Thread: DPS 112 vs. S7

I tried the S7 here in Whistler yesterday in full spring conditions and absolutely hated them. Can anyone compare it to the DPS 112? To be fair, I'm looking for whatever ski I go with to be used for touring so it wasn't the desired setting,but after yesterday I wouldn't take the S7 for free - too bad because I was really looking forward to it. Previous day was on TyFoon skis and really liked them.

demo a pair of w112rp at escape route?

they are pretty different... they for sure SKI very different. the shape of the tip and tail rocker is very different, as well as how it interacts with the sidecut and flex pattern.

i found the s7 best at windshield wiper turns, where the w112rp skis more engaged on edge, is more directional, but is still loose in fresh snow.

They sold them. I was hoping to try them today.

the dps demos are out in nelson i believe right now, and are not due back for a bit. sorry about that.

feel free to pm me if you have any further questions. no problem.

hopefully fuhrter folks that have been on both skis can chime in.

Super 7 floated a little better and had one more speed level on the volume knob 10 vs 9 for DPS. But swingweight, groomed performance and shape was less hooky on the DPS. Actually carved rails on DPS while S7 would slightly carve. Never skied regular S7 so can't comment. I got RP112 to replace super 7 and it pretty much has. If it's waist deep out come the megawatts. DPS is really good ski for what it is: versatile, light, quick, stable and floaty. Can be used anywhere and even in really deep still fun.

Dynamike I have Whistler demos -- I've PM'ed you.

Skied both, Super7's @188 and the 190 112RP's. I spent a lot more time on the DPS skis than the Rossis.

I didn't get to try the rossi's in the best conditions - groomers and hard windcrust over 3". However I used the DPS on multiple days in lots of conditions and they killed it. I thought they were a much more versatile ski. Easily engages edges, great flex pattern, in the deep they are very floaty, loose and fun.

I skied the S7 for at least 20 days this winter. Most of those days in some amount of new snow as there hard snow performance was marginal. The S7 is an easy ski in powder as you can not sink the tip. I found it a little sketchy in crud, seems to get knocked around easily. I recently got the 112 and find it to really excel in almost any conditions. It will edge in even really hard conditions, but will loosen up if you flatten it out. Soft snow is awesome, very intuitive feeling ski. Anyway that is the jong take on these two skis.

If you have a chance and are still willing to give the S7 a chance, get on the 11.12 Super 7 in a 188cm. The metal changes how the ski handles crud and skied up maritime snow. Ski it 2cm back as well. It a new ball game for sure.

Originally Posted by khyber.pass

Dynamike I have Whistler demos -- I've PM'ed you.

Slight hijack: Is this the closest demo pair to Seattle? I'd really love to try these out, but haven't made it up to Whister at all this season.

As of this weekend I put my Dynafit FT12's on 2011/12 S7's 188cm (black). It's a suprisingly light setup, the 2012 G3 skins have new tail clips that handle the turned up tails no problem.
The reason is I've skied the 195cm Super 7 all season in bounds and when going touring on my Dynafit Stokes, I was just over it, too soft, unstable at speed, I wanted to be on a progressive shape 5-Dim center mounted ski to handle everything and huck off of stuff like in bounds, ie a slack country ski. The S7 skis and tours amazingly. I rarely used my highest heal riser before as I'd hit the traction limit on the previous setup. Now I can stomp up steep skin tracks effortlessly. We actually skinned up the Stairmaster to the last 10m since the spring snow was too soft for bootpacking.

So having now skied the S7, I definitely can see the limitations in variable inbound conditions, at high speed I have to stay focused. The super S7 195cm is a freight train in comparison, much more damp with the titanal layer. I felt at home on the S7 in the soft snow but for me it's not enough ski for inbounds duty, but perfect slackcountry setup. Heck I'd have to not ski and just do a traverse to consider not using the S7.

So I guess it depends on how you ski, I know some decent skiers that just didn't like the S7, but plenty that have done the same as me. They hated touring on their traditional skis after skiing a progressive ski in bounds.
Thanks to Matty Richard and Hoji who inspired this change. I ran into Matty at Steep Creek hut and he shredded the Duffy lake backcountry, up and down, in his 188cm super 7s with FT12's.

I haven't tried DPS yet, but hear great things about them also. I think you could get a super light setup going that way. I just get good pricing on Rossi stuff.

The s7 feels so different to so many people. I have to wonder if its a preference only thing or if mount point is getting in the way. Mine are at the 0 line and I think they're great as an "all mountain" ski. They stay on edge well, they're nimble etc etc. However, I don't share the "Can't sink a tip" sentiments. Maybe everyone who is mounting the ski back is liking the powder performance / unsinkability but trading off a lot of all mountain performance.

In my opinion they are not powder skis. In fact, "powder" (true, open, honest to goodness powder slay-age) is where I least like them. I do, however, like them in tighter places (tree, billgoats), groomers, bumps and everywhere else.

I haven't skied the 112, although I would love to. Basically everything DPS touches is gold and you can count on it being a terrific ski. If I had the cash, I would have no reservations buying it sight unseen. DPS has a penchant for making each of its skis being one of the best in its respective categories.

Originally Posted by jaobrien6

Slight hijack: Is this the closest demo pair to Seattle? I'd really love to try these out, but haven't made it up to Whister at all this season.

PM'ed.

Lots of "I'd love to try DPS!" comments here. PM me, demos float around, try and get you sorted for next season or if you're out West around Whistler, hit me up. Blackcomb closes May 30th, and we're still rockin' the W112RP (Pures!) on hardpack. They rail. Hybrids are a bit more forgiving. I have both ready for the licking...

188 s7's for me with dukes for inbounds/sidecountry (love these, mounted at -2 cm)
190 w112rp pures with dynafits for touring mounted on the line (still getting used to these)
I find that they ski differently (dps mount is quite a bit back relative to the S7)
and flex profiles are quite different as well

From the perspective of a girl who is more of a finesse skier than a hard charger. I skied the S7 (though not the Super S7) and now own the DPS Yvette 112RP Pure.
Both skis were fine in powder and Sierra powder, but the Yvette excelled when conditions tracked out. There were times on the S7 that I got the feeling that I could easily wheelie out, and I felt a little punished when I got stuck on a traverse, but I never got that with the Yvette, which let me relax a little more and ski longer into the day.

As always YMMV.

Originally Posted by XtrPickels

The s7 feels so different to so many people. I have to wonder if its a preference only thing or if mount point is getting in the way. Mine are at the 0 line and I think they're great as an "all mountain" ski. They stay on edge well, they're nimble etc etc. However, I don't share the "Can't sink a tip" sentiments. Maybe everyone who is mounting the ski back is liking the powder performance / unsinkability but trading off a lot of all mountain performance.

In my opinion they are not powder skis. In fact, "powder" (true, open, honest to goodness powder slay-age) is where I least like them. I do, however, like them in tighter places (tree, billgoats), groomers, bumps and everywhere else.

100% agree with this assessment.

I found the S7 tips want to sink in the deep, light stuff at 0. Move them back 2 and they are better, but back inbounds I want them at 0. IMO these ski's would benefit from something like the Schizo.

Other than that, for me it's a fun, easy ski to ski that works great in a wide variety of conditions.

Originally Posted by SnowHot

From the perspective of a girl who is more of a finesse skier than a hard charger. I skied the S7 (though not the Super S7) and now own the DPS Yvette 112RP Pure.
Both skis were fine in powder and Sierra powder, but the Yvette excelled when conditions tracked out. There were times on the S7 that I got the feeling that I could easily wheelie out, and I felt a little punished when I got stuck on a traverse, but I never got that with the Yvette, which let me relax a little more and ski longer into the day.

As always YMMV.

SnowHot, would you mind saying what length S7 and w112's you've been on?
Thanks

Originally Posted by khyber.pass

PM'ed.

Lots of "I'd love to try DPS!" comments here. PM me, demos float around, try and get you sorted for next season or if you're out West around Whistler, hit me up. Blackcomb closes May 30th, and we're still rockin' the W112RP (Pures!) on hardpack. They rail. Hybrids are a bit more forgiving. I have both ready for the licking...

sorry to hijack, but i'd love to give the 112's a demo before I leave whistler if you have a pair avail; even in the slush :s

The 112's blew away the S7's in equal conditions. Thanks to khyberpass for setting me up.

Originally Posted by hoarhey

SnowHot, would you mind saying what length S7 and w112's you've been on?
Thanks

I skied both of them in a 168.

With my stats 5'6" 130lbs, I may have liked a longer length, but seriously, I loved the 168 Yvette so much that I decided I didn't need to demo a different length.
After, when you strike oil, stop drilling.

Originally Posted by SnowHot

I skied both of them in a 168.

With my stats 5'6" 130lbs, I may have liked a longer length, but seriously, I loved the 168 Yvette so much that I decided I didn't need to demo a different length.
After, when you strike oil, stop drilling.

Thanks for posting that up.
Cool that you're stoked on the yvettes...

Originally Posted by shure2

sorry to hijack, but i'd love to give the 112's a demo before I leave whistler if you have a pair avail; even in the slush :s

All demos are now at Escape Route and available for FREE demo throughout May! HOORAY! Spread the word. You will however need a cc# imprint. Demos at ER:

W112RP 190 Hybrid -- Jesters
W112RP 190 PURE -- Griffons
W112RP 178 Hybrid -- Griffons

Sorry no touring mounts, so bring your alpine booties.

Originally Posted by dynamike

The 112's blew away the S7's in equal conditions. Thanks to khyberpass for setting me up.

When I had S7's, I had all sorts of trouble with them, tried a different mount but still no joy, so sold them.
Got the 112's Hybrids & found the limited time I've had on them to be the ski S7 should of been... superior all round.

I think my problem is I'm a heavy MOFO around 220lbs.
What's your body weight? That may be a factor for no love on the S7?

Originally Posted by lurk

When I had S7's, I had all sorts of trouble with them, tried a different mount but still no joy, so sold them.
Got the 112's Hybrids & found the limited time I've had on them to be the ski S7 should of been... superior all round.

I think my problem is I'm a heavy MOFO around 220lbs.
What's your body weight? That may be a factor for no love on the S7?

185 lbs in my birthday suit. Despite all the love out there for the S7, it was the worst ski I've ever been on (that should stir the pot a little).
Mr. Drake some more Kool-Aid please!

"Worst ski I've ever been on"? Uh, might not have worked for you, and design may not be as novel as a few years ago, but still solid for its mission. Which was never a big mountain charger.