The Prodigy 1 is Faction's narrowest freestyle ski — 88mm waist, true twin, park-first. But it's not a noodle. Poplar-ash core with a carbon/rubber stomp pad gives it more substance than most park skis at this width. You can actually ski it on groomers without feeling like you're on pool noodles.

The elliptical sidecut is the trick here. Longer radius underfoot, shorter in the tip and tail — it pivots easy but doesn't hook unexpectedly mid-turn. In the park, that means predictable takeoffs and smooth landings. On groomers, it means you can actually lay an edge over without fighting the ski. 17m radius at 178 keeps things manageable.

Compared to the Prodigy 2 (98mm), the 1 is noticeably more nimble on hardpack and in the pipe. You give up float in anything soft, obviously. If you're 70% park, 30% groomers, this is the one. If it's more like 50/50 or you want to venture off-piste, step up to the 2.

XL 2.5mm edges are a nice touch — park skis take a beating on rails, and the extra edge height helps them last. Full sidewall construction instead of cap means better edge hold when you actually want to carve between laps.