The Faction Dancer is traditionally set apart from the progressive, freestyle-inspired shapes of the rest of the Faction collection. You might take a look at it and say “woah, Faction made this?” But, with the introduction of the new Dancer 79 last year, Faction blew our staff’s socks off with its fun, poppy, but still powerful ride. For 2027, Faction is extending that ride to the rest of the Dancer series, with new 89 and 99 Ti models, along with sans-metal versions of the 79, 89, and 99. In this review, we dive into the frontside specialist in the Faction Dancer 89 Ti.
It joins a crowded category, with some legacy models that attract cult followings. It’s going head-to-head with skis like the Volkl Mantra 88, Rossignol Arcade 88, Nordica Enforcer 89, and Blizzard Anomaly 88. Every big ski manufacturer has an 88-ish metal ski. So, how does Faction, a company built on freeskiing, stack up?
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- Faction Dancer 89 Ti: Field Notes
- Groomers
- Bumps and Trees
- Mixed Snow and Powder
- Downside?
- Bottom Line
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Faction Dancer 89 Ti: Field Notes
The Dancer Ti uses two sheets of titanal that run full width for torsional rigidity, but Faction keeps them ultra thin to keep weight and bulk down. They’ve also got a poplar wood core in there to create pop and energy, while balancing weight and stability.
But, the biggest changes to the Dancer series come from the shape. Taking inspiration from the Dancer 79 , Faction gave all these skis a bit more sidecut. To my eye, there’s a bit more rocker and splay in the tail in all the models too. On snow, that should create more of a “turn-y” feel, and make the ski more manuverable overall. Where the old Dancer had a fairly straight sidecut and minimal rocker, this opens it up a bit without making it much more progressive. It still lives solidly in the directional household.
Here are some more technical specs:
Sizes: 153 / 159 / 166 / 173 / 179 / 185
Dimensions: 126-89-115
Radius: 18m / 179cm
Weight: 1990 grams / 179cm
I rode the 173cm Dancer 89 Ti, which is just about spot on for me at 5’8″ and 135lbs and a firm snow-oriented ski. From my perspective, this is one you can size fairly traditionally for your height and skill level. Per usual with Faction, they offer unisex models and full-size runs across the board for all their ski models.
Fun fact: I used to own a Dancer 2, the 96mm underfoot option, back in the day. I loved that ski, but found it pretty locked into certain turn shapes and found it a bit uncompromising off-trail.
Groomers
This is the money category. We expect great performance on this part of the mountain for an 89mm underfoot ski, and the Dancer 89 Ti does nothing but deliver. I was blown away by how fun and engaging this ski was to carve. It pulls you into turns intuitively without forcing anything. There’s rock solid edge hold that gives you loads of confidence to tackle higher speeds.
Despite not having a notably high camber (3mm), this ski can pop. It’s not busting at the seams, but provides a really nice rebound if you’ve engaged and flexed the ski in all the right ways. It’s still got two sheets of metal, so it does take some input to drive those shovels. But, I felt that since the sheets are so thin, it doesn’t require nearly as much force as similar metal laminate skis in this category. You’ll get significantly out of the ski if you do, but it doesn’t require the “wrangling” and relentless demand that some heavier skis do.
What the metal does, though, is give you plenty of torsional rigidity to stand up on those edges. This ski can support you tipping the skis over and arcing a carve. The increased sidecut also gives you more of a carve-y feel compared to the old one, in that it is just happy to dance around the mountain and take turns.
Bumps and Trees
Not only does this ski rip groomers, it absolutely slices up bump terrain. The agility and carve-y feel you get on trail translates handily to bumps. It turns when you think of it, and is so much more compliant than you’d expect for a ski with two sheets of metal. That said, when you need to push through cruddy snow or the snow is teeth-chatteringly firm in the spring mornings, this ski quiets it all and moves through it with composure.
While some brands opt to trim metal or put slots into the metal shape to give some more torsional flexibility when at slower speeds, the Dancer opts to keep those full metal sheets in favor of adding some shape tweaks. The result is a ski that can surprisingly skid or slarve, but retains that full rigidity for a confidence-inspiring ride. As a result, it does demand a bit more from the pilot, but allows you to bail or get a little slarve-y if you have good pressure up front.
This ski does a solid job at dampening bad snow vibrations, too. While skiing some mixed snow around the resort during our low snow year in January, I was super impressed with how consistently the Dancer rode. It transitioned from wind-blown chalk between bumps to the scraped off tops of them without flinching much. I think the weight helps. It doesn’t fall into the super heavy category that will tire you out after a full day of skiing, but it gives just enough heft to ride well in variable snow conditions.
Mixed Snow and Powder
At 89mm underfoot, this is not this ski’s specialty. It lacks surface area for truly deep days, and if you find yourself skiing out West often, you can make the argument for the 99 Ti as a daily driver.
That said, having ridden the old generation, this ski hosts massive improvements to the old model. A slightly wider tip and the increased rocker help this ski surf around better than you’d expect, and certainly better than the old model, which had a much straighter shape.
I also think compared to some other 89mm underfoot models, the Dancer 89 punches above its weight for pow-surfability. Once you get into the mid to upper 90s, the Dancer 99 Ti is probably outplayed by some particularly surfy skis in that waist category. But upper 80mm underfoot skis are designed to focus on firm snow. Comparatively, I think this rides more well-rounded in soft snow than you would expect.
Downside?
Per usual, the downside is more like a trade-off. The thin sheets of metal are easier to engage, but more metal and more weight will give you more heft for pushing through tough snow. It also doesn’t have the lowest swing weight in this category; that would likely be given to the new K2 Mindbender 88 or an Elan Ripstick 88.
And while this doesn’t have the heft of some other skis in the narrow all-mountain category, it’s not the easiest thing to throw around. It will ask for someone to drive the ski. Luckily, Faction thought of that, and that’s why there’s a whole other collection of Dancers without metal.
Bottom Line
All that said, I find the Dancer to manage this balance so well. All while avoiding feeling like a generic “do-it-all” ski that winds up losing some charm along the way to become a ski for everyone. It has a unique feel that pulls you into turns. It delivers mega fun rebound and pop coming out of turns. You can charge with it, especially if you don’t need the ultra-damp-glued-to-the-snow feel.
I think Faction hit the mark here. It’s reliable, predictable, and fun. I’ve neglected the narrow category in my personal quiver, but I think that may be coming to an end here next season.
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FAQs
Who is this guide for?
This guide is for skiers, snowboarders, and outdoor travellers comparing gear, preparation, or destination choices before their next snow trip.
What should readers do next?
Use the checklist and buying guidance above to compare your current setup, then choose equipment that matches your ability level, terrain, and weather conditions.
Related reading
- Everything You Need To Know Before Skiing Whistler Blackcomb For The First Time
- How to Store Ski Gear for Summer (and beyond)
- Women’s-Specific Ski Gear: Do We Need It?
Official resources
- SnowSafe alpine safety guidance
- Bureau of Meteorology alpine weather forecasts
- Snow Australia
Related reading
- Everything You Need To Know Before Skiing Whistler Blackcomb For The First Time
- How to Store Ski Gear for Summer (and beyond)
- Women’s-Specific Ski Gear: Do We Need It?
Official resources
Source: Powder7 Ski Blog
