Expert Review: Faction Skis Prodigy 3.0 Skis · 2022

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Expert Review: Faction Skis Prodigy 3.0 Skis · 2022

Published on 09/23/2022 · 5 min readThis review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I purchased with my own money in December of 2021.

By Ski Expert Jake Renner

All photos courtesy of Jake Renner

About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I purchased with my own money in December of 2021.

My take

The Faction Prodigy 3.0 is perfect for the intermediate to expert freeskier looking to venture into more and more ungroomed terrain without sacrificing their stability on the downhill. This ski is playful, smooth riding, and forgiving enough for jumping while remaining stable at higher speeds and in ungroomed terrain.

About the skis I own

Model: 2022 Faction Prodigy 3.0
Size: 184cm

About me

Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165lbs
Experience: 26 years of skiing

Test conditions

When I bought these: December 2021
Days used: 25
Mount position: True Center
Boots: 2020 Full Tilt Drop Kick Pro
Boot Size: 27.5
Bindings: Salomon Warden MNC 13
Where I’ve used it: Timberline Resort, Mt. Hood, OR; Copper Mountain, Aspen, Aspen Highlands, CO
Terrain: Resort and side country, terrain park, slush, powder, ungroomed chop, groomers

How they perform

Carving

4/5

Durability

4/5

Flotation

5/5

High Speed Stability

5/5

Turn Ease

4/5

Versatility

5/5

What I was looking for

I was looking for a ski that remained stable at higher speeds but forgiving on jump landings. Something that could keep afloat on those powder days without forsaking its ability to hold edge on hardpack. Stability and playfulness along with versatility… Basically, I was looking for a unicorn.

Why I chose this gear

The 106mm underfoot width was perfect as a powder-friendly, hard-charging daily driver with a nod toward the freestyle/freeride direction. The Prodigy 3.0 has plenty of float for fresh snow and ungroomed terrain while still getting up on edge if on hardpack.** **I did consider buying alternatives such as the Nordica Enforcer 104 Free but the prodigy constantly remains more affordable and a bit more playful.

What I love about them

Speed: The Prodigy 3.0 holds up very well at higher speeds with very minimal to no chatter in the tip or tail.
Edge hold/Turns: The Prodigy 3.0 holds its edge with ease. Full tail rocker and camber underfoot keeps this ski relatively easy to pivot and link turns from edge-to-edge with a medium-long sweeping turn radius of 20m in 184cm length.
Powder: The 106mm underfoot waist provides plenty of float in fresh snow while the full tail rocker makes it fairly easy to pivot and maneuver.
Trees: The Prodigy 3.0’s are easy to pivot in the trees due to their full tail rocker.
Park: They’re a tad wide for the park, but the shape of this ski with rocker/camber/rocker and almost symmetrical design plus a well-balanced flex really make it feel at home in the park.
Backcountry: The Prodigy 3.0 provides float when I’m breaking trail and skiing fresh snow while remaining stable when I start to charge hard—even in ungroomed, choppy terrain. Camber underfoot keeps this ski feeling responsive; it’s definitely recommended for the aspiring freeskiers getting into more ungroomed terrain.
Durability: The Prodigy 3.0 has held up well for me so far; the one improvement I’d voice would be to include a continual edge wrap in the tip and tail, as this seems to be the weak point.
Weight: The middle-ground weight keeps this ski well balanced and stable at high speeds and in variable terrain.
Switch riding: The Prodigy 3.0 skis switch and carves well thanks to the nearly symmetrical rocker patterns and tip/tail.
Stability: Camber underfoot provides enough pop for jumping while the well-balanced flex keeps this ski rather stable. Yet there’s enough flex in the tip and tail to press into some butters. It’s a well-balanced ski for freeskiers looking to get into some of those spicy, big-mountain lines.

Issues I’ve encountered

Groomers: At 106mm underfoot, this ski does require a little bit more emphasis and energy to get up on edge while on hardpacked snow. It carves with a slightly wider turn radius than something I’d prefer for groomed terrain.
Moguls: The Prodigy 3.0 keeps on top of ungroomed terrain with ease, but lining up a zipper with quick turns in the moguls isn’t easy—a bit wide for moguls.

Favorite moment with this gear

I think one of my favorite moments with this gear is when we all got to take part in the 2022 Faction Demo as Curated Experts at Copper Mountain, CO. We had a train of about 10 of us hitting jumps, each on next year's 2023 Prodigy's, one after another. It looked wild seeing the underside graphic of this ski flashing as we spun and grabbed our way to Apres!

Value for the money vs. other options

The Prodigy 3.0 has been on the up and up over the last handful of years to the point where I feel confident in their construction to say that this ski is worth the money and is more affordable than similar options, such as the Nordica Enforcer 104 free.

Final verdict

The Faction Prodigy 3.0 offers enough float in ungroomed terrain while still getting up on edge and remaining stable at speed while on hardpack. Light camber underfoot allows this ski to have enough pop for jumping while remaining playful in the tip/tail for landing and buttering. In my opinion, Faction Prodigy 3.0 is one of the best skis out there for freestyle skiers dappling in the freeride/big mountain realm.

Faction Skis Prodigy 3.0 Skis · 2022

We price match
Returnable

5.0

Jake Renner

Ski Expert

I've skied my whole life, starting in New Hampshire at age 3. As a teenager I started to compete in rail jams, slopestyle, and big air events and continued as a young adult. I attended Season 3 Salomon Jib Academy at Loon Mountain(2009), USASA Slopestyle, and Skiercross National competitions two years in a row representing Team NY (2011) and Team MA (2010). Nationals was the first time I had been able to ski in Colorado- I have returned several years later to Colorado, this time, I'm here as a coach. It is now my 6th year coaching freestyle skiing, I have found my way to Aspen, CO. Along the way, I've also coached freestyle skiing in the Berkshires, MA and at Carinthia, Mount Snow, VT. Many athletes through our program go on to compete in the X-Games and Winter Olympics. It's a great honor to be able to share my passion and skill set with the future of skiing! Coming out of the North East/Ice Coast we don't get as much snow as other places and its drawn me into creative ways of skiing. For example, I've hiked and skied Tuckerman's Ravine on Mount Washington, NH several times in May and April. This is the true back country on the East Coast- gnarly ice falls, avalanches, ripping snow melt rivers, and unpredictable weather at any moment combined with the physical exertion of boot packing! Such a rewarding journey, it puts the phrase, 'earn your turns' into perspective. Although Tuckerman's is a true back country experience, avalanche conditions were almost never on my mind when it came to skiing in the East. On the contrary, my brother and I were constantly building jumps, rails, and other jibs, as well as seshing urban handrails at schools, townhalls, libraries, etc.... our internal dialogue was more like, 'Oh shit, the cops are coming! Get one more rail hit!' I've made it to Colorado and the doors swung wide open! I skied more powder this last season than I've probably skied in 5 years of my life! Now its time to take my bag of tricks from the Terrain Park to Big Mountain! Want to come Shred?

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