DPS Spoon 150

[zeroforhire]

^. I was wondering the same thing. Wouldn't the skin have a hard time adhering to parts of the ski? (the spoon in particular).

[Bird Blaster]

I don't think this ski is designed for skinning....

[The Snow Troopers]

Met w/ Stephan for a few minutes yesterday to video him and his one of three pairs of the new Spoon ski.

http://thesnowtroopers.com/2011/denv...s-spoon-12811/

[2nd mate]

I think I see whats going on with the shape and it's freaking cool. Seems that the shape is just more into the future, waaay into the future, of pre-loading a shape that performs with less resistance. The convex base makes me think of the 2008 Powder gear guide with Seth on the cover and his Maden's kind of looking like they were flexing in a convex manner. Cant wait to see more.

[fouldsys]

The one think I've been scratching my head at for a while is if the topsheets are convex as well, which they appear to be from the pictures I have seen. So then is there a flat area underfoot to mount bindings on? One would think that a convex top sheet + flat binding base = trouble. I'm more interested in the construction of these skis than how they actually ski. I'm guessing they built in a convex shape to the mold, but then how would then get a flat area underfoot? Do they mill a convexity to the base of the core underfoot before pressing it or something?

[spindrift]

There is a rectangular flat area laid in there to allow for a standard binding mount. Pics from a distance likely will not really show it. But it is there.

[hop]

The convex base makes me think of the 2008 Powder gear guide with Seth on the cover and his Maden's kind of looking like they were flexing in a convex manner. Cant wait to see more.

My guess is that those Made'ns were probably pre-Hellbent prototypes.

[nickwm21]

Base graphic is way too similar to PMG

[Arno]

Base graphic is way too similar to PMG

i heard they had a patent on that graphic

[jerr]

Base graphic is way too similar to PMG

I heard that I've heard that... yaaawn

[marshalolson]

Base graphic is way too similar to PMG

the stripe on the base is 100% functional. the stripe was put on there so there would be no funny business at the point of convexity... ie. the base would shift, wrinkle, un-evenly stretch in the really crazy mold otherwise.

i am fairly sure pat does a similar deal for a functional reason similar to above as well.

i can tell you pat helped stephan source a few materials for this project (which was super helpful and righteous), including the base, and well not speaking for him, am 99% sure he would not fell like his toes are being stepped on.

[nickel]

neat... The process for pressing this creation must be ridiculously involved... is it a wood core that is being pressed into the cleat shape? I'm sure dps have it more than figured out if they're putting it on display, but I can't help scratching my head about how they get whatever materials are being used to hold this extreme shape. Definitely interesting and innovative!

[Knut]

An awesome design and great thinking off of worn-out paths! It sounds like it's making sense and it looks beautiful (the design - I give a shit for graphics), which in combination normally accompanies a revolutionary idea. Would love to try them.

But:

stephan got 2 days on them in jackson between OR and SIA.

his personal thought is "this is the future of powder skiing". strong statement coming from him.

Does DPS need quite some money or investors' attention or something like that, that you guys make such a fuzz on a completely new prototype that just has 2 days field testing? Or is really about some patent race?
Although it's probably necessary nowadays I prefer the silent mad scientist's way of trying, changing, trying all over again in the secret basement lab and end up with something that at least in some hands has proven to be what it's announced for.

[marshalolson]

the project has been in development for 1.5 years in formal design stages... and it was announced with no huge PR push... all the buzz is based on the product, and not some ridiculous salomon BBR hype machine. the current model was released only after stephan had really favorable reviews of it in the real world. its not "ready", but its 95% there. how much more ready should it be before being announced?

at this point DPS needed to find the market's receptivity: if you are going to sink a ton of cash into developing a really out there production model, you want to be sure folks are interested. ie. if there was much different feedback, development would slow for sure. but given the feedback, the goal will be to have a production model in a year (or maybe two if the shaping does not play nicely and needs some tweaking with the pure carbon construction).

and yes, you need to press the core into shape... without affecting the flex pattern or weakening the core. so, its a fine balance, but that seems to be sorted out.

[Ender]

Cheers to the DPS guys for going to crazy town on ski design. Be very interested to hear the reviews and try this puppy out.

[Evmo]

Looks pretty awesome. I guess my fear is technical entrances you rely on 4 points of contact, and if 1 of 4 catches you get levered like f.

That said, in pure perfect pow they seem to make sense. This may have been said before, but could there be an eventual push for convex base forward and aft of rocker points, with a flat base underneath, leaving that effective edge while still getting somewhere close to the impact of the full convex base?

[mr_gyptian]

the project has been in development for 1.5 years in formal design stages... and it was announced with no huge PR push... all the buzz is based on the product, and not some ridiculous salomon BBR hype machine. the current model was released only after stephan had really favorable reviews of it in the real world. its not "ready", but its 95% there. how much more ready should it be before being announced?

at this point DPS needed to find the market's receptivity: if you are going to sink a ton of cash into developing a really out there production model, you want to be sure folks are interested. ie. if there was much different feedback, development would slow for sure. but given the feedback, the goal will be to have a production model in a year (or maybe two if the shaping does not play nicely and needs some tweaking with the pure carbon construction).

and yes, you need to press the core into shape... without affecting the flex pattern or weakening the core. so, its a fine balance, but that seems to be sorted out.

How many concept cars never make it to market?

I think this is awesome that DPS is pushing the envelope in this fashion. While other companies are still wrestling with rocker you guys have once again moved the pow ski technology the next level.

[Jer]

I bet that Spoon thing would really suck when you're trying to impress all your gaper friends by firing off a billion perfectly carved turns on tha gnarly blue groomer directly under the chair!! The evolution of ski design stopped with the head Supershape!!! The debate is over!!!

[karpiel]

I bet that Spoon thing would really suck when you're trying to impress all your gaper friends by firing off a billion perfectly carved turns on tha gnarly blue groomer directly under the chair!! The evolution of ski design stopped with the head Supershape!!! The debate is over!!!

So little effective edge! How will it grip on hard snow??!!

Someone should let hockey players know their edges aren't long enough to really grip...

[SouthCentralShralper]

Hockey players ski like they are on skates.

Skates are for ice, Spoons are for blower.

[ChowdahRidah]

Does the spoon deliver the powder directly to the brain for the desired effect or is it for free bassing?

[DAFTC]

[ame="http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212534"]Teton Gravity Research Forums[/ame]

[The Suit]

Just got an email from DPS linking to a spoon video.

Not sure what it says about the ski, but it's clear that Stephan is a much better skier than I am.

[skimaxpower]

^^ It sure looks like the Spoon makes smearing turns easier.

Meh. It means that mediocre dentist skiers will now ruin the pow just like the snowboarders.

[SimB]

Just saw the clip in the e-mail and to quote Skimaxpower, Meh. Don't think it's a ski for me, looked to smeary for my taste.