Expert Review: 2023 Faction Dancer 2 [with Video]

Published on 08/31/2023 · 6 min readSki Experts Hayden Wright and Brandon Westburg tested the 2023 Faction Dancer 2 skis at Powder Mountain in Utah.
Hayden Wright, Ski Expert
Brandon Westburg, Ski Expert
By Curated Experts Hayden Wright and Brandon Westburg

Curated Ski Experts Hayden Wright and Brandon Westburg got their hands on the 2023 Faction Dancer 2 this spring and put it to the test at Powder Mountain in Utah. Check out how it performed in the carving and freeride categories, but consider the fact that each and every skier is different. If you have any questions about the Dancer 2 or need recommendations on which ski would be best for you, reach out to a Ski Expert here on Curated.

One final point before we dive in: It's worth noting that Curated Experts are not sponsored by any brands. All of these reviews are completely unbiased.

Brand Claims

What does Faction claim about this ski? [Hayden] Faction states this is the all-mountain crud-busting, jamming ski.

[Brandon] Faction says that the Dancer 2 is a go-to for groomer performance and all-mountain bliss, has 96 underfoots, and has a nice solid waist width to get the most out of groomers and around the rest of the mountain as well.

Overall Impressions

What is your overall impression of this ski? [Hayden] Two razor-thin sheets of Titanal all-metal go out throughout the whole way of this ski paired with a wood core. It's burly; it wants to be road hard and put away wet. It's a fun ski.

You got a little bit of early rise, which is going to help because it's only a 96-millimeter underfoot. It is 96. It's got an early rise and a decently sized shovel so the 96 underfoot is really going to help the ski perform off the groomer trails. If you end up getting a sleeper pow day with this, the ski is going to want to be pressed and driven hard.

With the two layers of metal, the ski does ski a little bit heavier. So with that being known, if you're not looking for that crud-busting, burly hard ski, the Dancer 2 might not be for you.

[Brandon] I really like this ski. Again, with my ski racing background out of New England, I skied hardpack all my life, and this is a really awesome ski. I didn't expect it to quite have the edge hold as I expected. I expected it to be a little clunky. It was a little too stiff for my liking, but I really adjusted to it after a few runs.

It was a super fun first run. It threw me for a loop. It was a lot stiffer than I thought, and before I figured out that you really have to work and drive this ski, I was having a little bit of trouble enjoying it. Upon taking a few more runs, I did figure out what the ski was all about and realized that it loved to take those longer radius turns. I had a great time on it the rest of the afternoon. Definitely, my number one ski that I skied today, plowing through that snow. And it does excellent in the variable terrain.

Carving

How does it turn? [Brandon] Looking at the turning radius of this ski, it is 19 meters, which is a little surprising for me, being 96 underfoot. I'd expect it to be a little bit lesser, but it was fun. This thing loves longer radius turns. If you're a skier for slower speeds and looking for a ski that's easy to get edge to edge, this wouldn't be quite for you. Since this has a larger turning radius, it loves to make those long carving turns.

Looking at the tip Faction claims, it's about a seven stiffness up towards the tip, a 10 stiffness underfoot, and an eight or nine at the tail. So you do have to work very hard and put a lot of energy into this ski to get it to turn properly and ski it like it should be skied.

What about dampness? Any chatter in the ski? [Brandon] On those icier days or firmer days, on groomers, or around the mountain as well, this is really going to have your back. No chatter whatsoever. I got to ski a variety of terrain at a variety of different speeds. I didn't experience any chatter out there at all on this thing. So definitely expect this to hold a great edge on all terrains and be a great ski for both East and West.

Freeride

How about uneven terrain and chunder? [Brandon] I had a lot of fun on the variable parts of the mountain snow pack and conditions-wise today. Talking about the stiffness again, this plows through anything in its way. There was some chop; there was some chunder yesterday. We had a bit of a slushy day, and this ski is really a do-it-all for plowing through most all snow packs in variable to terrain.

Where in the country would you find yourself having the most fun on these skis? [Brandon] West Coast, if you are more of an all-mountain skier/powder skier, I would think you can go a little bit wider underfoot, 96 underfoot on the Faction Dancer 2. If you're a West Coast skier, mostly groomer-oriented, this would be a great ski to rip the groomers with. It will have your back on edge hold and will still rip it up all-mountain as well. And if you guys are looking to get into a bit more powder, I would definitely suggest sizing up an underfoot just a little bit.

You guys receive a little more snow out here than we do on the East Coast. I was born and raised in New England, so two inches today. We had an East Coast powder day out here. This would be a supreme, hard-charging, all-mountain and groomer ski for the East Coast. You'll have a great time on it.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend this ski to? [Brandon] Again, touching on the stiffness here, you do have to work hard to drive this ski. Coming from a ski racing background myself, that's something I really enjoy. There's some Titanal in the core, and it works a bit harder to get the ski edge to edge. So if you're more of a lackadaisical skier, looking for a fun groomer ski that'll rip at slower speeds, this might not be for you. But if you are a hard-charging groomer and all-mountain lover, this ski would be amazing for you.

What advice would you give about this ski? [Brandon] If you're looking to grab this ski, don't get disappointed with your first couple of runs. It definitely does take a couple of runs. If you're looking to grab the Faction Dancer 2, definitely be prepared for a little bit of adjustment coming off your current skis. The ski is stiff and does take a lot of work to actually have this ski work and carve the way it should.

If you want help finding the best ski for your needs, chat with Hayden, Brandon, or any other Ski Expert here on Curated. We’ll help you get unstuck and find the right skis for you with free, personalized recommendations. Note that the 2024 version of the Faction Dancer 2 is linked below - same tech, just different graphic:

Ask them a question – you'll get a custom response within 24 hours!
Hayden Wright
Ski Expert
Brandon Westburg
Ski Expert
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