Thread: DPS Spoon 150

Originally Posted by Cordova Kid

Originally posted by Marshall - "this spoon shape starts to engage at the point that a normal flat ski starts to dive. and then keeps going... so like really from dragging your hip in pow super powerful GS type deal."



I would agree, how's this gonna be on a steep technial slope? Almost sounds like if you go to engage your edge to slow down you don't. I like slarvy skis as much as the next guy/gal but I also like my skis to stop or slow down when I need them to. I understand the boat hull design and how it works on water and how loose they are when you throw them into a turn before they engage and that's not really the feeling I want on steeps unless I have lot's of space like a bowl.

So I guess I'm not completely sold, seems like your sacrificing performance for performance. And how are they gonna do skinnin up
So until I ski 'em, I guess I wont know for sure.

I had this thought too. Its cool that they are thinking outside the box, and an interesting concept. And obviously I haven't tried it, so what do I know, but I do like the idea of not only being able to turn and float, but also to stop as well lol.

Originally Posted by Cordova Kid

I would agree, how's this gonna be on a steep technial slope? Almost sounds like if you go to engage your edge to slow down you don't. I like slarvy skis as much as the next guy/gal but I also like my skis to stop or slow down when I need them to. I understand the boat hull design and how it works on water and how loose they are when you throw them into a turn before they engage and that's not really the feeling I want on steeps unless I have lot's of space like a bowl.

So I guess I'm not completely sold, seems like your sacrificing performance for performance. And how are they gonna do skinnin up
So until I ski 'em, I guess I wont know for sure.

I think that at dps they aren't so foolish to do a mistake like this, infact imho in the video they give us the proof with some turn really closed and powerfull at 26" and maybe even the last one. maybe i'm too much optimist

Originally Posted by Cordova Kid

Originally posted by Marshall - "this spoon shape starts to engage at the point that a normal flat ski starts to dive. and then keeps going... so like really from dragging your hip in pow super powerful GS type deal."

I would agree, how's this gonna be on a steep technial slope? Almost sounds like if you go to engage your edge to slow down you don't. I like slarvy skis as much as the next guy/gal but I also like my skis to stop or slow down when I need them to. I understand the boat hull design and how it works on water and how loose they are when you throw them into a turn before they engage and that's not really the feeling I want on steeps unless I have lot's of space like a bowl.

So I guess I'm not completely sold, seems like your sacrificing performance for performance. And how are they gonna do skinnin up
So until I ski 'em, I guess I wont know for sure.

I'm pretty sure you missed the point dude.

Originally Posted by Huck_Schmuck

I'm pretty sure you missed the point dude.

Me too then. The video didn't look all that different to any other fat rockered pow slayer.

Still, props for going outside the box, even if GaryWayne did it first.

The Altai really did it first. But then again there may be somebody before them just not recorded. Back then they were just concerned about usage and float not sales or marketing. But really the pow video is nice but it's just turns in pow which maybe 50 other skis can make. Anyways back to your regularly scheduled marketing.

Originally Posted by Cordova Kid

Almost sounds like if you go to engage your edge to slow down you don't. I like slarvy skis as much as the next guy/gal but I also like my skis to stop or slow down when I need them to. I understand the boat hull design and how it works on water and how loose they are when you throw them into a turn before they engage and that's not really the feeling I want on steeps unless I have lot's of space like a bowl.

So I guess I'm not completely sold, seems like your sacrificing performance for performance. And how are they gonna do skinnin up
So until I ski 'em, I guess I wont know for sure.

I think you are over estimating the effect of the base shape. My feeling is that the convexity will just soften the transition of bringing the ski across the fall line, giving you more control over turn shape. See the comments about it not being all that different from watching Stephen ski 138s, except that the turns are smoother and a bit more exaggerated. IMO, skis over about 125mm, r/r excluded, ski kind of harsh at speed, unless you can let them run in a mostly straight line. That's the market segment I see improving greatly as this concept trickles down.

As for the comments re GarryWayne, it isn't the idea of a convex base that is revolutionary. It will be the mfg process that allows skis to be built with convex bases, different flex patterns and shapes, and provide durability that will mainstream this tech. Whether DPS has figured it out, is yet to be seen.

Originally Posted by Chowda

I think you are over estimating the effect of the base shape. My feeling is that the convexity will just soften the transition of bringing the ski across the fall line, giving you more control over turn shape. See the comments about it not being all that different from watching Stephen ski 138s, except that the turns are smoother and a bit more exaggerated. IMO, skis over about 125mm, r/r excluded, ski kind of harsh at speed, unless you can let them run in a mostly straight line. That's the market segment I see improving greatly as this concept trickles down.

As for the comments re GarryWayne, it isn't the idea of a convex base that is revolutionary. It will be the mfg process that allows skis to be built with convex bases, different flex patterns and shapes, and provide durability that will mainstream this tech. Whether DPS has figured it out, is yet to be seen.

Your probably right, it's just fun to play the "what if game"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGmPg6ahGtU

Originally Posted by hop

Me too then. The video didn't look all that different to any other fat rockered pow slayer.

Still, props for going outside the box, even if GaryWayne did it first.

[hint]it's a quiver ski[/hint] ;-)

Originally Posted by Huck_Schmuck

[hint]it's a quiver ski[/hint] ;-)

Oh, I thought it was for something less obvious.

For the reasons stated above I also wonder if the super slarve might be too loose for powdery steep techy areas like AK spines but it doesn't really matter to me since I have yet to ski in AK and if/when I do, I'm probably not going to be on Spoons.

Originally Posted by hop

For the reasons stated above I also wonder if the super slarve might be too loose for powdery steep techy areas like AK spines but it doesn't really matter to me since I have yet to ski in AK and if/when I do, I'm probably not going to be on Spoons.

Word.

5678

I think these skis will be very specialized. Having put some time on 138s (AK included) it would seem that the spoons will simply let you continue the slarve initiated without ditching speed. Obviously this could be a little much for many areas, especially anything technical where you need to cross the fall-line or change things up in a hurry. But imagine a giant rolled over AK spine, 38-45 degrees, and you are just laying down these massive slarves without losing any speed, simply crossing the fall line cause it seems like a good time to make a left turn, after planing a right turn for the last half hour or so. That might just be game changing.

^I think that's the beauty of a 45 degree AK spine. it's steep enough that you can make a slarve without ditching speed on a regular ski. the spoon will give you this feeling on low angle terrain. what will hucking, straight lining, and stopping on steep shit be like on this ski? I imagine it would be scary......

This may be a stupid question... but, do they even make skins this wide?

^^ Split Skins. Then again cause of the convex base they would need to be fully covered to be used in a flat skin track. Its a heli, cat sno mo ski. Or you can just be the guy that breaks trail all day long. In all seriousness skinning should not be that hard its just skins would be very ski specific and could be used 10 times a year. Wide skins = expensive skins.

g3 makes a 140mm and BD makes a 145mm skin.

i use a 130mm on a lotus 138 with great results.

saw the spoon today in the dps shop in sugarhouse. this has already been pointed out by the " i think you missed the point" response, but this is not a ski for technical terrain.

Always fun to see what stephan and pete are dreaming up. may it bring in new pow styles and/or approaches as it seems it may just do. . .

Sure is sexy to hold it in your hands and dream of what you could do with a huge interior bc powder pillow session, all though not its true use. 7 tier drops to a huge wide canvas of runout spiced with a few natural booters here and there. . . .

goooooooood fuckin' times.

Any one on the waiting list yet??

Btw worth mentioning, if any of you are in Whistler, travelling through, cougar hunting or couch-surfing, I have DPS skis to play with. Just PM me.

Originally Posted by hop

Oh, I thought it was for something less obvious.

For the reasons stated above I also wonder if the super slarve might be too loose for powdery steep techy areas like AK spines but it doesn't really matter to me since I have yet to ski in AK and if/when I do, I'm probably not going to be on Spoons.

I personally fondled these skis at the heli pad in Haines last year. I could be wrong but I'd be surprised if Stephan Drake (or whoever had them) brought them all the way to Haines to test them on 25 degree powder fields.

I think I would have a pair if I heli skied AK for 2 or more weeks a year. They just seem to specialized for anything else.

Did any mags actually ski these this season?

Hey all, I have received countless pm’s, emails, etc over the last two weeks regarding where the Spoon project sits, and I want to fill in those curious. Long story short, the prototype Spoon v.3 was tested extensively this past spring, and now Spoon v.4 is exiting the prototyping stage and entering production.

I have attached a few photos of the Spoon v.3 from last spring, to show where the ski design is headed. It features a few departures from the original v.1 and v.2 designs. These changes tune the soft snow performance and make for a more capable firm snow ski.

Stephan spent an entire 3-week AK trip skiing Spoon v.3 in March. During that time he experienced a wide range of conditions, from wind-board to epic all time powder. I also spent some quality time on Spoon v.3, and skied everything from soft steep pow, to 2” of mank, and even got the pleasure to test it on top of rain crust.

The changes illustrated in v.3 were done based on our learning from the v.1 and v.2 prototype skis. These initial prototypes illuminated what traits we were after, and WHERE these traits should be present in the turn shape.

The idea we’ve been chasing from the start was a ski that found the perfect balance between 'slide' and 'rail'. In other words, the skier should be able to feather the ski into long, planing fall line slides; then, at will, stand on the tail, accelerate across the fall line, and experience a tight driving turn. This opens a new level of creativity and intuitive interaction with terrain that was previously closed to a skier.

Throughout these three prototype stages, the convexity of the spooned shovel became increasingly deeper and more pronounced to promote the slippery feeling at the beginning of the turn that lets the skier easily dictate the eventual turn shape. At the same time, the cleats underfoot became progressively smaller to introduce a small amount of rail into the mid-section of the turn, this allows the rail to dominate the turn finish.

In the rapidly approaching Spoon v.4 production ski, the mid-body cleats disappear in favor of a single radius rocker profile borrowed from 5 years of development on the Lotus 138. This single radius rocker is complemented by a deep bevel to the metal edge through the mid-body.

We made the move for both practical and design-based reasons. The single radius underfoot rocker combined with the increased edge bevel has the same net performance as a mild underfoot cleat, and is an easier solution to manage, from both a manufacturing and maintenance standpoint. With this new design, you can now easily stone grind and apply the correct wax to the Spoon. This enhanced finishing accentuates the ability to plane in powder, engage smooth and clean drifts, and power across the fall line at high edge angle.

The cleat concept allowed us to explore the outer reaches of powder ski feel and tune back accordingly to the exact formula of slide and rail. The goal of the ski was to create a 100 percent dedicated powder surfing tool. This ski is not intended for use inbounds. It is a 150mm waist, rockered, spooned powder ski. There is no claim of versatility. That said, I have been able to make turns on the Spoon v.3 in both good and bad snow. I felt totally in control and confident on horrible rain crust, and the design is certainly safe and effective to turn, control speed, and stop in bad snow conditions.

Props to you guys for continued envelope pushing, Stephan!

keeewwwll