Tl;dr: Born in 1963 in the Chamonix Valley, Dynastar has a rich pedigree of alpine skis and gear. Today, the brand offers the following four ski categories for the average consumer: all-mountain, on-piste, freeride, and touring.

As a teenager, I spent three years skiing the Alps, and every time we went to our favorite resort, KitzSki, in Tirol, I would rent a pair of Dynastar skis. The brand is synonymous with highly technical European alpine skiing, so it's becoming even more popular here in America.

Today, I use one of Dynastar's main competitors, Dynafit. The two brands are similar regarding an intermediate-to-expert-focused lineup for technical skiing, such as touring and freeriding. So, whether you're a beginner looking to become an intermediate or expert rider or have been skiing with Dynastar your entire life, this guide will provide the details you need to make your next ski purchase. As always, contact one of our Curated Ski Experts if you'd like to talk directly to someone instead.

What Are Dynastar Skis?

Located in the heart of the Alps, Dynastar has become known as one of Europe's premier multi-specialist ski brands. They're currently owned by Rossignol. When I say they have a pair of skis for everyone, I genuinely mean it. Whether you're looking for powder-capable freeride skis or a pair of on-piste skis that will power you to a Sunday Beer League victory, Dynastar has you covered.

The brand's four main categories do a great job of providing a well-rounded offering for the average consumer. While they do officially offer a high-end line of racing skis, they aren't necessarily geared for the average consumer.

What to Consider When Buying Dynastar Skis?

What type of terrain are you going to ski?

This is the most critical question you should ask yourself when buying new skis. Most manufacturers offer different categories of skis based on the type of terrain they're meant for. For instance, Dynastar offers an entire category dedicated to skis meant for on-piste terrain. At the end of the spectrum, they carry a whole line of skis dedicated to freeriding. So, before you even start determining the correct length, it's essential to understand the different categories the brand offers.

While shopping within ski categories is an easy way to narrow down your options, it's also essential to recognize the subtle differences between Dynastar skis in the same category. For instance, the Dynastar M-Free Skis are offered in 90 mm and 108 mm waists. These two models have the same rocker-focused profile but have drastically different waist sizes. Later in this guide, we'll dig into this concept to help you find your perfect pair of Dynastar skis.

How Tall Are You?

Picking out the right length when shopping for a new pair of skis can seem tricky, but unless you're a brand-new skier or taking a step up skill-wise, you can usually opt for the same length across brands. However, if you need a reference, check out our Curated Ski Sizing Chart!

How Much Money Should You Spend?

When it comes to skis, generally, the more specialized you go, the more expensive it gets. To illustrate this point, let's look at the Dynastar M-Menace 80 Skis. These are solidly within the brand's all-mountain category and, as a result, are good options for beginners looking to take a step toward becoming an intermediate. They're $429.95.

On the other hand, let's look at a more specialized option — the Dynastar M-Free 108 Skis. These are nearly 30 mm wider than the Menace skis and are geared towards exclusively freeriding and powder runs. They're $799.95. So, when trying to figure out how much money you should spend on a pair of new Dynastar skis, it's helpful to consider what level of specialty you're after.

Different Types of Dynastar Skis

Dynastar offers four main categories for the average consumer: all-mountain, on-piste, freeride, and touring. Let's take a closer look at each.

All-Mountain

Hence the name, this category of skis revels in versatility. This is an outstanding category if you're looking for an option with good value since it offers moderate capability in various conditions found on the whole mountain. Usually, most skiers start with all-mountain skis, especially if they get their first pair in adulthood.

Benefits:

• Extremely versatile, giving you a moderate level of capability anywhere at a resort
• Usually less expensive than more specialized skis

Be Aware:

• Typically favor on-piste conditions more than freeriding conditions

On-Piste

Dynastar's on-piste collection features downhill-focused, quasi-racing skis. They're a great option if you're an intermediate skier who enjoys staying on groomers. You can expect stiff cores and lots of camber, giving you plenty of edge. These will typically be in a narrower waist, due to a deeper sidecut, so don't expect much capability in powder.

Benefits:

• Great at keeping its stability at high speeds on groomed terrain

Be Aware:

• Geared towards intermediates and experts
• Lack of capability in even small amounts of powder

Freeride

By definition, freeriding includes everything that isn't strictly on-piste (or groomed) — meaning trees, moguls, gullies, etc. As a result, skis in this category are more powder-focused, featuring wide waists and rocker in the tip and tail. You can also expect a thicker construction and sidewall for durability against rocks, logs, and everything else found off-piste.

Benefits:

• Ideal for powder and off-piste skiing
• Typically more durable than skis from other categories

Be Aware:

• Usually not as stable at higher speeds on groomed runs due to a flexible core
• Not as maneuverable as skis with narrower waists

Touring

Touring skis are about as specific as you can get when it comes to skis, and as a result, they are on the expensive side. However, you're paying to save on weight, which can significantly impact long skiing tours. You'll usually see touring skis with built-in slots on the tips to help secure skins when traveling uphill.

Benefits:

• Much lighter than all other ski types
• Usually have built-in slots in the tips to make putting on skins easier

Be Aware:

• Usually have a freeride profile with lots of rocker in the tip

Features to Look For in Dynastar Skis

After determining the category of Dynastar skis that are right for you, you can further hone in on the perfect model by paying attention to a few key features.

Waist Width

This term refers to the width of the ski at its narrowest point, which always falls under your boot. The wider the waist, the better the ski will perform in powder. However, skis with narrower waists will be easier to maneuver and perform better on groomed runs. Sometimes, manufacturers like Dynastar will offer a single ski model in different waists, allowing you to tailor your ski for more or less powder.

Profile

A ski's profile refers to its shape when viewed from the side without anyone standing on it. A camber-focused profile will naturally leave more space between the ground and your ski, giving your ski's edge more effective contact with the snow. Camber-focused profiles are popular with on-piste and all-mountain ski categories.

On the other hand, a rocker-focused profile will naturally leave less space between the ground and the ski. As a result, these profiles tend to have tips that curve upwards, giving you more capability in the deep powder. It's important to note that most Dynastar skis combine these two profiles and are not all one or the other.

Core

A ski's core is typically rated by its flexibility. Skis that manufacturers describe as "playful" will usually feature a flexible core, such as poplar. These are good for freeriding, park, and mogul skiing because they better absorb impacts that stiffer cores.

Stiffer cores have their advantages, though. Instead of absorbing impact, cores made from woods like ash and maple are great at providing stability and power at high speeds. You'll usually find on-piste skis with more rigid cores to give skiers more control on groomed runs. If you have any other questions about ski core types, contact one of our Curated Winter Sports Experts.

How to Choose the Right Dynastar Skis for You

Picking the right pair of Dynastar skis is like picking out any other brand. First, you should be honest with yourself about your ability level and the type of terrain you'll be using the skis in. Second, double-check a sizing chart — especially if you want to improve skill-wise. Lastly, Dynastar has options for any budget, so you don't have to settle on the first pair you see.

Let's use a few fictional skier profiles to make your decision even easier!

Jeff

Jeff is a beginner-to-intermediate level skier who hasn't taken the leap to off-piste terrain quite yet. He wants to get a ski he can grow into. Jeff previously owned a pair of on-piste skis, and now, he's shopping for something focused on all-mountain terrain that still favors groomed terrain.

Features Jeff should look for:

• A mid-sized waist between 90-95 mm
• A profile focused on camber rather than rocker
• A stiffer core to withstand high speeds on groomed terrain

Ski examples: Dynastar M-Menace 80 Skis + XP10 Bindings, Dynastar M-Cross 78 Skis + XP11 Bindings

Sergio

Sergio grew up racing and rarely finds himself off-piste when he skis as an adult. He's comfortable with any run on the mountain but prefers challenging himself on steep blue-blacks and blacks. He wants a pair of specialized downhill skis and isn't looking for much capability in any other terrain.

Features Sergio should look for:

• A profile with as much camber as he can find
• A waist no wider than 90 mm
• A stiffer core to withstand high speeds on groomed terrain

Ski examples: Dynastar M-Pro 90 Open Skis, Dynastar M-Pro 85 Open Skis

Xavier

Xavier finds solace wherever powder can be found. While at resorts, he spends over half of his time in the trees and off-piste, so he's looking for a new pair of skis that fit the bill. He always brings a pair of all-mountain skis to the mountain with him, so the more specialized this new pair is, the better.

Features Xavier should look for:

• A rocker-focused profile to help him float in powder
• A waist wider than 95 mm
• A flexible and playful core made of poplar

Ski examples: Dynastar M-Free 108 Skis, Dynastar M-Free 99 Skis

Find the Best Dynastar Skis for You

When picking the right pair of skis, you can make things easier for yourself by focusing on one or two categories offered by the manufacturer. Then, you can hone in even further by picking the right-sized ski waist and length.

If you have any other questions about Dynastar skis or any other winter sports-related gear, feel free to contact me or another of our Curated Ski Experts. We're genuinely passionate about helping out customers!