Dynastar has a lot of great new skis to review--the 108 is definitely on the list! In our experience on it this winter, we found it to be smoother and quieter than the previous version, but not quite as peppy or energetic.
This is a review I've been really looking forward to. Haven't watched it yet, but I have a feeling this may be my next pair of skis. Thanks in advance for a great review (I'm confident it will be awesome).
Where do you think these new 102 and 108 ripsticks really differ from the playmakers? Obviously directionality but any other main performance differences?
The tail reactivity is the biggest difference. I skied the Playmaker 101 in the 188 and it felt a lot more like a Rustler 10 in that they loved making longer, rounder, and more drawn out carves while easily pivoting sideways. Ripstick 102 and 108 are easy to drift and smear when the snow is soft, but you do get that extra snap and pop out of the tail that creates a more energetic feel. Other than that, I can't tell much of a difference in the front 2/3rds of the Ripstick 102 vs. the Playmaker 101.
Thanks for this review - answered nearly every question I have. Digging the ski, a little perplexed on sizing. 175 to 182 skips over every length I’ve owned recently. 180 was my sweet spot snd coming from a 177 ranger fr 102 and planning to use this in tight spaces - trees/chutes in BC. You state that the ripstick skis short - Would 182 be the move?
In terms of maneuverability, the 101 is easier to throw sideways due to the tail rocker, but the Ripstick has a more flexible shovel. This gives it an easier initiation phase with a stronger finish due to the directional nature of the ski. In softer snow, bumps, and trees, the 101 is more mobile while the 102 is peppier at the end of the turn.
I do like when you say reactive because I can relate to that.. You mentioned the Mantra 102 and I demoed that.. It was a long day and I had demoed another pair of skis before the Mantra 102 but I did not really push the ski.. It sounds like both skis aren't reactive.. How would you say the Ripstick 102 compares to the Bent Chetler 100?
The 2025 Bent 100 is more consistent in flex from tip to tail and slightly more stable and sturdy than the Ripstick 102. Even with the more directional tail of the Ripstick, I do not find that it stands up to stronger or more aggressive skiing as well as the Atomic.
Wouldn't making the RipStik line lighter, softer and thinner make it more of an overlap with their Rupstick tour ski? I owned a RipStik 88. Pretty soft ski already imo....am I missing something?
You are not missing anything. We do not feel that the new Ripstick skis are moves towards higher performance and greater stability. They are easier to turn at various edge angles for more skiers. The lighter weight does bring the touring capabilities more in line with the Tour series which has not sold well at all in the North American market at least.
This is a good thought. We did not move the bindings at all on this ski. I'm not sure how that would affect heavier skiers like me since I'm likely going to push right through the flex no matter what.
How woudl you choose size for these ? Being around 180lbs i tend to ski 10 c longer than my heihgt for directional skis, but for that kind of skis what would you recommend ?
Hopefully we do a good enough job with the chapters so you can scroll to the parts that are of more interest to you. Since this is a full review of the ski, we certainly want to make sure we do our due diligence and cover as much as we can. When we release our ski test videos sometime this August, those will be more concise and pointed--about 5-6 minutes each.
