Alpine skis
Product 2026
Woman, Man
We tested the Faction Dancer 79 in a 172 cm length. Given how this ski handles, we strongly recommend sizing up — don’t hesitate to go longer.
Like Black Crows skis, the Faction Dancer 79 features a phrase printed along the side:
“We are the Faction Collective.”
The ski’s shape has a bit of an old-school look — it’s relatively straight, with only a slight hourglass sidecut.
On snow, the Faction Dancer 79 pivots incredibly easily and quickly. In a flat or upright stance, it turns effortlessly — but this is not due to an overly active tip. The shovel is very neutral.
If you want to engage the edges and get real directional response, you need to load the front of the ski and actively work the flex. Only then will you get a clean carved turn. Otherwise, it stays flat and prefers to pivot through sliding or skidded turns.
These skidded phases are actually quite pleasant — less technically skilled skiers will appreciate how easy it is to control. More advanced skiers will enjoy the ease of pivoting for all the moments when a quick skid is needed — planned or not.
Even on hardpack, the ski remains manageable — there’s no overpowering tip pulling you in; the Faction Dancer 79 doesn’t fight your feet.
This is a relaxed, easy-going ski, not a thrill machine. You can push it into moderate edge angles, though nothing extreme. With sharp edges, it holds quite well on firm snow at higher speeds — especially in longer-radius turns. In a straight line, it’s very stable and doesn’t wash out.
Short, carved turns are harder to achieve. There isn’t a strong sense of underfoot power, even though the Dancer 79 has noticeable weight, which suggests it’s built with solid materials. Its torsional stiffness also reflects that.
We even asked ourselves: Could the Faction Dancer 79 be a good bump ski?
It does show some wear at the front of the ski, where the tip isn’t particularly well protected from impacts. The edges run fully around the tip, but the fiberglass topsheet still shows some marking.
Overall, a mixed verdict for this ski, which initially comes off as likable, stylish, and cleanly designed.
But the lack of a deeper sidecut limits its edge performance. It would benefit from more shape to ease turn initiation and naturally guide the skier onto edge.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
Receive your answers by mail. Do you have a particular question concerning the design, use, durability or other about a tested product? We will answer your question personally.
