Powder Review: Dynastar M-Pro 108
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In a Nutshell
The Dynastar M-Pro 108 is a beastly, directional charger that wants you to drive it down the fall line, and never let off the gas pedal. It is a demanding, yet rewarding ski with an addictive blend of power and stability that will leave you foaming at the mouth for another lap.
Length Skied: 192 cm
Weight: 2434; 2441 g/ski
Stated Dimensions: 139-110-129 mm
Stated Sidecut: 22 m
Recommended Mount Point: -13 cm from true center
Intro
Dynastar’s 23/24 “freeride” series consists mainly of the M-Free lineup and M-Pro lineup. The former is more freestyle oriented, the latter is more traditional and directional. The M-Pro 108 is the biggest, meanest ski in Dynastar’s lineup and one of the most aggressive skis we’ve been on this year. It has a layer of titanal in the core to enhance stability and suspension. As someone who enjoys riding larger, stiffer skis, this is a fantastic build and I could feel the power of the ski's layup from the first lap.
Length and Mount Point
I skied the M-Pro 108 in the 192 cm length, with its very directional mount point at -13 cm from true center. As someone who prefers to mount skis slightly forward, I was a bit nervous about this mount point. However, the rocker present in the front of the ski gives the M-Pro 108 more than enough maneuverability to make this mount point comfortable.
It should be noted that the M-Pro 108 actually measures 110 mm underfoot in the 192 cm length, but for the 182 cm version, it measures 108 mm underfoot. I find this to make perfect sense proportionally. For the ski’s main use in powder and mixed conditions, I prefer this slightly wider platform.
If you find yourself torn between using the 182 cm version, or the 192 cm version, I would recommend erring on the side of caution. Even as a 6’4 190 lb person, I found the 192 to be a beefy, demanding ski. I’m sure that the 182 cm version would be plenty stable for most skiers as it has the same layup as the 192.
Where does the M-Pro 108 shine?
The M-Pro 108 is a fantastic ski for a resort powder day, as well as the mixed conditions that follow a storm. The stiffness and width of the M-Pro 108 make it a great choice for staying on top of fresh snow, but its true strength is motoring through the chopped snow you will encounter after your first lap. Particularly in wide-open areas where you can open up the throttle, the M-Pro 108 is a crud-busting monster. When most people have decided that the enticing open bowl is too chopped up to ski, you won’t have to worry about that being an issue. Drop in, pressure the shovels, and just let this beast charge over anything in your path. Condensed powder, fresh moguls, not-so-fresh moguls, the slow sign that wronged you, it doesn’t matter, the M-Pro 108 will happily flatten it all.
Another place I find the M-Pro to be superior is landings. I certainly don’t claim to be the best skier on the mountain, but now and then I do like to get airborne. The M-Pro 108 is an incredibly supportive ski with a wide, stiff shovel, and I never worry about whether I’ll end up tumbling forward over the front of the ski when I land.
Even though the M-Pro 108 is not necessarily designed with groomers in mind, I enjoyed skiing groomers on the M-Pro 108. As it happens, the same qualities that make the M-Pro 108 stable and powerful off-piste translate extremely well to on-piste skiing. The M-Pro 108 may not be quite so quick edge to edge as a narrower ski, but it is a fantastic tool to support you at higher speeds. It also has a decent amount of camber, giving it more life on groomers in a way that other skis designed for off-piste skiing tend to lack.
Where does the M-Pro 108 make some compromises?
As with any directional ski, the M-Pro 108 is a bit of a pain to turn and pivot at slower speeds, and in tighter terrain, particularly compared to its more freestyle-oriented counterpart, the M-Free 108. While the front of the ski has a fair amount of rocker, the flat tail of the M-Pro 108 can get hung up in heavier, wet snow. If you find yourself skiing tight trees, or in low visibility frequently, it might not be the right option for you, and I’d recommend taking a look at the M-Free 108 instead.
Additionally, the M-Pro 108’s design makes it difficult to recover if you find yourself in the backseat, holding onto the tails of the ski. Being forced to avoid skiing backseat will improve your technique, but a little wiggle room goes a long way when it comes to enjoying a ski. Again, if you want something more forgiving and surfier, check out the M-Free 108.
Another thing that often is overlooked when discussing a ski is the weight. Everyone wants to think they can handle a big, heavy ski, and they’ll be able to reap the rewards all day long. Not true! We can’t all be superhuman in our strength, and riding a big ski like the M-Pro 108 all day long may tire you out. It certainly tired me out, but I had a lot of fun before it did.
For more comparisons to to the M-Pro 108, check out our list of the best wide all mountain skis.
What would a perfect day on the M-Pro 108 look like?
You get to the base of your home mountain. The weather forecasters who had said it would be cloudy all day were dead wrong. 12 inches of snow that fell last night blankets the mountain, and a few wisps of cloud fade away to present a blue sky. First lap: Wide, sweeping turns through an open powder field. Second Lap: More of the same. Once the fresh lines are completely taken by the afternoon, everyone else seems to struggle while you effortlessly blast through the tracked powder, driving your skis. After you’ve had your fill, you ski back to the car, wipe the snow off your fresh M-Pros, and get ready to do it again tomorrow. More snow is on the way.
