DPS Wailer 112RP (aka my wallet is in for a beating)

[Core Shot]

nevermind, they gave an even suckier score to the lotus 120
i think its the reviews that suck


Flotation/Surfability 4.05 / 5
Stability at Speed 2.35 / 5
Forgiveness/Fun 3.13 / 5
Crud Performance 3.07 / 5
Hard Snow Integrity 1.60 / 5

[dps]

The Lotus 120 is an Editor's choice for Skiing magazine this year, and the 112 was reviewed super well and also a top choice. Not quite understanding the correlation with the numbers. Ski tests.

[JFE24]

Anyone get 'em in yet? If so, let's post a picture or two of these warlocks.

I've got a couple of on snow pictures from a review I posted last May, and I have a bunch more shots if these don't do it for you:

[ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193348"]Review: DPS Wailer 112RP Pure, 190cm - Teton Gravity Research Forums[/ame]

[khyber.pass]

Skiing's review doesn't correlate with their Editor's top picks, nor do its numbers really correlate with the blurb. Huh?

They also picture the 112RP in blue, which is the women's edition, despite their review stating "gender: male". I didn't know skis have genders -- only their owners do. I'll have to look closer next time. Maybe it has something to do with throwing trannies --- last time I tried that in the park, the sex worker's union got angry.

* Truly though, if some 200lb gorilla reviewer was riding a 112RPW at 160cm, that might explain the wack numbers and lack of straightlining ability. Or maybe the reviewer was also throwing trannies?

[whyturn]

The Freeskier magazine has it rated as one of the highest indy skis. One of the highest rated skis in the entire test, the DPS Wailer 112RP is a ski that everyone can enjoy. “Light as a feather and the ultimate pow tool,” one tester said. “A surf-like feel that tears apart the entire mountain.” Scores
Carving: 3.4
Playfulness: 4.4
Stability: 4.2
Float: 4.5
OVERALL: 16.5 - -- we'll see. Still waiting on my pair, hopefully soon since I ordered back in April......

[khyber.pass]

^^ Does Freeskier have it's reviews online somewhere? Or print only? Searching..

[whyturn]

http://www.freeskier.com/buyersGuide...roduct_id=1265
Weird, magazine print version has differnt numbers....????

[whyturn]

Sad Friday, no tracking info, RP112 is not shipping this week, bummer..............

[khyber.pass]

^^ Soon. I was just on the phone with DPS Ship HQ, and they are on it. ;p

[whyturn]

The reviews are all over the map. The print version of freeskier has it as 4/5 carving, 4.3 for playfulness and stability and 5/5 for float/powder. Only other indie with higher score was gambit from Folsom. But other reviews of skis I've skiied are pretty accurate. But magazines have been bought off so grain of salt....
Can they live up to this thread, time will tell. My mark will be Super 7. Loved everything but weight.

[whyturn]

Reviews are BS since they don't admit who tested them. Could be DPS reps for all I know. But they act like they haven't seen the review. Whatever. The mags will review it and the truth will come out. I really hope it is as good as it it sounds, most don't live up to the hype. There is only one NOAA....

[khyber.pass]

DPS reps don't review skis for magazines -- no ski company reps do. That would be some unclassy shit.

That said, it's not obvious from point scores on what kind of terrain the ski is being tested, nor to what a 5 corresponds. The DPS skis score highly when reading the copy, which is written according to the ski's expectations. I.e, the Lotus120 is a powder ski. It should be tested in powder and powder-like conditions, which is what it was built for.

I highly suspect the Skiing scores especially are from reviewers testing all skis on hardpack groomers, and scoring accordingly, which is why there is such discrepancy between the numerical scores and the text.

Freeskier seems better, like their numerical values actually correspond to the conditions the ski is designed for.

In short, the numbers are a wash unless contextualized against terrain and ski use, not to mention the reviewer ability. Having your accountant ski a pair and then write a review isn't very valuable (seen this!) which is why reviews here on TGR, Wildsnow and other online communities are, frankly, much more accurate.

[marshalolson]

ski magazines are for looking at the pictures.

[whyturn]

My comments on reviews were because rep was asking where hey were. I get subscriptions for info on gear and resorts and articles on skiers.
The blower pow picture from Jh for pow test is sick. Ligare killen it.
If microbrew trst was done in utah BC at the cliff drop that's cool. But hard to tell. Pics motivate me and since were both photogs we appreciate A good shot

[whyturn]

So Marshall what's up with the shop? Are you doing other stuff now? Hope you didn't have to get a real job lime the rest of us lackeys. Please tell me your like a heli guide or some cool shit like that.

[pfluffenmeister]

^^^ dude, he's pimping carbon fantasies.

iirc, he did ski testing on the RP112 (and others) via heli in ak last season.

PS i just opened a package today and 'lo and behold, contained within was a 190 hybrid Lotus120

[hoarhey]

stoked for you pfluffen...
but your skis are not pre-order skis
still waiting to hear on those being shipped
any day now...

anyway congrats on our new boards.

[marshalolson]

If microbrew trst was done in utah BC at the cliff drop that's cool.

the microbrew test was done at copper on a spring slush day. not seen the actual picture, but i know that the spot they were shooting was a classic 1 turn wonder between cat tracks, according to them - as i was there on that day (not testing, just hanging in the tent).

i actually handle dealer sales for dps. really love the gig, and something i have put 15 years of effort in temp'ing, repping, and accepting rediculous work schedule and low pay to work my way up. and you are correct, i no longer post reviews beyond my personal opinion and just try to present information and compare/contrast between models. i know that somewhere in there is a bias, so i try to present my opinions in that light and not get over zealous about trumpeting the brand.

i do know that boxes head out almost every business day, and th schedule emailed out is fairly accurate. it all is organized by invoice number. feel free to pm me your invoice number if you have specific questions and we can sort out where you are if needed.

[whyturn]

So how is float a 5 on a spring slush day, weaksauce. Whatever, I'll put em through the paces.... Baker in November...powhound seeking 190cm brown box. So why yellow Marshall?

[SnowIsGood]

anyone know where to find these things? I heard they would be going on sale this year but I can't find em or see if they live up to the company hype.

[The Dad]

Yes. www.dpsskis.com has a list of dealers. And if you'll post where you ski, you may have some luck finding demos.

[Beyond]

Assume few of you are actually testers, but FWIW, I had a longish (chair ride, then food) with a tester a coupla years back out west. He tested for Skiing, several other allied mags. Apparently not uncommon to have the same folks used over and over. In terms of what's below:

Reviews are BS since they don't admit who tested them/

He said most magazines think anonymity is desirable, probably because such a small core of testers. Ski Canada has extensive profiles that rank skis for each tester, Skiing and others usually just bio testers, offer quotes from testers who had best reactions, then an editor actually writes the copy. (Which is one reason the verbal summary often has no relation to scores.)

That said, it's not obvious from point scores on what kind of terrain the ski is being tested, nor to what a 5 corresponds.

He said for financial reasons, most tests are done at one resort, they try to hit as many terrains as possible, but conditions often are way below prime for powder. May be why they seldom go ballistic for wider skis.

But cannot agree about Freerider; their scoring system really weights "playfulness," which may be important for doing backcountry air, but not on my short list when I'm maching a chute.

In short, the numbers are a wash unless contextualized against terrain and ski use, not to mention the reviewer ability. Having your accountant ski a pair and then write a review isn't very valuable (seen this!) which is why reviews here on TGR, Wildsnow and other online communities are, frankly, much more accurate.

He said that except where noted (intermediates skiing intermediate skis, for instance), all testers are experts, usually well known in community. Probably some bias toward PSIA instructors, which will then skew results toward carving. Didn't mention my accountant.

ski magazines are for looking at the pictures.

Amen.

IMO, real issue is not unqualified testers, or even bad snow the day of the test, it's that white tape or other b.s. doesn't prevent testers from giving high scores to the skis they already like/use. Or think the average skier in their market will like. And it's such a small number of testers per ski that if one reacts strongly, that'll skew the average a lot. So year after year, systematic biases of one or two people get passed on.

[Kai]

My RED Carbon 190cm RP112's arrived at my doorstep today. Beautiful skis. Winter is still a long ways away. It's going to be a difficult wait.

[hoarhey]

time to start impregnating those bases with mucho wax.
Ask skifishbum about that...
Congrats.
Looking forward to receiving mine

[lurk]

My RED Carbon 190cm RP112's arrived at my doorstep today. Beautiful skis. Winter is still a long ways away. It's going to be a difficult wait.

I'm hoping mine will arrive before this weekend (190 Hybrid) , so I can ski em.
Although they may need a little more flight time to get here..