The Prodigy 2 is the best-seller in Faction's freestyle line, and it's obvious why. 98mm waist sits right in the sweet spot — wide enough to float in a few inches of fresh, narrow enough to hold an edge on groomers. True twin shape means switch is natural. This is the do-everything freestyle ski.

The poplar core keeps it light and poppy. The 600mm carbon/rubber inlay running underfoot adds some dampening without making it stiff — you can still butter and press it, but it doesn't chatter at moderate speed. It's not a charging ski. Push it past 50 mph and it starts to feel loose. But that's not what it's for.

20m radius at 183 is long for a freestyle ski, which means it wants to make bigger, swoopier turns rather than tight slalom arcs. That works for the all-mountain freestyle style — big carves, side hits, natural features, the occasional park lap.

Compared to the Prodigy 1 (88mm), you get noticeably more float and versatility. Compared to the Prodigy 3 (106mm), you get better edge grip on hardpack and more precision in the park. The 2 is the Goldilocks. Six sizes from 159 to 189 means there's a fit for everyone.