and 1,650g in 170cm, less tip and tail rocker and less camber and stiffer flex. (Was 114-85-100, R14 in 172cm). Lengths change to 154cm, 162cm and 170cm.
TESTED: Faction Dictator 1.0
I skied the Dictaror 1.0 towards the end of last season and it’s a superb all-mountain charger.
I like a drifty, playful, freeride feel in skis if I’m heading into variable snow. Even though the Dictator 1.0 is only 86mm underfoot, it offers that lovely freeride feel. It has quite a long rocker (310mm) at the front, and a shorter 180mm rocker at the back. This profile aids manoeuvrability in soft and variable snow off-piste and provides this fun, drifty nature.
It is relatively narrow though and has two layers of Titanal. This allows the 1.0 to dose a full needle of fun-inducing grip on firmer snow, and is a real blast for charging around making bigger turns on piste.
The Dictator 1.0 is a fun and playful ski for those that like to ski hard and want a freeride feel.
Dictator 2.0 and 2.0 X
Dictator 2.0 (£599/€649/$699) is 127-96-117mm, R20m and 1,850g in 179cm, slightly flatter camber and slightly longer tail rocker and stiffer flex. (Was 122-95-110, R17 in 183cm). The lengths are the same as last season, although the 175cm and 183cm options have been dropped. You can therefore select from 155cm, 163cm, 171cm, 179cm and 187cm.
Dictator 2.0 X (£599/€649/$699) is 127-96-117mm, R18m in 171cm, 1,800g, the tip rocker gets shortened and there’s a slightly flatter camber and stiffer flex from 122-95-110, R15 in 171cm. Only the shorter lengths of 155cm, 163cm and 171cm will be offered.
Dictator 3.0
Dictator 3.0 (£649/€699/$749) is 134-106-124mm, R21m and 1,950g in 180cm, with more camber and more tip and tail rocker. Again, the ski has a stiffer flex. (Was 132-105-121, R18 in 186cm). The lengths change to 172cm, 180cm and 188cm.
Prime skis
The Prime range of skis are designed as big mountain tourers – light on the way up with enough power to charge on the way down. They’ve received the same update as the CT 4.0 and CT 5.0, with the new Balsa/Pachaco cores as well as new graphics. The 1.0 has been dropped for this season.
Prime 2.0
The Prime 2.0 (£829/€899/$899), is the ‘skinniest’ model at 126/98/114mm. It has a radius of 19m and weighs just 1,550g in the 178cm length. Also available in 172cm and 184cm.
Prime 3.0
Next up is the 3.0 (£879/€949/$999), which is 10mm wider underfoot at 133/108/123mm, with a radius of 23m and weighing 1,710g in the 182cm. A shorter 177cm and longer 189cm option are available.
Prime 4.0
The fat boy of the trio is the Prime 4.0 (£929/€999/$1,099) at 140/118/132mm, with a radius of 26m and 1,900g in the 185cm. You can also choose a longer 194cm for really nailing it.
Agent skis
Faction has a new range of touring skis, called Agent, including two men’s and two women’s skis. They use lightweight Karuba cores to keep weight low and these are reinforced with carbon stringers.
Agent 1.0 and 1.0 X
The Agent 1.0 (£599/€649/$699) and Agent 1.0 X (£599/€649/$699) are 120-86-110mm.
The skis weigh 1,450g in 178cm for men and 1,390g in 170cm for women.
Agent 2.0 and 2.0 X
Getting wider, the Agent 2.0 (£649/€699/$749) and Agent 2.0 X (£649/€699/$739) are 127-96-117.
The Agent 2.0 offerings weigh 1,570g in 179cm for men and 1,500g in 171cm for women.
Monoski
They’ve also got a mono-ski for 19-20, called the Mono (£629/€699/$699). 240-192-199mm, R26m and only in 190cm. This is released in collaboration with Pit Viper sunglasses.
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