DPS Wailer 99 Review

I've had the chance now to ski my DPS Wailer 99’s now in every snow condition imaginable. They've been put through the ringer skiing chest deep blower, icy chunder, spring slush, upside-down snow, breakable crust, dust on crust, and everything in between. The verdict?  It is the best all-around ski ever to be made, unbelievable for ski touring or ski mountaineering, and has become a standard tool in my ski quiver.  Light enough to pound elevation on under your own power, but powerful and stiff enough to push hard in big terrain, a ski for the discerning skier.

(Photo Above:  The 185cm DPS Wailer 99 Pure)

The ski design is based off the incredibly successful Wailer 112RP platform, with a few minor changes which dial in the narrower profile, and allow the ski to stand on its own against its bigger brother. Just like the 112, the Wailer 99 is slightly cambered underfoot, and rockered at the tip and tail with an 18m turning radius. For those still unfamiliar with rocker, I'll let Tobias, the BC/Yukon DPS rep, explain:  

“Laying the ski flat, rocker is the measured height between the widest part of the ski's nose (or tail) and the surface (the zero degree baseline). Early rise is the horizontal distance from the very tip (or tail) of the ski to the contact point where the ski meets the ground. Splay is the measured height from the tip (or tail) to the surface (baseline). The W99 and Wailer 112RPs have more splay than similar models, i.e., the tips peel farther apart, and they have a deep early rise combined with strong rocker. In short what most people call "rocker" is a 3-dimensional property. Also, both the W99 and the 112RP have a bulletnose design, which is where the nose is skinny at the top, then fattens out (like a bullet) and then gets skinnier again. This fattest section is where you measure rocker, and the combination of rocker, splay, and early rise with the bulletnose is what DPS calls Paddletech Geometry. It is Paddletech in the tip, combined with slight camber and a rockered tail with similar properties that creates a ski that can both carve and float. In many respects, the three-dimensional shaping of the shovel is more important to dancing through powder than the ski’s width. This is why the Wailer 99 floats surprisingly well in the deep—you can pressure the tip.”  

Yes, ski shaping is complex, but even understanding that the difference between a rockered ski and a traditional ski is like comparing straight skis to shaped skis, it's an obvious choice to go with a ski like this. So much so, that if you purchase a non-rockered ski, you're purchasing out-dated technology. Rocker allows the Wailer 99 to turn in insanely tight areas, pivoting around crux points, in various snow conditions without hooking up or diving under the snow. The same goes for pulling Super-G turns down big faces or launching into fast mini-golf style terrain.  The ski edges in hard, holds, and completes a turn in perfect style.

(Photo Above:  Wailer 112 Tail (front) Wailer 99 Tail (Behind))

One key difference between the Wailer 99 and the 112RP is the tail. The Wailer 99 boasts a stiffer, less rockered tail that really powers turns, and hooks ups as if you were smashing gates, but releases when you feel the time is right, as if it wasn't even there. Clearly DPS has a magician (Peter Turner) shaping its skis as no other ski in the world has both these wide spectrum characteristics existing on the same ski.

Black magic aside, the 99mm waist floats in powder, but grips remarkably well on steep icy terrain. Always a skinny-ski type of guy for the ultra-steep, I have to admit this ski will probably fit the bill for 99.9% of my ski mountaineering objectives, with the exception of verglass blue ice, on-belay nearly rappelling, anchor to anchor, 60 degree, barely-skiing skiing but that's not really skiing is it.  Why? I say it again—it skis EVERYTHING.

The setup I use with it is either a four buckle boot or my ultra light Dynafit Dy.N.A.. Both drive the ski with no issues. A rare thing to see in skis is both a stiff heavy boot and lighter boot both driving the same ski with great results. Most people who purchase skis either end up luckily matching their ski to their boot and enjoying the ski, or the odd time not matching the system properly, and ending up hating the ski as a result of poor gear compatibility. Ski gear reviews only complicate the matter, with incomplete information on the total system, but with this model it is a non-issue.

The skis weight is something that really allows the skier to excel in the mountains.  A heavier ski, such as everything else on the market, will weigh more.  Which means more effort, more weight to move with each stride and turn, and end up not being as playful on the way down.  Today, another great high quality snow day, was no different.  Within 3 hours, I had the chance to ski 5 beautiful ski laps in the backcountry, which most people pay thousands of dollars for using a helicopter, with enough time and energy to have a leisurely lunch and coffee before starting work.  Only my tiny race skis allow such speed and efficiency, but with nowhere near the downhill performance, which is why I love the 99.  I have the ability to perform uphill, but have zero sacrifice when it comes time for the best part, the downhill.

Downsides?  Not many.  Again, just like the DPS Wailer 112 review I posted, the skis bases do require a bit more attention and waxing, but are incredibly fast when taken care of.

So, in conclusion, if you want the ultimate all-around ski this is it.  But if you don't believe me, get on a pair, and prepare to be blown away.  If this sounds like this ski is for you, get on them.  Either way, mount them, head to a rad mountain way out there, buckle your boots, and giver.