The in-depth review of the new 2021 Faction Prodigy 3.0 can be found here.
Intro:
Shape/Flex/Construction:
At 104mm the Prodigy 3.0 is a pretty versatile width.
The ski shape is pretty freeride oriented with fairly smooth, long rocker lines to match the taper.
The flex of the ski is pretty stiff throughout.
By the time you get close to and under the binding, its a 9.5/10 situation.
The tails follow a similar pattern, the flex feels fairly symmetrical.
They have a full wrap edge and a capwall construction that is now the norm among most big brands.
They also have a lot of rocker.
Not quite as much as an ON3P or Vishnu ski, but more than most in this width range.
They are super fun for butters in pow too.
Surfy-slash style turns work a treat in both heavy slushy snow and on hardpack thanks to the abundant rocker.
And thats the most comfortable way to turn on these, throwing them sideways.
That’s thanks to a slightly longer turn radius and stiff flex.
The dampness of the Prodigy 3.0 means they perform pretty well in cruddy/mixed snow.
A note on mounting:
I skied these mounted 1.5cm back from true center.
Recommended is more like -7cm so I was way forward of the mark.
Blister has some great info on mounting these, having played with more traditional points a bit more.
Here, the Candide 2.0 is superior in my mind.
Thats not to say that these cant be buttered and played around.
With a more centered mount, it isnt even that hard thanks to lots of rocker.
But is that cheating?
If you arent flexing the ski, does it even count?
I found they also lack pop on the exit of butters especially.
In all, its a yes at fast speeds but a no at slower ones for me.
I still got one of my favorite 5050 shots on these though (see above).
Overall, it’s possible for you to ski them in a pretty playful fashion despite the stiff flex.
In the air, they feel pretty light, thanks to the taper and overall light weight.
Durability:
So far so good on these for me.
I have a couple of knicks in the topsheet, but the heavily detuned edges held up fine.
Conclusion:
So, who are these ski for?
Well, in a sense, almost anyone could get along with the Prodigy 3.0.
You could easily ride them for a whole season and never feel particularly limited anywhere.
They’ll be coming as my pow ski because I so rarely need more float than these offer.
They are fun in the park, but their float is probably their most impressive attribute.
The stability of the 3.0 is superior and they float super well.
Well, yes actually, in some cases.
Its even stiffer than the 3.0 though so dont expect an easy ride.
I actually prefer the 3.0 in pow because I find it quicker and easier to handle at my size.
Shoutout to them for supporting the Roofbox Review program and helping us keep it going.
They also offer NS members a solid discount using the code FREESKIFIRST99.
