Dynastar's 100mm Freeride Ski Is Capable of Handling Almost Any Snow Condition

In the early years of the Freeride World Tour, the Dynastar Legend Pro Rider found its way onto the podium more times than just about any ski of the era. That ski eventually evolved into the Dynastar M-Pro Series, a ski lineup that both Powder testers and the ski community at large have continued to have fondness for. 

But in 2020, Dynastar partnered with freeride legend Richard Permin to create what is now referred to as the M-Free Series. It’s a ski lineup that infuses Dynastar’s old habit of building skis that like to go fast with some of Richard’s newschool flair. Now available in several waist width offerings, Dynastar’s M-Free lineup has been a darling of the big mountain freeride world since its inception. Here’s the lowdown on one of the most adaptable M-Free options, the 100.

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2027 Dynastar M-Free 100 Specs

• Size skied: 178cm, 185cm
• Lengths available: 162cm, 170cm, 178cm, 185cm, 192cm 
• Sidecut: 131mm – 101mm – 123mm (185cm)
• Radius: 18m (185cm)
• Profile: Sandwich full sidewall, progressive rocker
• Weight: 1900g (192cm)

Shape, Flex and Construction

The M-Free 100 features Dynastar’s “Hybrid Core 2.0,” a layup that can be found across other popular skis in their lineup. To me, core construction is a conversation that can quickly turn into marketing nonsense. But here’s the high level. This “Hybrid Core 2.0” is a hybrid polyurethane/poplar wood core. If you look closely, you’ll see the PU layer running along the sides of the ski underfoot. The poplar component of the core is a three-piece construction, with a solid poplar sheet stacked with two woven poplar sheets on top. What this results in is a ski that is quite a bit lighter than previous iterations, but ends up being stiffer underfoot. 

The ski features a longer section of sidewall extending to both the tip and tail, which I’d hedge was added to increase the ski’s overall durability and add some additional edge grip. For anyone looking to use this primarily as a beater park ski, that extra strength is a good thing. Shapewise, the M-Free 100 features ample camber and thoughtful rocker. What this ultimately results in is a ski that is relatively light and a bit damp underfoot, with solid durability.

On-Snow Performance

For a 100mm underfoot ski, the M-Free 100 surprised reviewers with its fun, surfy feel and easy-to-release tail in deep snow. With an 18-meter radius and sitting on the lighter side of skis in the category, it’s also no surprise that reviewers found this ski to be a blast in trees and in tighter terrain. 

Where things get interesting is that reviewers called out how impressed they were with the ski’s capability at speed. Typically, if a ski slarves in soft snow, is quick in tight terrain, and can be described as “fun” and “poppy”—it tends to lack performance on-piste and at speed. But not here—our testers felt the M-Free 100 offered a nice blend of playfulness and stability.

“It felt comfortable in almost every context. Laying down big, arcing turns, it was stable and had some pop/energy from turn-to-turn. Changing it up for quicker turns was easy, too. I imagine on a bump line or in tight trees I wouldn’t find it overbearing or too challenging. It likes to go fast, but at least at 178 cm, it didn’t need to go fast,” one tester said.

As a long-time fan of this ski, I’ve always found myself in amazement at the opposing terms I’ll use when describing the M-Free during the course of a day. On one lap, I’ll find myself appreciating its dampness, and on the next, loving its playful character and pop. Does that make sense? Maybe not. But not in a bad way. 

Comparisons 

As skis get better, it seems that the variance between skis gets tighter. Take a gander at the 100-or-so-width skis that appeared at Grand Targhee during our test, and that’ll be obvious. For example, the M-Free 100s were in good company with the Elan Ripstick 102 and the Salomon QST 100. All skis, in essence, aim to satisfy a wide variety of skiers and work in a wide variety of conditions. They’re also similar in that they’re somewhat strong, but not massively burly or designed to blow through firm snow at breakneck speeds.

They hit this Goldilocks zone through slightly different avenues, though. The Elan Ripstick 102 has distinct carving DNA absent in the QST and M-Free. Compared to those skis, they’re quite quick and bouncy, and cater more to skiers who don’t want to lose carving performance with their all-mountain planks. An ex-racer, for instance, may find themselves falling head over heels for the Ripstick.

The QST 100s, meanwhile, match closely with the Dynastar M-Free 100s. They’re both intuitive, agile, and easy to ski, but the M-Frees come equipped with a bit more crud-busting potential, perhaps making them a better fit for a skier who prefers a plusher ride. 

What Type of Skier Is the Dynastar M-Free 100 Best For? 

I hate to do this, but this ski is perfect for…me? Okay, hear me out. As a Colorado skier who spends most days on the snow-barren but steep and craggy slopes of Arapahoe Basin, I want a ski that’s stable at speed but not such a rocket ship that it’s hard to hang onto. I also want something playful with a slarvy tail—without sacrificing day-to-day performance. And really, that’s the M-Free 100.

I chase powder a couple of times a year to places like Jackson and Alta, and if I found myself clicked into the M-Free 100, I might be a bit undergunned in the morning, but I’d still be in for a hell of a day. And, once things get a little funky in the afternoon, the M-Free 100 will take far better care of me than whatever powder-specific tool I wish I’d grabbed for the morning.

At 6’2” and 190 pounds, I’d grab the 185 and mount it on the recommended line, swapping some playfulness for the extra speed I might find in the 192. Sure, saying this ski is “perfect for me” might seem like a cop-out, but I suspect many of you share these preferences. If you do, the M-Free 100 is definitely worth considering.