The Dynastar Thread

[chewski]

Since everyone is done with edge bevels i will share my experience skiing m-fee 108's this year. I'm 6', currently 185lbs (normally at 175 but just had another kid so a little softer and doughier than years past), and 36 y/o. Have and like 189 BG's (pre-asymm), 186 bodacious, 184 devastators, the og manageable charger 187 xxl's.

First day on them was a light, dry storm in mammoth skiing lower mountain lifts due to wind closures and timing some sweet powder runs on 22 during brief openings. For those in the know there are medium steep pitches of widely spaced trees under chair 25, some nice steeps in the avy chutes, and lots of soft bumps and consolidating chop as you ride back under 22 towards the bottom. The mf108's were unbelievably natural for me on this day. Zero adjustment period and very intuitive. I was very impressed with their float for 108 and never wanted for any of my 118-135mm skis despite the deeper snow. If i pressured the tips they popped to the surface. In trees they were dead easy for me despite their length. I was very impressed.

The next trip up was during a super wet, manky storm (even by sierra standards). It was raining in town and just snowing on the hill. Multiple feet were dropping day after day and mid mountain lifts would periodically open during breaks in the wind. During this trip i saw a few weaknesses starting to form for me. Everything was grabby and manky and wanted to suck your skis downwards unless you had a lot of speed. I skied a few runs on my buddy's lotus 138's and obviously had a blast, but I don't fault normal skis for not keeping up in these conditions with a super fat r/r. I don't think the mf108 did any worse than any other "normal" fat, powder oriented ski in the thick and grabby conditions and i still had a lot of fun overall. What i noticed, though, was that the crud piles were more set up and denser than the last storm and the mf108 couldn't just punch through it. I feel like my other skis would have but I didn't have them to compare. As long as I stayed centered more than forward in crud (these skis like forward in pow), they were definitely ok, but less than I hoped.

The third trip i took these up i brought my 186 bodacious to compare and happened to also get on my buddy's 186 mindbender 108ti. It was yet another storm at mammoth, so lots of fresh new snow and soft chop on the lower mountain (weather holds up top). The bodacious reminded me of just how manageable it is while truly being in a different class of stability. I would jump on the mf108 and began to realize that if i got off the tongues of my boots and stood more upright that it could definitely get the job done in chop that wasn't too firm. And after trying out the very impressively carving, popping and floating mindbender 108ti, i was quite pleased to realize the 192 mf108 was easily still more stable in chop than that ski. But every time I tried the bodacious again it was no competition.

The fourth trip I rode the mf108 was 2 days after a storm and mammoth had been so hammered with snow for so long we hoped to time the opening of the top. However the mountain opened two hours before closing the day before and got moderately tracked out in that time. Combined with high winds and instead of a dream pow day it was really varying states of consolidating crud, moderately heavy/wind loaded leftovers, and some firm blown off areas. This was actually fine with me because it's prime conditions for really testing a ski out, and I brought my on3p billy goats to compare. I always suspected there were very few times i would prefer the mf108 over the BG's, but this was the day to find out. i rode the thick pow, firm crud, soft groomers and wind scoured steeps back to back and honestly the mf108 were done for me at this point. They were never faster or easier to ski than the bg's and I knew that the few things they were better at (carving on new snow days and SOFT and LIGHT pow) were too specific of conditions in the sierras to ever choose the mf108 over the bg. I even had a buddy with the same size boots as me and we swapped skis and i did a few laps on his super 7's and could even ski those faster than the mf108. they definitely weren't burlier, but their pop and float and maneuverability were greater than the mf108 and to to my surprise allowed me to actually charge harder, but not as much as the bg. This is when i knew the mf108, while being VERY competent, was not the goldilocks combo of burly or forgiving for my style.

[kid-kapow]

Having skied the mfree 108 at +1.5 I wouldn’t recommend it.
The ski has too much camber in the tail so going forward feels awkward, even most of the dynastar pros that are really jibby only go +1 (Sander etc).

Unless you’re a jib machine to line probably provides the best skiing

thanks for this comment, to provide context to my mount - it is very much a second half of the season mount. Aka when you can let them run and you are into skiing / on form. 192 +1.5 were dreadful for early season billygoating. But man, they were equally magical when things have filled up a bit.

I've since sold them though (in spite of assessing them as one of the best skis I've been on), so not skiing perfection for me at least. But they are great skis

I have 293 mm bsl boots, but they’re race boots with decent amount of forward lean. On the line feels good on my 192s. But I haven’t tried them elsewhere.

I can't ski anything but 12 degrees Langes for the life of me. I tried my Lange xt3 140lvs with the spoilers, took them out aftre two runs - they did not work for me at all. So really upright stance from a small, not strong skier with shit techniquee. So take my input with more than a grain of salt wrt mount point.

[mr_pretzel]

thanks for this comment, to provide context to my mount - it is very much a second half of the season mount. Aka when you can let them run and you are into skiing / on form. 192 +1.5 were dreadful for early season billygoating. But man, they were equally magical when things have filled up a bit.

I've since sold them though (in spite of assessing them as one of the best skis I've been on), so not skiing perfection for me at least. But they are great skis



I can't ski anything but 12 degrees Langes for the life of me. I tried my Lange xt3 140lvs with the spoilers, took them out aftre two runs - they did not work for me at all. So really upright stance from a small, not strong skier with shit techniquee. So take my input with more than a grain of salt wrt mount point.

No reason to bag on yourself! I'm also in 293mm lange plugs so more forward lean, but I'm also a bit taller (6,1).
As you said the ski actually becomes harder to ski going forward vs on the line. This is often the case with skis with a lot of camber, the tails become unwieldily.

[kid-kapow]

As you said the ski actually becomes harder to ski going forward vs on the line.

good point - I mounted the 182s forward to get a bit more into the stronger midsection of the ski to make the ski feel stronger (something they did, especially the 99s), whereas I mounted forward on the mf118 189s and mf108 192s to get a better balance. Both mounts worked great for me and my needs.

[ma4b86]

Since everyone is done with edge bevels i will share my experience skiing m-fee 108's this year. I'm 6', currently 185lbs (normally at 175 but just had another kid so a little softer and doughier than years past), and 36 y/o. Have and like 189 BG's (pre-asymm), 186 bodacious, 184 devastators, the og manageable charger 187 xxl's.

First day on them was a light, dry storm in mammoth skiing lower mountain lifts due to wind closures and timing some sweet powder runs on 22 during brief openings. For those in the know there are medium steep pitches of widely spaced trees under chair 25, some nice steeps in the avy chutes, and lots of soft bumps and consolidating chop as you ride back under 22 towards the bottom. The mf108's were unbelievably natural for me on this day. Zero adjustment period and very intuitive. I was very impressed with their float for 108 and never wanted for any of my 118-135mm skis despite the deeper snow. If i pressured the tips they popped to the surface. In trees they were dead easy for me despite their length. I was very impressed.

The next trip up was during a super wet, manky storm (even by sierra standards). It was raining in town and just snowing on the hill. Multiple feet were dropping day after day and mid mountain lifts would periodically open during breaks in the wind. During this trip i saw a few weaknesses starting to form for me. Everything was grabby and manky and wanted to suck your skis downwards unless you had a lot of speed. I skied a few runs on my buddy's lotus 138's and obviously had a blast, but I don't fault normal skis for not keeping up in these conditions with a super fat r/r. I don't think the mf108 did any worse than any other "normal" fat, powder oriented ski in the thick and grabby conditions and i still had a lot of fun overall. What i noticed, though, was that the crud piles were more set up and denser than the last storm and the mf108 couldn't just punch through it. I feel like my other skis would have but I didn't have them to compare. As long as I stayed centered more than forward in crud (these skis like forward in pow), they were definitely ok, but less than I hoped.

The third trip i took these up i brought my 186 bodacious to compare and happened to also get on my buddy's 186 mindbender 108ti. It was yet another storm at mammoth, so lots of fresh new snow and soft chop on the lower mountain (weather holds up top). The bodacious reminded me of just how manageable it is while truly being in a different class of stability. I would jump on the mf108 and began to realize that if i got off the tongues of my boots and stood more upright that it could definitely get the job done in chop that wasn't too firm. And after trying out the very impressively carving, popping and floating mindbender 108ti, i was quite pleased to realize the 192 mf108 was easily still more stable in chop than that ski. But every time I tried the bodacious again it was no competition.

The fourth trip I rode the mf108 was 2 days after a storm and mammoth had been so hammered with snow for so long we hoped to time the opening of the top. However the mountain opened two hours before closing the day before and got moderately tracked out in that time. Combined with high winds and instead of a dream pow day it was really varying states of consolidating crud, moderately heavy/wind loaded leftovers, and some firm blown off areas. This was actually fine with me because it's prime conditions for really testing a ski out, and I brought my on3p billy goats to compare. I always suspected there were very few times i would prefer the mf108 over the BG's, but this was the day to find out. i rode the thick pow, firm crud, soft groomers and wind scoured steeps back to back and honestly the mf108 were done for me at this point. They were never faster or easier to ski than the bg's and I knew that the few things they were better at (carving on new snow days and SOFT and LIGHT pow) were too specific of conditions in the sierras to ever choose the mf108 over the bg. I even had a buddy with the same size boots as me and we swapped skis and i did a few laps on his super 7's and could even ski those faster than the mf108. they definitely weren't burlier, but their pop and float and maneuverability were greater than the mf108 and to to my surprise allowed me to actually charge harder, but not as much as the bg. This is when i knew the mf108, while being VERY competent, was not the goldilocks combo of burly or forgiving for my style.

Interesting write up! Owning both BG 116(184) asym, mfree108(192) and mfree118(189), I'm in the proces of comparing these skis aswell.

I've skied the BG for several seasons and love them to death. Recently got the two Dynastars.

Me: 200lbs 5' 11''. Prefer traditional mounts for most skis with camber(Billy Goat, Cochise, Pescado), but enjoy progressive mounts for fully rockered skis like Hoji and lotus138.

First impressions of the 118 was more surfy and pivoty than BG in dry snow. The float is more under the boots than in front like the BG. They did not react well to the slightest forward pressure in deep snow though, tip diving all over the place. This made me ski a little less confident than the BGs when in deep snow. In chop they were great, and meybe even better than BGs. I'm guessing this comes from the longer and deeper cambered section than the BGs. Need to get more days on them in deep snow to find out if I'll keep them along with the BGs.

I have less time on the 108, but I felt their family resemblance to 118. Stable in chop, quite playful but quicker edge to edge, and more comfortable in the crud than 118 in the afternoon. I'll have to try them side by side with the BGs to compare. If they're not better in crud than BGs I'll have to let them go.

Both the Dynastars are a ton better at carving than BGs, but this is something I don't really care about for my 100+mm skis.

Camber/rocker comparison of mf118 vs BG


Still debating which two pairs to bring for holiday in BC next month!

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[CaliBrit]

Picked up a pair of 192 mfree 108s from Ptex1's sale. In no hurry to mount them up, but contemplating mount point. Seems like most people here are on the line or a little in front...?

I'm -4 from TC on my current DDs (old sickles) and am thinking -6ish for these. I know this has been discussed ad nasuem here but what is the general consensus?

Wait. What’s this sale?

Edit: last spring right?

[Mofro261]

Probably close to 1,000 days collectively on these since 2007.



150 or so on mfrees. Quite a bit more camber in the new ones vs the 2.5yro ones but I don't notice any real change in soft snow performance, maybe better bite on hard snow.



On the line at 292 and zero tip dive for me but I haz natural float in spades. It's a perfect ski for Alpental imo.

[ASmileyFace]

Wait. What’s this sale?

Edit: last spring right?

https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...ring-sale-!!!! Send him an email and see. He hooked it up for sure.

Sounds like the line is the way. Anyone got a cheap pair of pivots laying around lol, I don't want to pull bindings off any skis yet but now I want to get these things mounted up!

[chewski]

150 or so on mfrees. Quite a bit more camber in the new ones vs the 2.5yro ones but I don't notice any real change in soft snow performance, maybe better bite on hard snow.

Hmmm I assume you mean the camber got skied out over 150 days? Or are they getting pressed with more camber

[PeachesNCream]

Not to beat a dead horse re mount point buut, is moving the mount point forward going to make the mfree more playful? I usually like mounts around -6 and prefer a more upright stance. The 192 mount point is -8.25 and I'm reusing a mount that had a 10mm shorter bsl. If I'm using the same mount, that'd put me back 1 cm? Is my math right?

If my math is right, that'd put me at -9.25 from center. I like a lot about the ski but its not as playful as I'd like, before I sell and move on, is it worth it to move the mount forward 1.5 to 2 cm of recommended? I read the blister review and what I gathered was that moving the mount forward is going to cater more towards a centered stance but not make the ski more playful necessarily so in that case, maybe just time to move on?

[waxoff]

Not to beat a dead horse re mount point buut, is moving the mount point forward going to make the mfree more playful? I usually like mounts around -6 and prefer a more upright stance. The 192 mount point is -8.25 and I'm reusing a mount that had a 10mm shorter bsl. If I'm using the same mount, that'd put me back 1 cm? Is my math right?

If my math is right, that'd put me at -9.25 from center. I like a lot about the ski but its not as playful as I'd like, before I sell and move on, is it worth it to move the mount forward 1.5 to 2 cm of recommended? I read the blister review and what I gathered was that moving the mount forward is going to cater more towards a centered stance but not make the ski more playful necessarily so in that case, maybe just time to move on?

No, your math is wrong. It would move your boot center 0.5 cm back, i.e. at -8.75. I'd say just keep 'em there.

[Mofro261]

Not to beat a dead horse re mount point buut, is moving the mount point forward going to make the mfree more playful? I usually like mounts around -6 and prefer a more upright stance. The 192 mount point is -8.25 and I'm reusing a mount that had a 10mm shorter bsl. If I'm using the same mount, that'd put me back 1 cm? Is my math right?

If my math is right, that'd put me at -9.25 from center. I like a lot about the ski but its not as playful as I'd like, before I sell and move on, is it worth it to move the mount forward 1.5 to 2 cm of recommended? I read the blister review and what I gathered was that moving the mount forward is going to cater more towards a centered stance but not make the ski more playful necessarily so in that case, maybe just time to move on?

If the ski was mounted for a boot 10 mm shorter at midsole, this puts you 5 mm back if they were originally on the line. Just remounting the toe 1-1.5cm forward would put you 0.5-1cm in front of the line.

edit- Waxman got it-yeah unless you want to try +1 I'd leave them alone.

[kid-kapow]

Quite a bit more camber in the new ones vs the 2.5yro ones

how much of that is down to the Tecton brakes gently clamping them together?

Not to beat a dead horse re mount point buut, is moving the mount point forward going to make the mfree more playful?

Define playful. More balanced in the air / underfoot? Sure. Looser, depends - but probably not - they are super loose on the line. You can ski them centered or forward in both spots.

I've found that moving the bindings further into the stronger section underfoot (aka forward) will make them feel like more ski, not less -> if less = more playful, then no, moving forward will not radically change how they ski.

The 192 is arguably a reelatively strong ski that is loose, not a jib stick made directional by moving the mount back. Moving the mount around will not drastically alter the feel of the ski, more do minor tweaks to their perceived strength / balance.

[Mofro261]

how much of that is down to the Tecton brakes gently clamping them together?

from this pic I'd go with none?



I had pivots on the older ones for the first 1.5 yrs before I remounted them for a travel ski and then kept skiing them full time, got the new ones because I'd rather beat on pivots than break tectons at some point skiing in bounds. I'm pretty sure I've just beat on them enough to make them flat.

[kid-kapow]

from this pic I'd go with none?

hah, interesting - thanks for snapping thee second pic.

They prob started out the same though. I wonder if you can tell them apart in variable in terms of suspension, or as you say on hard snow wrt grip.

[ma4b86]

Not to beat a dead horse re mount point buut, is moving the mount point forward going to make the mfree more playful? I usually like mounts around -6 and prefer a more upright stance. The 192 mount point is -8.25 and I'm reusing a mount that had a 10mm shorter bsl. If I'm using the same mount, that'd put me back 1 cm? Is my math right?

If my math is right, that'd put me at -9.25 from center. I like a lot about the ski but its not as playful as I'd like, before I sell and move on, is it worth it to move the mount forward 1.5 to 2 cm of recommended? I read the blister review and what I gathered was that moving the mount forward is going to cater more towards a centered stance but not make the ski more playful necessarily so in that case, maybe just time to move on?

FWIW team rider Richard Permin skis them at +2 from recommended. Mounted mine on the line, but curious about trying more progressive.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[D(C)]

Not to beat a dead horse re mount point buut, is moving the mount point forward going to make the mfree more playful? I usually like mounts around -6 and prefer a more upright stance. The 192 mount point is -8.25 and I'm reusing a mount that had a 10mm shorter bsl. If I'm using the same mount, that'd put me back 1 cm? Is my math right?

If my math is right, that'd put me at -9.25 from center. I like a lot about the ski but its not as playful as I'd like, before I sell and move on, is it worth it to move the mount forward 1.5 to 2 cm of recommended? I read the blister review and what I gathered was that moving the mount forward is going to cater more towards a centered stance but not make the ski more playful necessarily so in that case, maybe just time to move on?

If you already have holes you can reuse, you might as well try that first. I would say +/- 0.5 cm is in the realm of not noticeable.

Also, I personally find the tails on the 192s feel pretty strong and I don’t think I’d want more tail sticking out behind me.

[mn_teleswede]

Just picked up a pair of 192's and after a quick glance, I don't see a boot center mark or dimple to mark the -8.25cm recommended point.

Everyone just doing a 86.6 straight pull from the tail, or am I missing something?

This will fill the middle of a 3 ski quiver: 98mm, 108mm, 119mm

[chewski]

There are two raised bumps along the side of the topsheet

[PeachesNCream]

Define playful. More balanced in the air / underfoot? Sure. Looser, depends - but probably not - they are super loose on the line. You can ski them centered or forward in both spots.

I've found that moving the bindings further into the stronger section underfoot (aka forward) will make them feel like more ski, not less -> if less = more playful, then no, moving forward will not radically change how they ski.

The 192 is arguably a reelatively strong ski that is loose, not a jib stick made directional by moving the mount back. Moving the mount around will not drastically alter the feel of the ski, more do minor tweaks to their perceived strength / balance.

Sounds like a more forward mount isn't what I'm looking for, thanks.

If the ski was mounted for a boot 10 mm shorter at midsole, this puts you 5 mm back if they were originally on the line. Just remounting the toe 1-1.5cm forward would put you 0.5-1cm in front of the line.

edit- Waxman got it-yeah unless you want to try +1 I'd leave them alone.

No, your math is wrong. It would move your boot center 0.5 cm back, i.e. at -8.75. I'd say just keep 'em there.

Ah you guys are right. The heal is 10mm back, but the midsole would be 5mm back. And I was thinking of mount 1-1.5 cm forward of recommended, but based on what I've read and commented here, its not what I'm looking for.

[shroom]

half a day on the 192 mpro 108

it’s a big dawg. i haven’t gone that fast in a minute. or been on a comp-ish build. i giggled a lot. i waited at the bottom a lot. the tips had a bit more chatter than i would have guessed, but they flat out truck. edge hold is familiar coming from mfree but much more power. they want the fall line but still give me ‘hero’ ski feeling in that you can weight center and chose turn shape at slow/fast speeds. did not ski meaningful soft snow but I assume float is similar to mfree based on top/round flex in general and assumotion you will carry more speed relative to mfree108 down the fall line. but you’d ski em different. not playful on 2d and liked big turns but really controllable and stable if your eyes are tracking far enough out.

sorry, no good comparisons to give to the marquee legacy skis.

[roQer]

edge hold is familiar coming from mfree

Alas shitty. I’m always astonished about the difference between my Mantra 102 or Bonafides and MF108 in edge hold on icy hardpack. MF108 pretty much sucks and both others are almost a joy. But anyway, that’s not what they are made for.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Alas shitty. I’m always astonished about the difference between my Mantra 102 or Bonafides and MF108 in edge hold on icy hardpack. MF108 pretty much sucks and both others are almost a joy. But anyway, that’s not what they are made for.

Soft groomers are alright but they aren’t confidence inspiring on harder snow. I’m in the camp of wanting a flatter stiffer tail with a stiffer less tapered tip. I’ve been kinda meh on some popular TGR skis but I think it’s because I’m 6’5” 245


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Eluder]

Probably close to 1,000 days collectively on these since 2007.



150 or so on mfrees. Quite a bit more camber in the new ones vs the 2.5yro ones but I don't notice any real change in soft snow performance, maybe better bite on hard snow.



On the line at 292 and zero tip dive for me but I haz natural float in spades. It's a perfect ski for Alpental imo.

I have noticed that mine have lost some oomph at this point. I still love them where they shine but they don't handle the chop as well as they did when new.

[tharmor]

Not my sale but could potentially facilitate:

Dynastar M-Pro 105 Pro Rider 192cm $375 Brand New

https://classifieds.ksl.com/listing/70768606


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums